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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company and the operating partnership are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Any reference to the number of properties, acres and square footage are unaudited and outside the scope of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the standards of the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of the Company, the operating partnership and all wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of the operating partnership include the accounts of the operating partnership and all wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Under the consolidation guidance, we first evaluate an entity using the variable interest model, then the voting model. The Company ultimately consolidates all entities that the Company controls through either majority ownership or voting rights, including all variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for all other unconsolidated joint ventures using the cost or equity method of accounting. In addition, we continually evaluate each legal entity that is not wholly owned for reconsideration based on changing circumstances.

VIEs are defined as entities in which equity investors do not have:

the characteristics of a controlling financial interest;

sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties; and/or

the entity is structured with non-substantive voting rights.

The entity that consolidates a VIE is known as its primary beneficiary and is generally the entity with both the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and the right to receive benefits from the VIE or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has determined that three joint ventures and our operating partnership met the definition of a VIE. Two of the joint ventures are consolidated entities and one joint venture is a non-consolidated entity.

Consolidated Entities

On November 16, 2017, the Company sold its 65.0% ownership interest in the single joint venture that owned both Pinnacle I and Pinnacle II. As a result of the disposition, the Company no longer consolidates Pinnacle and Pinnacle II.     

As of December 31, 2017, the operating partnership has determined that two of its joint ventures met the definition of a VIE and are consolidated:
Property
 
Ownership interest

1455 Market
 
55.0
%
Hill7
 
55.0
%


As of December 31, 2017, the Company has determined that our operating partnership met the definition of a VIE and is consolidated. Substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Company are related to these VIEs.

Non-consolidated Entities

On June 15, 2017, the Company purchased the remaining interest in land at its 11601 Wilshire property. Refer to Note 3 for details. As a result of the purchase, the Company is now consolidating the interest in land.

On June 16, 2016, the Company entered into a joint venture to co-originate a loan secured by land in Santa Clara, California. The assets of the joint venture consist of notes receivable. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has determined this joint venture meets the definition of a VIE, however, it is not the primary beneficiary. Due to its significant influence over the non-consolidated entity, the Company accounts for it using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the Company initially records the investment at cost and subsequently adjusts for equity in earnings or losses and cash contributions and distributions. The Company’s net equity investment of $14.2 million is reflected within prepaid expenses and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets which represents the Company’s maximum exposure for loss. The Company’s share of net income or loss from the entity is included within other (income) expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company owns 21% of the non-consolidated entity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to acquiring, developing and assessing the carrying values of its real estate properties, its accrued liabilities, and its performance-based equity compensation awards. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market conditions, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.
Investment in Real Estate Properties
Acquisitions

The Company evaluates each acquisition of real estate to determine if the integrated set of assets and activities acquired meet the definition of a business and need to be accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. An integrated set of assets and activities would fail to qualify as a business if either (i) substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in either a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets or (ii) the integrated set of assets and activities is lacking, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs (i.e., revenue generated before and after the transaction). An acquired process is considered substantive if (i) the process includes an organized workforce (or includes an acquired contract that provides access to an organized workforce), that is skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced in performing the process (ii) the process cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort, or delay or (iii) the process is considered unique or scarce.

Acquisitions of real estate will generally not meet the revised definition of a business because substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets (i.e., land, buildings and improvements and related intangible assets or liabilities) or because the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce or an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay.

When the Company acquires properties that are considered business combinations, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are fair valued at the acquisition date. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed include, but are not limited to, land, building and improvements, intangible assets related to above-and below-market leases, intangible assets related to in-place leases, debt and other assumed assets and liabilities. The initial accounting for a business combination is based on management’s preliminary assessment, which may differ when final information becomes available. Subsequent adjustments made to the initial purchase price assignment are made within the measurement period, which typically does not exceed one year, within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Acquisition-related expenses associated with business combinations are expensed in the period incurred which is included in the transaction-related expenses line item of the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

When the Company acquires properties that are considered asset acquisitions, the purchase price is allocated based on relative fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. There is no measurement period concept for asset acquisitions, with the purchase price accounting being final in the period of acquisition. Additionally, acquisition-related expenses associated with asset acquisitions are capitalized as part of the purchase price.
    
The Company assesses fair value based on Level 2 and Level 3 inputs within the fair value framework, which includes estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount, capitalization rates, renewal probability and available market information, which includes market rental rate and market rent growth rates. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions.

