v3.19.3.a.u2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts and operations of the Corporation, the OP, and its consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned by the OP (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

To the extent the Corporation has a variable interest in entities that are not evaluated under the variable interest entity (“VIE”) model, the Corporation evaluates its interests using the voting interest entity model. The Corporation has complete responsibility for the day-to-day management, authority to make decisions, and control of the OP. Based on consolidation guidance, the Corporation has concluded that the OP is a VIE as the members in the OP do not possess kick-out rights or substantive participating rights. Accordingly, the Corporation consolidates its interest in the OP. However, as the Corporation holds the majority voting interest in the OP, it qualifies for the exemption from providing certain disclosure requirements associated with investments in VIEs.

The portion of the OP not owned by the Corporation is presented as non-controlling interests as of and during the periods presented.

Basis of Accounting

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, the allocation of purchase price between investment in rental property and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the value of long-lived assets, the provision for impairment, the depreciable lives of rental property, the amortizable lives of intangible assets and liabilities, the allowance for doubtful accounts, the fair value of assumed debt and notes payable, the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements, and the determination of any uncertain tax positions. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates.

Investment in Rental Property

Rental property accounted for under operating leases is recorded at cost. Rental property accounted for under direct financing leases is recorded at its net investment, which generally represents the cost of the property at the inception of the lease.

The Company accounts for its acquisitions of real estate as asset acquisitions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations, as substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired are concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets.

The Company allocates the purchase price of investments in rental property accounted for as asset acquisitions based on the relative fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. These generally include tangible assets, consisting of land and land improvements, buildings and other improvements, and equipment, and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities, including the value of in-place leases and acquired above-market and below-market leases. Acquisition costs incurred in connection with investments in real estate accounted for as asset acquisitions are capitalized and included with the allocated purchase price. The results of operations of acquired properties are included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income from the respective date of acquisition.

Estimated fair value determinations are based on management’s judgment, which considers various factors including real estate market conditions, industry conditions that the tenant operates in, and characteristics of the real estate and/or real estate appraisals.

The estimated fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant. The as-if-vacant value is then allocated to land and land improvements, buildings, and equipment based on comparable sales and other relevant information with respect to the property as estimated by management. Specifically, the “if vacant” value of buildings and equipment is calculated using an income approach. Assumptions used in the income approach to value the buildings include: capitalization and discount rates, lease-up time, market rents, make ready costs, land value, and land improvement value.

The estimated fair value of acquired in-place leases are the costs that the Company would have had to incur to lease the properties to the occupancy level of the properties at the date of acquisition. Such costs include the fair value of leasing commissions and other operating costs that would have been incurred to lease the properties, had they been vacant, to their acquired occupancy level. Acquired in-place leases as of the date of acquisition are amortized over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms of the respective leases to amortization expense.

Acquired above-market and below-market lease values are recorded based on the present value (using an interest rate that reflects the risks associated with the lease acquired) of the differences between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and management’s estimate of fair market value lease rates at the time of acquisition for the corresponding in-place leases. The capitalized above-market and below-market lease values are amortized as adjustments to rental income over the remaining term of the respective leases.

Should a tenant terminate its lease, the unamortized portion of the in-place lease value is charged to amortization expense and the unamortized portion of above-market or below-market lease value is charged to rental income.

Management estimates the fair value of assumed mortgages and notes payable based upon indications of then-current market pricing for similar types of debt with similar maturities. Assumed mortgages and notes payable are initially recorded at their estimated fair value as of the assumption date, and the difference between such estimated fair value and the notes’ outstanding principal balance is amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the debt.

Expenditures for significant betterments and improvements are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Construction and improvement costs incurred in connection with the development of new properties or the redevelopment of existing properties are capitalized. Real estate taxes, interest costs, and leasing and development costs incurred during construction periods are capitalized. Capitalization is based on qualified expenditures and interest rates. Capitalized real estate taxes, interest costs, and leasing and development costs are amortized over lives which are consistent with the related assets. There were no capitalized interest or real estate taxes during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

Long-lived Asset Impairment

The Company reviews long-lived assets to be held and used for possible impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If, and when, such events or changes in circumstances are present, an impairment exists to the extent the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or asset group and its eventual disposition.  Such cash flows include expected future operating income, as adjusted for trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition, and other factors. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset or asset group. A significant judgment is made as to if and when impairment should be taken. If the Company’s strategy, or one or more of the assumptions described above were to change in the future, an impairment may need to be recognized.

