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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements of the Company presented herein include all of the accounts of Sotherly Hotels Inc., the Operating Partnership, MHI TRS and subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership presented herein include all of the accounts of Sotherly Hotels LP, MHI TRS and subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. Additionally, all administrative expenses of the Company and those expenditures made by the Company on behalf of the Operating Partnership are reflected as the administrative expenses, expenditures and obligations thereto of the Operating Partnership, pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement.

Investment in Hotel Properties – Investments in hotel properties include investments in operating properties which are recorded at fair value on acquisition date and allocated to land, property and equipment and identifiable intangible assets. Replacements and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Upon the sale or retirement of a fixed asset, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from our accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the statements of operations. Expenditures under a renovation project, which constitute additions or improvements that extend the life of the property, are capitalized.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally 7 to 39 years for buildings and building improvements and 5 to 10 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the useful lives of the related assets.

We review our investments in hotel properties for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the hotel properties may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that may cause a review include, but are not limited to, adverse permanent changes in the demand for lodging at the properties due to declining national or local economic conditions and/or new hotel construction in markets where the hotels are located. When such conditions exist, management performs an analysis to determine if the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operations and the proceeds from the ultimate disposition of a hotel property exceeds its carrying value. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are found to be less than the carrying amount of the asset, an adjustment to reduce the carrying amount to the related hotel property’s estimated fair market value would be recorded and an impairment loss recognized.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Concentration of Credit Risk – We hold cash accounts at several institutions in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) protection limits of $250,000. Our exposure to credit loss in the event of the failure of these institutions is represented by the difference between the FDIC protection limit and the total amounts on deposit. Management monitors, on a regular basis, the financial condition of the financial institutions along with the balances there on deposit to minimize our potential risk.

Restricted Cash – Restricted cash includes real estate tax escrows, insurance escrows and reserves for replacements of furniture, fixtures and equipment pursuant to certain requirements in our various mortgage agreements.

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable consists primarily of hotel guest and banqueting receivables. Ongoing evaluations of collectability are performed and an allowance for potential credit losses is provided against the portion of accounts receivable that is estimated to be uncollectible.  

Inventories – Inventories, consisting primarily of food and beverages, are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a method that approximates first-in, first-out basis.

Franchise License Fees – Fees expended to obtain or renew a franchise license are amortized over the life of the license or renewal. The unamortized franchise fees as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were $457,128 and $471,996, respectively. Amortization expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, totaled $14,869 and $17,032, respectively.

Right-of-Use Assets and Lease Obligations – In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification.  In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, to clarify how to apply certain aspects of the new lease standard. In July 2018, the FASB also issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, to give companies another option for transition and to provide lessors with a practical expedient to reduce the cost and complexity of implementing the new standard. The transition option allows companies to not apply the new lease standard in the comparative periods they present in their financial statements in the year of adoption. We adopted this standard on January 1, 2019. We elected the practical expedients allowed under the guidance and retained the original lease classification and historical accounting for initial direct costs for leases existing prior to the adoption date. We also elected not to restate prior periods for the impact of the adoption of the new standard. The adoption of this standard has resulted in the recognition of right-of-use assets and related liabilities to account for our future obligations under the acquired operating ground lease, equipment, office space, parking and land leases for which we are the lessee. See Notes 4 and 6 to the accompanying financial statements for additional disclosures on the adoption of this standard.  As of March 31, 2019, we had right of use assets, net of approximately $6.2 million, and lease obligations of approximately $3.8 million.  The right-of-use assets are included in investments in hotel properties, net and the lease obligations are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Deferred Financing and Offering Costs – Deferred financing costs are recorded at cost and consist of loan fees and other costs incurred in issuing debt and are reflected in mortgage loans, net and unsecured notes, net on the consolidated balance sheets. Deferred offering costs are recorded at cost and consist of offering fees and other costs incurred in advance of issuing equity and are reflected in prepaid expenses, inventory and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of deferred financing costs is computed using a method that approximates the effective interest method over the term of the related debt and is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.  

Deferred offering costs are netted against our equity offerings when the offering is complete, whereby the costs are offset against the equity funds raised in the future and included in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated balance sheets, or if the offering expires and the offering costs exceed the funds raised in the offering then the excess will be included in corporate general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Derivative Instruments – Our derivative instruments are reflected as assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and measured at fair value. Derivative instruments 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 an interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivative instruments used to hedge exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. For a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge, the change in fair value each period is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity and partners’ capital to the extent the hedge is effective. For a derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge, the change in fair value each period is reported in earnings along with the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. For a derivative instrument that does not qualify for hedge accounting or is not designated as a hedge, the change in fair value each period is reported in earnings.