The fair value of tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it were vacant. The fair value of acquired “above- and below-” market leases are based on the estimated cash flow projections utilizing discount rates that reflect the risks associated with the leases acquired. The amount recorded is based on the present value of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each in-place lease, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above-market leases and the initial below-market term plus the extended term for any leases with below-market renewal options. Other intangible assets acquired include amounts for in-place lease values that are based on the Company’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease. Factors considered include estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, the Company includes estimates of lost rents at market rates during the hypothetical expected lease-up periods, which are dependent on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, the Company considers leasing commissions and legal and other related costs.

Cost Capitalization

The Company capitalizes direct construction and development costs, including redevelopment costs, interest, property taxes, insurance and other costs directly related and essential to the acquisition, development or construction of a real estate project. Indirect development costs, including salaries and benefits, office rent, and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend their time on development activities are also capitalized and allocated to the projects to which they relate. Construction and development costs are capitalized while substantial activities are ongoing to prepare an asset for its intended use. The Company considers a construction project as substantially complete and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements but no later than one year after cessation of major construction activity. Costs incurred after a project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, or after development activities have ceased, are expensed as they are incurred. Costs previously capitalized that related to abandoned acquisitions or developments are charged to earnings. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as they are incurred.

Depreciation
The properties are generally carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company computes depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as represented in the table below:
Asset Description
 
Estimated useful life (years)
Building and improvements
 
Shorter of the ground lease term or 39
Land improvements
 
15
Furniture and fixtures
 
5 to 7
Tenant improvements
 
Shorter of the estimated useful life or the lease term

The Company amortizes above- and below-market lease intangibles over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms and bargain renewal periods, if applicable. The in-place lease intangibles are amortized over the remaining non-cancellable lease term. When tenants vacate prior to the expiration of lease, the amortization of intangible assets and liabilities are accelerated. The Company amortizes above- and below-market ground lease intangibles over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms.
Held for sale
The Company classifies properties as held for sale when certain criteria set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, are met. These criteria include (i) whether the Company is committed to a plan to sell, (ii) whether the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale, (iii) whether an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell have been initiated, (iv) whether the sale of the asset or disposal group is probable (i.e., likely to occur) and the transfer is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, (v) whether the long-lived asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, (vi) whether actions necessary to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. At the time a property is classified as held for sale, the Company reclassifies its assets and liabilities to held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the periods presented and ceases recognizing depreciation expense. Properties held for sale are reported at the lower of their carrying value or their estimated fair value, less estimated costs to sell.

According to ASC 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, the Company does not present the operating results in net loss from discontinued operations for disposals if they do not represent a strategic shift in the Company’s business.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses the carrying value of real estate assets and related intangibles for impairment on a quarterly basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable in accordance with GAAP. Impairment losses are recorded on real estate assets held for investment when indicators of impairment are present and the future undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. The Company recognizes impairment losses to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the properties.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business acquisitions. The Company does not amortize this asset but instead analyzes it on a quarterly basis for impairment.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and in banks, plus all short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. Restricted cash primarily consists of amounts held by lenders to fund reserves such as capital improvements, taxes, insurance, debt service and operating expenditures. 

The Company maintains some of its cash in bank deposit accounts that, at times, may exceed the federally insured limit. No losses have been experienced related to such accounts.

Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts receivable consist of amounts due for monthly rents and other charges. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from tenant defaults or the inability of tenants to make contractual rent and tenant recovery payments. The Company monitors the liquidity and creditworthiness of its tenants and operators on an ongoing basis. This evaluation considers industry and economic conditions, property performance, credit enhancements, length of time the receivables are past due, specific identification of uncollectible amounts, historical experience and other relevant factors. Historical experience has been within management’s expectations.
Segment Reporting
The Company’s reporting segments are based on the Company’s method of internal reporting, which classifies its operations into two reporting segments: (i) office properties and (ii) media and entertainment properties. The Company evaluates performance based upon net operating income of the combined properties in each segment. The media and entertainment segment is immaterial, and therefore separate income information by segment has not been presented. Asset information by segment is not reported because the Company does not use this measure to assess performance or make decisions to allocate resources.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. If the lease provides for tenant improvements, the Company determines whether the tenant improvements, for accounting purposes, are owned by the tenant or the Company. When the Company is the owner of the tenant improvements, the tenant is not considered to have taken physical possession or have control of the physical use of the leased asset until the tenant improvements are substantially completed. When the tenant is the owner of the tenant improvements, any tenant improvement allowance that is funded is treated as a lease incentive and amortized as a reduction of revenue over the lease term. Tenant improvement ownership is determined based on various factors including, but not limited to:

whether the lease stipulates how and on what a tenant improvement allowance may be spent;

whether the tenant or landlord retains legal title to the improvements at the end of the lease term;

whether the tenant improvements are unique to the tenant or general-purpose in nature; and

whether the tenant improvements are expected to have any residual value at the end of the lease.