Inputs used in establishing fair value for real estate assets generally fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, which are characterized as requiring significant judgment as little or no current market activity may be available for validation. The main indicator used to establish the classification of the inputs is current market conditions, as derived through the use of published commercial real estate market information. The Company determines the valuation of impaired assets using generally accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis, income capitalization, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sales negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties. Management may consider a single valuation technique or multiple valuation techniques, as appropriate, when estimating the fair value of its real estate.

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Company recorded impairment charges of $3,452, $2,061, and $2,608, respectively. Impairment indicators were identified due to concerns over tenant future viability, property vacancies, or changes to the overall investment strategy for the real estate assets. The amount of the impairment charges were based on management’s consideration of the factors detailed above. In determining the fair value of the impaired assets at September 30, 2019 and March 31, 2019, the measurement dates, and depending on the property being evaluated, the Company utilized a capitalization rate of 14.58%, a weighted average discount rate of 8.00%, and a weighted average price per square foot of $226. In determining the fair value of the impaired assets at September 30, 2018, the measurement date, and depending on the property being evaluated, the Company utilized capitalization rates ranging from 7.50% to 10.00%, and a weighted average discount rate of 8.00%. In determining the fair value of the impaired assets at September 30, 2017, the measurement date, and depending on the property being evaluated, the Company utilized capitalization rates ranging from 7.25% to 12.00%, and a weighted average discount rate of 8.00%.

 

 

Investments in Rental Property Held for Sale

The Company classifies investments in rental property as held for sale when all of the following criteria are met: (i) management commits to a plan to sell the property, (ii) the property is available for immediate sale in its present condition, subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of investment properties, (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and conduct other actions required to complete the sale has been initiated, (iv) the sale of the property is probable in occurrence and is expected to qualify as a completed sale, (v) the property is actively marketed for sale at a sale price that is reasonable in relation to its fair value, and (vi) actions required to complete the sale indicate that it is unlikely that any significant changes will be made or that the plan to sell will be withdrawn.

For properties classified as held for sale, the Company suspends depreciation and amortization of the related assets, including the acquired in-place lease and above- or below-market lease intangibles, as well as straight-line revenue recognition of the associated lease, and records the investment in rental property at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The assets and liabilities associated with the properties classified as held for sale are presented separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the most recent reporting period. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any properties that met the held for sale criteria.

Sales of Real Estate

The Company adopted ASU 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, effective January 1, 2018 on a prospective basis. Under ASU 2017-05, the Company’s sales of real estate are generally considered to be sales to non-customers, requiring the Company to identify each distinct non-financial asset promised to the buyer. The Company determines whether the buyer obtains control of the non-financial assets, achieved through the transfer of the risks and rewards of ownership of the non-financial assets. If control is transferred to the buyer, the Company derecognizes the asset.

If the Company determines that it did not transfer control of the non-financial assets to the buyer, the Company analyzes the contract for separate performance obligations and allocates a portion of the sales price to each performance obligation. As performance obligations are satisfied, the Company recognizes the respective income in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-05, the Company recognized real estate sales when all of the following criteria were met: (i) a sale was consummated, (ii) the buyer had demonstrated an adequate commitment to pay for the property, (iii) the Company’s receivable was not subject to future subordination, and (iv) the Company had transferred the risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer and did not have continuing involvement. Unless all conditions were met, recognition of all or a portion of the profit was deferred.

The Company presents discontinued operations if disposals of properties represent a strategic shift in operations. Those strategic shifts would need to have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results in order to meet the definition. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Company did not have property dispositions that qualified as discontinued operations.

