FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The FASB’s fair value measurements and disclosure guidance requires the valuation of certain of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, based on a three-level fair value hierarchy. Market participant assumptions obtained from sources independent of the Company are observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy, and the Company’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions are unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

The following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015:



(dollars in thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	818	$	—
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments	$	—	$	5,876	$	—

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company determined that the value of the Walnut Hill Plaza was impaired and recorded an impairment loss of $1.5 million (Note 1). The Company estimated the fair value by using discounted future cash flows and applying a market-specific capitalization rate to the property's net operating income. The inputs used to determine this fair value are classified within Level 3 under authoritative guidance for fair value measurements.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company entered into a firm contract to sell Sheepshead Bay for $20.2 million. As this amount was less than the carrying cost, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $6.7 million (Note 1).

ACADIA REALTY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

10. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements, continued

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company determined that the value of one of the properties in its Brandywine Portfolio was impaired and recorded an impairment loss of $5.0 million (Note 1). The Company estimated the fair value by using discounted future cash flows and applying a market-specific capitalization rate to the property's net operating income. The inputs used to determine this fair value are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The FASB’s derivative and hedging guidance establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. As required by the FASB guidance, the Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecast transactions, are considered cash flow hedges.

For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item related to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is initially reported in other comprehensive (loss) income (outside of earnings) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings, and the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings. The Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in fair value or cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in fair value or cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. For derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in fair value would be recognized in earnings.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s derivative financial instruments consisted of 15 interest rate LIBOR swaps with an aggregate notional value of $256.5 million, which fix interest at rates from 0.70% to 5.62%, and mature between May 2015 and March 2025. The Company also has one derivative financial instruments with a notional value of $29.5 million which caps the interest rate at 4.0% and matures April 2018. The fair value of the Company's derivative financial instruments are determined based on third-party pricing and pricing models utilizing observable inputs. The Company considers the credit worthiness of the counter party, as well as its own credit worthiness in determining fair value. No credit-related adjustments have been made in determining fair value. Certain derivative financial instruments have negative values, and therefore represent liabilities to the Company, and others have positive values, and therefore represent assets to the Company. The fair value of the derivative liabilities, which is included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $5.9 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The fair value of the derivative assets, included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, totaled $0.8 million and $0.2 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The notional value does not represent exposure to credit, interest rate or market risks. The Company is also a party to one forward starting interest rate swap transaction with respect to $50.0 million of LIBOR-based variable debt.

These derivative instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges and hedge the future cash outflows on variable rate mortgage debt. Such instruments are reported at the fair values reflected above. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, unrealized losses totaling $4.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively, were reflected in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. It is estimated that approximately $4.3 million included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense in the 2016 results of operations.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, no derivatives were designated as fair value hedges or hedges of net investments in foreign operations. Additionally, the Company does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes and currently does not have any derivatives that are not designated as hedges. As of December 31, 2015, none of the Company’s hedges were ineffective.

ACADIA REALTY TRUST AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

10. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements, continued

Financial Instruments

Certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities meet the definition of financial instruments. Except as disclosed below, the carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of such accounts.

The Company has determined the estimated fair values of the following financial instruments within Level 2 of the hierarchy by discounting future cash flows utilizing a discount rate equivalent to the rate at which similar financial instruments would be originated at the reporting date:



	December 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
(dollars in thousands)	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Notes Receivable and Preferred Equity Investments	$	147,188	$	147,188	$	102,286	$	102,286
Mortgage, Convertible Notes and Other Notes Payable	$	1,358,606	$	1,382,318	$	1,118,602	$	1,141,371

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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