Certain leases provide for additional rents contingent upon a percentage of the tenant’s revenue in excess of specified base amounts or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized when actual results reported by the tenant, or estimates of tenant results, exceed the base amount or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized only after the contingency has been removed (when the related thresholds are achieved), which may result in the recognition of rental revenue in periods subsequent to when such payments are received.

Other property-related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ use of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and Internet). Other property-related revenue is recognized when these items are provided.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period during which the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

The Company recognizes gains on sales of properties upon the closing of the transaction with the purchaser. Gains on properties sold are recognized using the full accrual method when (i) the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured, (ii) the Company is not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale, (iii) the initial investment from the buyer is sufficient and (iv) other profit recognition criteria have been satisfied. Gains on sales of properties may be deferred in whole or in part until the requirements for gain recognition have been met.

Deferred Financing Costs and Debt Discount/Premium
Deferred financing costs are amortized over the contractual loan term into interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Deferred financing costs, and related amortization, related to the unsecured revolving credit facility and undrawn term loans are presented within prepaid expenses and other assets, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All other deferred financing costs, and related amortization, are included in the notes payable, net line item in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Debt discounts and premiums are amortized and accreted on a straight-line basis over the contractual loan term, which approximates the effective interest method, into interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Discounts are recorded as additional interest expense and premiums are recorded as a reduction to interest expense.

Derivative Instruments
The Company manages interest rate risk associated with borrowings by entering into derivative instruments. The Company recognizes all derivative instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets on a gross basis at fair value. Derivative instruments that are not effective hedges are adjusted to fair value and the changes in fair value are reflected as income or expense. If the derivative instrument is an effective hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), which is a component of equity. The ineffective portion of a derivative instrument’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.
    
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation cost of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units under the Company’s equity incentive award plans are accounted for under ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The Company accounts for forfeitures of awards as they occur.

Income Taxes
The Company’s property-owning subsidiaries are limited liability companies and are treated as pass-through entities or disregarded entities (or, in the case of the entities that own the 1455 Market and Hill7 properties, REITs) for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the activities of these entities.

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2010. The Company believes that it has operated in a manner that has allowed the Company to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with such taxable year, and the Company intends to continue operating in such manner. To qualify as a REIT, the Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its net taxable income, excluding net capital gains, to the Company’s stockholders and to meet the various other requirements imposed by the Code relating to such matters as operating results, asset holdings, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership.

Provided that it continues to qualify for taxation as a REIT, the Company is generally not subject to corporate level income tax on the earnings distributed currently to its stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, and is unable to avail itself of certain savings provisions set forth in the Code, all of its taxable income would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, including any applicable alternative minimum tax. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, the Company would be ineligible to elect to be treated as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year for which the Company loses its qualification. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances the Company would be entitled to this statutory relief.

The Company may acquire direct or indirect interests in one or more Subsidiary REITs. A Subsidiary REIT is subject to the various REIT qualification requirements and other limitations described herein that are applicable to the Company. If a subsidiary REIT were to fail to qualify as a REIT, then (i) that Subsidiary REIT would become subject to federal income tax, (ii) shares in such REIT would cease to be qualifying assets for purposes of the asset tests applicable to REITs and (iii) it is possible that the Company would fail certain of the asset tests applicable to REITs, in which event the Company would fail to qualify as a REIT unless the Company could avail itself of certain relief provisions.    

The Company believes that its operating partnership is properly treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, the Company’s operating partnership is not subject to federal income tax on its income. Instead, each of its partners, including the Company, is allocated, and may be required to pay tax with respect to, its share of the operating partnership’s income. As such, no provision for federal income taxes has been included for the operating partnership.     

The Company has elected, together with one of the Company’s subsidiaries, to treat such subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) for federal income tax purposes. Certain activities that the Company may undertake, such as non-customary services for the Company’s tenants and holding assets that the Company cannot hold directly, will be conducted by a TRS. A TRS is subject to federal and, where applicable, state income taxes on its net income. The Company’s TRS did not have significant tax provisions or deferred income tax items for 2017, 2016 or 2015.

The Company is subject to the statutory requirements of the states in which it conducts business.