Depreciation

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which are as follows:

 

Land improvements

 

15 years

Buildings and improvements

 

15 to 39 years

Equipment

 

7 years

 

 

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity at date of acquisition of three months or less, including money market funds. The Company estimates that the fair value of cash equivalents approximates the carrying value due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash includes escrow funds the Company maintains pursuant to the terms of certain mortgages, notes payable, and lease agreements, and undistributed proceeds from the sale of properties under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and is reported within Prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Restricted cash consisted of the following:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Escrow funds and other

 

$

2,311

 

 

$

377

 

Undistributed 1031 proceeds

 

 

5,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,856

 

 

$

377

 

 

Revenue Recognition

The Company commences revenue recognition on its leases based on a number of factors, including the initial determination that the contract is or contains a lease. Generally, all of the Company’s property related contracts are or contain leases, and therefore revenue is recognized when the lessee takes possession of or controls the physical use of the leased assets. In most instances this occurs on the lease commencement date. At the time of lease assumption or at the inception of a new lease, including new leases that arise from amendments, the Company assesses the terms and conditions of the lease to determine the proper lease classification.

Certain of the Company’s leases require tenants to pay rent based upon a percentage of the property’s net sales (“percentage rent”) or contain rent escalators indexed to future changes in the CPI. Lease income associated with such provisions is considered variable lease income and therefore is not included in the initial measurement of the lease receivable, or in the calculation of straight-line rent revenue. Such amounts are recognized as income when the amounts are determinable.

Leases Executed on or After Adoption of ASC 842

A lease is classified as an operating lease if none of the following criteria are met: (i) ownership transfers to the lessee at the end of the lease term, (ii) the lessee has a purchase option that is reasonably expected to be exercised, (iii) the lease term is for a major part of the economic life of the leased property, (iv) the present value of the future lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee that is not already reflected in the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the leased property, and (v) the leased property is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no future alternative use to the Company at the end of the lease term. If one or more of these criteria are met, the lease will generally be classified as a sales-type lease, unless the lease contains a residual value guarantee from a third party other than the lessee, in which case it would be classified as a direct financing lease under certain circumstances in accordance with ASC 842.

ASC 842 requires the Company to account for the right to use land as a separate lease component, unless the accounting effect of doing so would be insignificant. Determination of significance requires management judgment. In determining whether the accounting effect of separately reporting the land component from other components for its real estate leases is significant, the Company assesses: (i) whether separating the land component impacts the classification of any lease component, (ii) the value of the land component in the context of the overall contract, and (iii) whether the right to use the land is coterminous with the rights to use the other assets.

Leases Executed Prior to Adoption of ASC 842

A lease arrangement was classified as an operating lease if none of the following criteria were met: (i) ownership transferred to the lessee prior to or shortly after the end of the lease term, (ii) the lessee had a bargain purchase option during or at the end of the lease term, (iii) the lease term was greater than or equal to 75% of the underlying property’s estimated useful life, or (iv) the present value of the future minimum lease payments (excluding executory costs) was greater than or equal to 90% of the fair value of the leased property. If one or more of these criteria were met, and the minimum lease payments were determined to be reasonably predictable and collectible, the lease arrangement was generally accounted for as a direct financing lease. Consistent with ASC 840, Leases, if the fair value of the land component was 25% or more of the total fair value of the leased property, the land was considered separately from the building for purposes of applying the lease term and minimum lease payments criterion in (iii) and (iv) above.

Revenue Recognition Under ASC 842 and ASC 840

Revenue recognition methods for operating leases, direct financing leases, and sales-type leases are described below:

Rental property accounted for under operating leases – Revenue is recognized as rents are earned on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable terms of the related leases. For leases that have fixed and measurable rent escalations, the difference between such rental income earned and the cash rent due under the provisions of the lease is recorded as Accrued rental income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Rental property accounted for under direct financing leases – The Company utilizes the direct finance method of accounting to record direct financing lease income. The net investment in the direct financing lease represents receivables for the sum of future lease payments to be received and the estimated residual value of the leased property, less unamortized unearned income (which represents the difference between undiscounted cash flows and discounted cash flows). Unearned income is deferred and amortized into income over the lease terms so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the Company’s net investment in the leases.

Rental property accounted for under sales-type leases – For leases accounted for as sales-type leases, the Company records selling profit arising from the lease at inception, along with the net investment in the lease. The Company leases assets through the assumption of existing leases or through sale-leaseback transactions, and records such assets at their fair value at the time of acquisition, which in most cases coincides with lease inception. As a result, the Company does not generally recognize selling profit on sales-type leases. The net investment in the sales-type lease represents receivables for the sum of future lease payments and the estimated unguaranteed residual value of the leased property, each measured at net present value. Interest income is recorded over the lease terms so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the Company’s net investment in the leases.

Certain of the Company’s lease contracts contain nonlease components (e.g., charges for management fees, common area maintenance, and reimbursement of third-party maintenance expenses) in addition to lease components (i.e., monthly rental charges). Services related to nonlease components are provided over the same period of time as, and billed in the same manner as, monthly rental charges. The Company elected to apply the practical expedient available under ASC 842, for all classes of assets, not to separate the lease components from the nonlease components when accounting for operating leases. Since the lease component is the predominant component under each of these leases, combined revenues from both the lease and nonlease components are reported as Lease revenues in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Rent Received in Advance

Rent received in advance represents tenant payments received prior to the contractual due date, and is included in Accounts payable and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rent received in advance is as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Rents received in advance

 

$

13,368

 

 

$

7,832

 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Prior to the adoption of ASC 842, provisions for doubtful accounts were recorded as bad debt expense and included in General and administrative expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Subsequent to the adoption of ASC 842, provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded prospectively as an offset to Lease revenues on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

The following table summarizes the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts:

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Balance as of January 1

 

$

2,086

 

 

$

742

 

 

$

323

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 

441

 

 

 

1,521

 

 

 

419

 

Write-offs

 

 

(2,527

)

 

 

(177

)

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31

 

$

 

 

$

2,086

 

 

$

742

 

 

Tenant and Capital Reserves

The terms of certain of the Company’s operating leases require the establishment of tenant and capital reserves. Under the tenant reserve requirements, tenant-funded amounts are deposited into an escrow account, to be used to fund certain costs to maintain the rental properties. Under the capital reserve lease requirements, the tenants are required to pay additional amounts into an escrow account to fund capital improvements, replacements, and repairs made to the properties. The Company has no obligation to fund capital improvements beyond these reserve balances.

The balances of the tenant and capital reserves are included in Accounts payable and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Tenant reserve

 

$

922

 

 

$

774

 

Capital reserve

 

 

872

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

$

1,794

 

 

$

1,136

 

The corresponding cash balances are recorded in Prepaid expenses and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Debt Issuance Costs

In accordance with ASC 835, Interest, debt issuance costs related to Mortgages and notes payable, Unsecured term notes and senior notes are reported as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related liability, consistent with debt discounts, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Debt issuance costs associated with the unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) are reported as an asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the Company’s unsecured Revolving Credit Facility, mortgages and notes payable, and unsecured term notes and senior notes have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective loan commitment using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.

 

The following table summarizes debt issuance costs:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Unsecured revolving credit facility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs

 

$

4,692

 

 

$

3,431

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

 

(2,312

)

 

 

(1,170

)

 

 

$

2,380

 

 

$

2,261

 

Mortgages and notes payable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs

 

$

667

 

 

$

834

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

 

(309

)

 

 

(335

)

 

 

$

358

 

 

$

499

 

Unsecured term notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs

 

$

9,898

 

 

$

6,997

 

Less accumulated amortization

 

 

(1,979

)

 

 

(2,770

)

 

 

$

7,919

 

 

$

4,227

 

Deferred Initial Public Offering Costs

The Company has incurred certain costs in connection with its anticipated initial public offering (“IPO”). The Company capitalizes such deferred IPO costs, which primarily consist of direct, incremental legal, professional, accounting and other third-party fees. The deferred IPO costs will be offset against IPO proceeds upon the consummation of an offering. Should the planned IPO be abandoned, the deferred IPO costs will be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income. At December 31, 2019, deferred IPO costs were $668, and were included within Prepaid expenses and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Leasing Fees

Leasing fees represent costs incurred to lease properties to tenants and are capitalized as they are incremental costs of a lease that would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained. Leasing fees are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the lease to which they relate, which range from 9 to 29 years.

Derivative Instruments

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage risks related to interest rate movements. The interest rate swap agreements, designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, are reported at fair value. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting and Hedging Activities, effective January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis. ASU 2017-12 amended the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging transactions and the presentation of hedge results in an entity’s financial statements.

Prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-12, the gain or loss on the effective portion of the hedge was initially included as a component of other comprehensive income or loss and was subsequently reclassified into earnings when interest payments on the related debt were incurred and as the swap net settlements occurred. If and when there was ineffectiveness realized on a swap agreement, the Company recognized the ineffectiveness as a component of interest expense in the period incurred.

ASU 2017-12 removed the concept of separately measuring and reporting hedge ineffectiveness and requires a company to present the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. In accordance with ASU 2017-12, the gain or loss on the qualifying hedges is initially included as a component of other comprehensive income or loss and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when interest payments (the forecasted transactions) on the related debt are incurred and as the swap net settlements occur.  

When an existing cash flow hedge is terminated, the Company determines the accounting treatment for the accumulated gain or loss recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income based on the probability of the hedged forecasted transaction occurring within the period the cash flow hedge was anticipated to affect earnings. If the Company determines that the hedged forecasted transaction is probable of occurring during the original period, the accumulated gain or loss is reclassified into earnings over the remaining life of the cash flow hedge using a straight-line method, which approximates an effective interest method. If the Company determines that the hedged forecasted transaction is not probable of occurring during the original period, the entire amount of accumulated gain or loss is reclassified into earnings in the period the cash flow hedge is terminated.

The Company documents its risk management strategy and hedge effectiveness at the inception of, and during the term of, each hedge. The Company’s interest rate risk management strategy is intended to stabilize cash flow requirements by maintaining interest rate swap agreements to convert certain variable-rate debt to a fixed rate.

Property Loss and Insurance Recoveries

Property losses, whether full or partial, are accounted for using a combination of impairment, insurance, and revenue recognition guidance prescribed by GAAP. Upon incurring a loss event, the Company evaluates for asset impairment under ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, and ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. Under the terms of the Company’s lease agreements with tenants, a majority of which are net leases (whereby the tenants are responsible for insurance, taxes, and maintenance, among other property costs), the tenants are responsible for repairs and maintenance to the properties. The terms of the leases also require the tenants to continue making their monthly rental payments despite the property loss. To the extent that the assets are recoverable, determined utilizing undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset or asset group and its eventual disposition, the Company accounts for a full or partial property loss as an acceleration of depreciation and evaluates whether all or a portion of the property loss can be offset by the recognition of insurance recoveries.

Under the terms of the lease agreements with tenants, in the case of full or partial loss to a property, the tenant has an obligation to restore/rebuild the premises as nearly as possible to its value, condition and character immediately prior to such event. To mitigate the risk of loss, the Company requires tenants to maintain general liability insurance policies on the replacement value of the properties. Based on these considerations, the Company follows the guidance in ASC 610-30, Other Income – Gains and Losses on Involuntary Conversions, for the conversion of nonmonetary assets (i.e., the properties) to monetary assets (i.e., insurance recoveries or tenant recoveries). Under ASC 610-30, once probable of receipt, the Company recognizes an insurance/tenant recovery receivable in Tenant and other receivables, net, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with a corresponding offset to the accelerated depreciation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. If the insurance/tenant recovery is less than the amount of accelerated depreciation recognized, the Company will recognize a net loss in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. If the insurance/tenant recovery is greater than the amount of accelerated depreciation recognized, the Company will only recognize a recovery up to the amount of the accelerated depreciation, and will account for the excess as a gain contingency in accordance with ASC 450-30, Gain Contingencies. Gain contingencies are recognized when earned and realized, which typically will occur at the time of final settlement or when non-refundable cash advances are received.

Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests represents the membership interests held in the OP of 6.3%, 7.3%, and 7.6% at December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, by third parties which are accounted for as a separate component of equity.

The Company periodically adjusts the carrying value of non-controlling interests to reflect their share of the book value of the OP. Such adjustments are recorded to Additional paid-in capital as a reallocation of Non-controlling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.

Subscriptions Receivable

Subscriptions receivable is related to shares issued to the Corporation’s stockholders for which the proceeds have not yet been received solely due to the fact of timing of transfers from the escrow agent holding the funds. The receivables have been fully collected during the following month after the balance sheet date of the Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 5-02.30 of Regulation S-X, the Company records its subscriptions receivable as a deduction from Stockholder’s equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.  