The Company periodically evaluates its tax positions to determine whether it is more likely than not that such positions would be sustained upon examination by a tax authority for all open tax years, as defined by the statute of limitations, based on their technical merits. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not established a liability for uncertain tax positions.

The Company and its TRS file income tax returns with the U.S. federal government and various state and local jurisdictions. The Company and its TRS are no longer subject to tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2012. Generally, the Company has assessed its tax positions for all open years, which include 2012 to 2016, and concluded that there are no material uncertainties to be recognized.

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
Under GAAP, the Company is required to measure certain financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, the Company is required to measure other financial instruments and balances at fair value on a non-recurring basis (e.g., carrying value of impaired real estate and long-lived assets). Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The GAAP fair value framework uses a three-tiered approach. Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

Level 3: prices or valuation techniques where little or no market data is available that requires inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

When available, the Company utilizes quoted market prices from an independent third-party source to determine fair value and classifies such items in Level 1 or Level 2. In instances where the market for a financial instrument is not active, regardless of the availability of a nonbinding quoted market price, observable inputs might not be relevant and could require the Company to make a significant adjustment to derive a fair value measurement. Additionally, in an inactive market, a market price quoted from an independent third party may rely more on models with inputs based on information available only to that independent third party. When the Company determines the market for a financial instrument owned by the Company to be illiquid or when market transactions for similar instruments do not appear orderly, the Company uses several valuation sources (including internal valuations, discounted cash flow analysis and quoted market prices) and establishes a fair value by assigning weights to the various valuation sources.

Changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a material effect on these estimated fair values. In this regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of an inactive market: (i) there are few recent transactions, (ii) price quotations are not based on current information, (iii) price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers (for example, some brokered markets), (iv) indexes that previously were highly correlated with the fair values of the asset or liability are demonstrably uncorrelated with recent indications of fair value for that asset or liability, (v) there is a significant increase in implied liquidity risk premiums, yields, or performance indicators (such as delinquency rates or loss severities) for observed transactions or quoted prices when compared with the Company’s estimate of expected cash flows, considering all available market data about credit and other nonperformance risk for the asset or liability, (vi) there is a wide bid-ask spread or significant increase in the bid-ask spread, (vii) there is a significant decline or absence of a market for new issuances (that is, a primary market) for the asset or liability or similar assets or liabilities, and (viii) little information is released publicly (for example, a principal-to-principal market).

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of non-orderly transactions: (i) there was not adequate exposure to the market for a period before the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets or liabilities under current market conditions, (ii) there was a usual and customary marketing period, but the seller marketed the asset or liability to a single market participant, (iii) the seller is in or near bankruptcy or receivership (that is, distressed), or the seller was required to sell to meet regulatory or legal requirements (that is, forced), and (iv) the transaction price is an outlier when compared with other recent transactions for the same or similar assets or liabilities.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“the FASB”) in the form of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”). The following ASUs were issued from 2016 to 2017 and have been adopted by the Company:
Standard
 
Description
 
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2017-04, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment
 
This guidance removes step two from the goodwill impairment test. As a result, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
 
The Company early adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 and November 17, 2016 EITF Meetings (SEC Update)
 
The guidance in this ASU is based on two SEC staff announcements made at the September 2016 and November 2016 EITF meetings. In the September meeting, the SEC announced that a registrant should disclose the potential material effects of the ASUs related to revenues, leases and credit losses on financial instruments. As a result of the November meeting, the ASU conforms to ASC 323 to the guidance issued in ASU 2014-01 related to investments in qualified affordable housing projects.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. With the adoption, the Company provided updates on its implementation of the ASUs related to revenue, leases and credit losses on financial instruments. Please refer to sections below for updates on the implementation of revenue and lease ASUs. The ASU related to credit losses on financial instruments could have a material impact on trade receivables and the Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business
 
This update amends the guidance for determining whether a transaction involves the purchase or disposal of a business or an asset. The amendments clarify that when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired or disposed of is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar assets, the set of assets and activities is not a business.
 
The Company early adopted the guidance in the fourth quarter of 2016. The adoption of this guidance changed the accounting for the transaction costs for acquisitions of operating properties treated as asset acquisitions such that transaction costs are capitalized as part of the purchase price of the acquisition instead of being expensed as transaction-related expenses.
Standard
 
Description
 
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2016-19, Technical Corrections and Improvements
 
The technical corrections make minor change to certain aspects of the FASB ASC, including changes to resolve differences between current and pre-Codification guidance, updates to wording, references to avoid misapplication and textual simplifications to increase the Codification’s utility and understandability and minor amendments to guidance that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)
 
This guidance requires entities to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. 
 