Segment Reporting

The Company currently operates in a single reportable segment, which includes the acquisition, leasing, and ownership of net leased properties. The Company’s chief operating decision maker assesses, measures, and reviews the operating and financial results at the consolidated level for the entire portfolio, and therefore, each property or property type is not considered an individual operating segment. The Company does not evaluate the results of operations based on geography, size, or property type.

Fair Value Measurements

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.

The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 – Quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The types of financial instruments included in Level 1 are marketable, available-for-sale equity securities that are traded in an active exchange market.

Level 2 – Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Instruments included in this category are derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs (such as yield curves and credit spreads) that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 includes assets and liabilities whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

The balances of financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows (see Note 11):

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

(in thousands)

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

Interest rate swap, assets

 

$

2,911

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,911

 

 

$

 

Interest rate swap, liabilities

 

 

(24,471

)

 

 

 

 

 

(24,471

)

 

 

 

 

 

$

(21,560

)

 

$

 

 

$

(21,560

)

 

$

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

Interest rate swap, assets

 

$

17,633

 

 

$

 

 

$

17,633

 

 

$

 

Interest rate swap, liabilities

 

 

(1,820

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,820

)

 

 

 

 

 

$

15,813

 

 

$

 

 

$

15,813

 

 

$

 

Interest rate swaps are derivative instruments that have no quoted readily available Level 1 inputs, and therefore are measured at fair value using inputs that are directly observable in active markets and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy, using an income approach. Specifically, the fair value of the interest rate swaps is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected future cash flows of each instrument. This analysis utilizes observable market data including yield curves and implied volatilities to determine the market’s expectation of the future cash flows of the variable component. The fixed and variable components of the interest rate swaps are then discounted using calculated discount factors developed based on the overnight indexed swap (“OIS”) curve and are aggregated to arrive at a single valuation for the period. The Company also incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate swaps fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its interest rate swaps utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation. As a result, the Company has determined that its interest rate swap valuations in their entirety are appropriately classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Company has estimated that the carrying amount reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Cash and cash equivalents, Prepaid expenses and other assets, Tenant and other receivables, net, and Accounts payable and other liabilities approximates their fair values due to their short-term nature.

The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs based on recent financing transactions, estimates of the fair value of the property that serves as collateral for such debt, historical risk premiums for loans of comparable quality, current London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), U.S. Treasury obligation interest rates, and on the discounted estimated future cash payments to be made on such debt. The discount rates estimated reflect the Company’s judgment as to the approximate current lending rates for loans or groups of loans with similar maturities and assumes that the debt is outstanding through maturity. Market information, as available, or present value techniques were utilized to estimate the amounts required to be disclosed. Since such amounts are estimates that are based on limited available market information for similar transactions and do not acknowledge transfer or other repayment restrictions that may exist on specific loans, it is unlikely that the estimated fair value of any such debt could be realized by immediate settlement of the obligation.

The following table summarizes the carrying amount reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the Company’s estimate of the fair value of the Mortgages and notes payable, net, Unsecured term notes, net, and Unsecured revolving credit facility:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Carrying amount

 

$

1,989,451

 

 

$

1,450,551

 

Fair value

 

 

2,047,860

 

 

 

1,439,264

 

As disclosed under the Long-lived Asset Impairment section elsewhere in Note 2, the Company’s non-recurring fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 and 2018, consisted of the fair value of impaired real estate assets that were determined using Level 3 inputs.

Income Taxes

The Company has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2008. The Company believes it is organized and operates in such a manner as to qualify for treatment as a REIT, and intends to operate in the foreseeable future in such a manner so that it will remain qualified as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax to the extent its dividends paid deduction exceeds its taxable income, as defined in the Code. Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. federal income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, except for U.S. federal income taxes of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”). The Company has wholly-owned subsidiaries that elected to be treated as a TRS and are subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes at regular corporate tax rates. The income tax expense incurred by the TRS entities did not have a material impact on the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company is subject to state and local income or franchise taxes and foreign taxes in certain jurisdictions in which some of its properties are located and records these within Income taxes in the accompanying Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income when due.