The Company early adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017 and applied it retrospectively. Pursuant to the adoption, the Company revised the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and disclosed the reconciliation to the related captions in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
ASU 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control
 
This guidance outlines how a single decisionmaker of a VIE should treat indirect interests held through other related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it retrospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and did not change the consolidation conclusion.
ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
 
This ASU clarifies how certain transactions should be classified in the statement of cash flows, including debt prepayment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and distributions received from equity method investments. The ASU provides two approaches to determine the classification of cash distributions received from equity method investments: (i) the “cumulative earnings” approach, under which distributions up to the amount of cumulative equity in earnings recognized will be classified as cash inflows from operating activities, and those in excess of that amount will be classified as cash inflows from investing activities and (ii) the “nature of the distribution” approach, under which distributions will be classified based on the nature of the underlying activity that generated cash distributions. The guidance requires a Company to elect either the “cumulative earnings” approach or the “nature of the distribution” approach at the time of adoption.
 
The Company early adopted this guidance during the second quarter of 2017 and applied it retrospectively. Pursuant to the adoption, the Company elected the “nature of the distribution” approach related to the distributions received from its equity method investments. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
ASU 2016-07, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting
 
The guidance eliminates the requirement that an investor retrospectively apply equity method accounting when an investment that it had accounted for by another method initially qualifies for use of the equity method. The guidance also requires an investor that has an available-for-sale security that subsequently qualifies for the equity method to recognize in net income the unrealized holding gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income related to that security when it begins applying the equity method. It is required to apply this guidance prospectively.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2016-06, Investments—Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments
 
The guidance requires a four-step decision sequence when assessing whether an embedded contingent put or call option is clearly and closely related to the debt host instrument.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships
 
The guidance states that the novation of a derivative contract (e.g., a change in the counterparty) in a hedge accounting relationship does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedge accounting relationship. The hedge accounting relationship could continue uninterrupted if all of the other hedge accounting criteria are met, including the expectation that the hedge will be highly effective when the creditworthiness of the new counterparty to the derivative contract is considered. Either a prospective or a modified retrospective approach can be applied.
 
The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2017 and applied it prospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

    
Update on ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), implementation

The new revenue standard was amended through various ASU’s. The ASU’s that impact the Company are ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with CustomersPrincipal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) and ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Issued on March 17, 2016, ASU 2016-08 clarifies certain aspects of the principal-versus-agent guidance in its new revenue recognition standard related to the determination of whether an entity is a principal-versus-agent and the determination of the nature of each specified good or service. Issued on May 28, 2014, ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenues arising from contracts with customers and specifically notes that lease contracts with customers are a scope exception.

ASC 606 provides practical expedients associated with the determination of whether a significant financing component exists and the expedient for recording an immediate expense for certain incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2017. Either the full retrospective approach (to the beginning of its contracts) or modified retrospective approach (from the beginning of the latest fiscal year of adoption) is permitted.

The Company has compiled an inventory of its sources of revenues and has preliminarily identified three revenue streams, which include other property related revenues, tenant recoveries and parking and other. Two of these revenue streams will be accounted for under ASC 606 when it becomes effective on January 1, 2018. The remaining revenue stream, tenant recoveries, which is integral to the Company’s leasing revenues, will be accounted for under ASC 606 on January 1, 2019, when the Company adopts ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). Under the current ASC 842 guidance, the Company would be required to classify our tenant recoveries into lease and non-lease components. In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed amendment to ASC 842 which if elected allows the Company to classify tenant recoveries as a single lease component and ASC 606 would then not apply.

The Company has completed its implementation of ASC 606 and has concluded that the recognition of revenues will not be materially impacted by this standard. The Company adopted ASC 606 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and is using the practical expedients associated with expensing incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer with terms of one year or less.
    
Update on ASC 842, Leases, implementation

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, to amend the accounting guidance for leases and set out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a lease agreement (i.e., lessees and lessors). This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2018. A modified retrospective approach must be applied for leases that exist or are entered into after January 1, 2017, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the 2019 consolidated financial statements, with a cumulative adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit on January 1, 2017, and restatement of the amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019.

In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposed amendment to ASU 842 that would provide an entity the optional transition method to initially account for the impact of the adoption with a cumulative adjustment to accumulated deficit on the effective date of the ASU, January 1, 2019 rather than January 1, 2017, which would eliminate the need to restate amounts presented prior to January 1, 2019.     