The Company is required to file income tax returns with federal, state, and Canadian taxing authorities. At December 31, 2019, the Company’s U.S. federal and state income tax returns remain subject to examination by the respective taxing authorities for the 2016 through 2018 tax years.

The Company recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions using a two-step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. In making this assessment, the Company must assume that the taxing authority will examine the income tax position and have full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may or may not accurately forecast actual outcomes.

The Company has determined that it has no uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2019 and 2018, or for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, which include the tax status of the Company.

Interest and penalties related to income taxes are charged to tax expense during the year in which they are incurred.

Taxes Collected From Tenants and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

A majority of  the Company’s properties are leased on a net basis, which provides that the tenants are responsible for the payment of property operating expenses, including, but not limited to, property taxes, maintenance, insurance, repairs, and capital costs, during the lease term. The Company records such expenses on a net basis.

 

 

In other situations, the Company may collect property taxes from its tenants and remit those taxes to governmental authorities. Taxes collected from tenants and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a gross basis, where amounts billed to tenants are included in Lease revenues, and the corresponding expense is included in Property and operating expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

 

Right-of-Use Assets and Lease Liabilities

As described in Recently Adopted Accounting Standards elsewhere in Note 2, the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 842 as of January 1, 2019. In accordance with ASC 842, the Company records right-of-use assets and lease liabilities associated with leases of land where it is the lessee under non-cancelable operating leases (“ground leases”). The lease liability is equal to the net present value of the future payments to be made under the lease, discounted using estimates based on observable market factors. The right-of-use asset is generally equal to the lease liability plus initial direct costs associated with the leases. The Company includes in the recognition of the right-of-use asset and lease liability those renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised, based on the facts and circumstances that exist at lease inception. Amounts associated with percentage rent provisions are considered variable lease costs and are not included in the initial measurement of the right-of-use asset or lease liability. As allowed under ASC 842, the Company has made an accounting policy election, applicable to all asset types, to not separate lease from nonlease components when allocating contract consideration related to ground leases.

Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities associated with ground leases were included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

Financial Statement Presentation

 

2019

 

Right-of-use assets

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

$

1,614

 

Lease liabilities

 

Accounts payable and other liabilities

 

 

1,209

 

Rental Expense

Rental expense associated with ground leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of each lease, for leases that have fixed and measurable rent escalations. Under the provisions of ASC 842, the difference between rental expense incurred on a straight-line basis and the cash rental payments due under the provisions of the lease is recorded as part of the right-of-use asset in the accompanying December 31, 2019 Consolidated Balance Sheet. Prior to the adoption of ASC 842, at December 31, 2018, this difference was recorded as a deferred liability and was included as a component of Accounts payable and other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts associated with percentage rent provisions based on the achievement of sales targets are recognized as variable rental expense when achievement of the sales targets are considered probable. Rental expense is included in Property and operating expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic ASC 842), which superseded the existing guidance for lease accounting, ASC 840. ASC 842 is effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, initially measured at the present value of lease payments, for both operating and financing leases. Under the new pronouncement, lessor accounting is largely unchanged from prior GAAP, however disclosures were expanded. The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and elected the following practical expedients:

 

The “Package of Three,” which allows an entity to not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (iii) initial direct costs for existing leases.

 

The optional transition method to initially apply the guidance of ASC 842 at the adoption date and to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. As a result of electing this practical expedient, the Company’s reporting for the comparative periods presented will continue to be in accordance with ASC 840, including the required disclosures.

 

The ability to make an accounting policy election, by class of underlying asset, to not separate nonlease components from the associated lease component and to account for those components as a single component if certain conditions are met.

ASC 842 requires all income from leases to be presented as a single line item, rather than the prior presentation where rental income from leases was shown separately from amounts billed and collected as reimbursements from tenants on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. In addition, bad debt expense is required to be recorded as an adjustment to Lease revenues, rather than recorded within Operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, as had previously been the case.

The Company is primarily a lessor and therefore adoption of ASC 842 did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. Upon adoption of ASC 842, it was not necessary for the Company to record a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, however the Company recognized a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability as of January 1, 2019, of $1,687 and $1,261, respectively, related to operating leases where it is the lessee (see Note 18). The right-of-use asset was recorded net of a previously recorded straight-line rent liability of $7 and ground lease intangible asset, net of $432 as of the date of adoption.

In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes. Previously under Topic 815, the eligible benchmark interest rates in the United States were the interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST), the LIBOR swap rate, the OIS Rate based on the Fed Funds Effective Rate, and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Municipal Swap Rate, which was introduced in ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (“ASU 2017-12”). The amendments in ASU 2018-16 permit the use of the OIS rate based on SOFR as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815. The amendments in this update were effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities that already adopted the amendments in ASU 2017-12 (which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018). The Company adopted ASU 2018-16 as of January 1, 2019 on a prospective basis for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after the date of adoption. Adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Other Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses which changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets. Financial assets that are measured at amortized cost will be required to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected with an allowance for credit losses deducted from the amortized cost basis. The guidance requires an entity to utilize broader information in estimating the expected credit loss, including forecasted information. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses which clarified that operating lease receivables recorded by lessors are explicitly excluded from the scope of this guidance. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief, which provides entities with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for eligible instruments upon adoption of Topic 326. ASU 2016-13 is effective January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2019, under a modified retrospective application. The new guidance will apply to the Company’s investments in direct financing leases, which totaled $41,890, or 1.1% of the Company’s total assets, at December 31, 2019, and related to 16 individual leases. Due to the nature of its activities, the Company’s lease portfolio has historically not included a significant number of direct financing leases, and the Company has not experienced significant collection issues on its direct financing lease receivables. Accordingly, the Company does not anticipate that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will result in a material allowance for credit losses being recorded as a transition adjustment, or have an ongoing material impact on its results of operations.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments under ASU 2018-13 remove, add, and modify certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASC 820. The modifications and new disclosures required by the new standard primarily relate to disclosures around recurring Level 3 fair value measurements, and investments by the company in entities that calculate net asset value, neither of which are relevant to the Company’s current recurring fair value measurements. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the new standard on a prospective basis on January 1, 2020, but does not anticipate a significant change in its financial statement disclosures.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments which clarifies and improves guidance within the recently issued standards on credit losses, hedging, and recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The Company assessed the impact of the changes to Topic 326 in connection with its adoption of ASU 2018-13 discussed above. The provisions of ASU 2019-04 relating to Topics 815 and 825 relate to clarifying the provisions of existing guidance that are not applicable to the Company.

 

 

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation, including certain items described below which resulted from the adoption of ASC 842.

Components of revenue that were previously reported as Rental income from operating leases, Earned income from direct financing leases, Operating expenses reimbursed from tenants, and Other income from real estate transactions, on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, have been combined and reported as Lease revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as follows:  

 

As originally reported

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental income from operating leases

 

$

222,208

 

 

$

170,493

 

Earned income from direct financing leases

 

 

3,941

 

 

 

4,141

 

Operating expenses reimbursed from tenants

 

 

11,221

 

 

 

6,721

 

Other income from real estate transactions

 

 

109

 

 

 

208

 

Total revenues

 

$

237,479

 

 

$

181,563

 

 

As revised

 

For the years ended December 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease revenues

 

$

237,479

 

 

$

181,563

 

In addition, as discussed in Recently Adopted Accounting Standards, in connection with recording the transition adjustment for the right-of-use asset related to operating leases where the Company is the lessee, amounts reported as ground lease intangible assets, net and ground lease straight-line rent liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2018, were reclassified as of January 1, 2019, and are now included as components of the right-of-use asset.

The Company reclassified Restricted cash of $377 and Tenant and capital reserves of $1,136 to Prepaid expenses and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018, to conform with the current period presentation. Additionally, Tenant improvement allowances of $2,125 were reclassified to Accounts payable and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018, to conform with the current presentation. The reclassifications are changes from one acceptable presentation to another acceptable presentation.

The Company reclassified $857 and $624 of Income taxes from a component of Operating expenses to a component of Other income (expenses), on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, to conform with the current period presentation. The reclassifications are changes from one acceptable presentation to another acceptable presentation.