This guidance requires all lessees to record a lease liability at lease inception, with a corresponding right of use asset, except for short-term leases. Lessor accounting will not be fundamentally changed.

ASC 842 provides practical expedients that allow entities to not (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are considered or contain leases; (ii) reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.

The Company plans to adopt the standard on January 1, 2019 and expects to elect the use of practical expedients. If the proposed amendment to ASU 842 is adopted, the Company would elect the transition method for adoption as described above.

Lessor Accounting
    
The Company recognized rental revenues and tenant recoveries of $675.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This ASU requires companies to identify lease and non-lease components of a lease agreement. Lease components relate to the right to use the leased asset and non-lease components relate to payments for goods or services that are transferred separately from the right to use the underlying asset. Total lease consideration is allocated to lease and non-lease components on a relative standalone basis. The recognition of revenues related to lease components will be governed by ASC 842 while revenue related to non-lease components will be subject to ASC 606.

Under current accounting standards, the Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period during which the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as we are generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, have discretion in selecting the supplier and bear the associated credit risk.

In the FASB-proposed amendment to ASU 842, lessors can elect, as a practical expedient, not to allocate the total consideration to lease and non-lease components based on their relative standalone selling prices. If adopted, this practical expedient will allow lessors to elect a combined single lease component presentation if (i) the timing and pattern of the revenue recognition of the combined single lease component is the same, and (ii) the related lease component and, the combined single lease component would be classified as an operating lease.

The Company has not completed its analysis of this ASU. If the proposed practical expedient mentioned above is adopted and elected, tenant recoveries that qualify as non-lease components will be combined under a single lease component presentation. However, without the proposed practical expedient, the Company expects that it will continue to recognize the lease revenue component using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance. The Company expects that tenant recoveries will be separated into lease and non-lease components. Tenant recoveries that are categorized as lease components will generally be variable consideration with revenue recognized as the recoverable services are provided. Tenant recoveries that are categorized as non-lease components will be recognized at either a point in time or over time based on the pattern of transfer of the underlying goods or services to our tenants.

The ASU also requires lessors to capitalize only those costs that are defined as initial direct costs. Under the current accounting standards, the Company capitalizes initial direct and indirect leasing costs. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company capitalized $8.9 million of indirect leasing costs. Under this new ASU, these costs will be expensed as incurred.

Lessee Accounting

As of December 31, 2017, the future undiscounted minimum lease payments under the Company’s ground leases totaled $452.8 million. This guidance requires lessees to record a lease liability at lease inception, with a corresponding right-of-use asset, except for short-term leases. The Company continues to evaluate the amount of right-of-use asset and lease liability that will ultimately be recorded with respect to its ground leases agreements, where it is the lessee.

Other recently issued ASUs

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. The following table lists the recently issued ASUs that have not been adopted by the Company. The list excludes those ASUs that are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the ASUs related to the ASC 606 and ASC 842 which are discussed above.
Standard
 
Description
 
Effective Date
 
Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities
 
The guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. Therefore, a cumulative effect adjustment related to elimination of ineffectiveness measurement is required to be recorded to the opening balance of accumulated deficit as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption for cash flow hedges. The guidance also eases certain documentation and assessment requirements and modifies the accounting for components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. This guidance must be applied using a modified retrospective approach.
 
Effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2018
 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Company expects that the adoption would impact derivative instruments that have portions of ineffectiveness. The Company plans to early adopt this guidance during the first quarter in 2018 and apply it using the modified retrospective approach.
ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting
 
The guidance clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. This guidance must be applied prospectively.
 
Effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2017
 
The Company does not currently expect a material impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Company plans to adopt this guidance during the first quarter in 2018.
ASU 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets
 
The guidance updates the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset and clarifies the scope of ASC 610-20 on the sale or transfer of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, including partial sales. It also clarifies the derecognition guidance for nonfinancial assets to conform with the new revenue recognition standard. Either a full or modified retrospective approach can be applied.
 
Effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2017
 
The Company currently expects that the adoption of this ASU could have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements; however, such impact will not be known until the Company disposes of any of its investments in real estate properties, which would all be sales of nonfinancial assets. The Company plans to adopt this guidance during the first quarter in 2018 and apply it using the modified retrospective approach.
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses
 
This guidance sets forth a new impairment model for financial instruments, the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model, which is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the CECL model, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses.
 
Effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2019
 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.
ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.
 
This guidance provides a new measurement alternative for equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values and do not qualify for the net asset value practical expedient. Under this alternative, these investments can be measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer.
 
Effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2017
 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.