We use derivative instruments to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest-rate movements. To accomplish this objective, we currently use interest rate caps and an interest rate swap which act as cash flow hedges and are not designated as hedges.  We value our interest-rate caps and interest rate swap at fair value, which we define as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We also have used derivative instruments in the Company’s stock to obtain more favorable terms on our financing. We do not enter into contracts to purchase or sell derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Fair Value Measurements –

We classify the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:

 

Level 1

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.

 

Level 3

Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

We endeavor to utilize the best available information in measuring fair value. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table represents our assets and liabilities measured at fair value and the basis for that measurement (our interest rate caps and interest rate SWAP are the only assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and there were no non-recurring asset and liability fair value measurements as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively):

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Caps (1)

 

$

 

 

$

94,697

 

 

$

 

Interest Rate Swap (2)

 

$

 

 

$

(984,677

)

 

$

 

Mortgage loans (3)

 

$

 

 

$

(357,279,949

)

 

$

 

Unsecured notes (4)

 

$

(25,390,000

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Caps (1)

 

$

 

 

$

22,110

 

 

$

 

Interest Rate Swap (2)

 

$

 

 

$

(1,400,789

)

 

$

 

Mortgage loans (3)

 

$

 

 

$

(360,347,278

)

 

$

 

Unsecured notes (4)

 

$

(25,744,000

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

(1)

Interest rate caps, which cap the 1-month LIBOR rates between 2.5% and 3.25%.

(2)

Interest rate swap, which takes the Loan Rate and swaps it for a fixed interest rate of 5.237%; notional amounts of the swap approximate the declining balance of the loan.

(3)

Mortgage loans are reflected at outstanding principal balance, net of deferred financing costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

(4)

Unsecured notes are recorded at outstanding principal balance, net of deferred financing costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

Noncontrolling Interest in Operating Partnership – Certain hotel properties were acquired, in part, by the Operating Partnership through the issuance of limited partnership units of the Operating Partnership. The noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership is: (i) increased or decreased by the limited partners’ pro-rata share of the Operating Partnership’s net income or net loss, respectively; (ii) decreased by distributions; (iii) decreased by redemption of partnership units for the Company’s common stock; and (iv) adjusted to equal the net equity of the Operating Partnership multiplied by the limited partners’ ownership percentage immediately after each issuance of units of the Operating Partnership and/or the Company’s common stock through an adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Net income or net loss is allocated to the noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership based on the weighted average percentage ownership throughout the period.

Revenue Recognition – Revenue consists of amounts derived from hotel operations, including the sales of rooms, food and beverage, and other ancillary services. Room revenue is recognized over a customer's hotel stay. Revenue from food and beverage and other ancillary services is generated when a customer chooses to purchase goods or services separately from a hotel room and revenue is recognized on these distinct goods and services at the point in time or over the time period that goods or services are provided to the customer. Certain ancillary services are provided by third parties and the Company assesses whether it is the principal or agent in these arrangements. If the Company is the agent, revenue is recognized based upon the commission earned from the third party. If the Company is the principal, the Company recognizes revenue based upon the gross sales price. Some contracts for rooms or food and beverage services require an upfront deposit which is recorded as advanced deposits (or contract liabilities) and recognized once the performance obligations are satisfied and shown on our consolidated balance sheets.

Certain of the Company's hotels have retail spaces, restaurants or other spaces which the Company leases to third parties. Lease revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease and included in other operating revenues in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

The Company collects sales, use, occupancy and similar taxes at its hotels which are presented on a net basis on the consolidated statements of operations. Accounts receivable primarily represents receivables from hotel guests who occupy hotel rooms and utilize hotel services. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts sufficient to cover estimated potential credit losses.

Lease Revenue – Several of our properties generate revenue from leasing commercial space adjacent to the hotel, the restaurant space within the hotel, apartment units and space on the roofs of our hotels for antennas and satellite dishes.  We account for the lease income as revenue from other operating departments within the consolidated statements of operations pursuant to the terms of each lease.  Lease revenue was approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

A schedule of minimum future lease payments receivable for the remaining nine and twelve-month periods is as follows:

 

For the remaining nine months ending December 31, 2019

 

$

1,153,709

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

1,483,574

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

1,426,049

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

1,253,067

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

660,847

 

December 31, 2024 and thereafter

 

 

3,339,242

 

Total

 

$

9,316,488

 

 

Variable Interest Entities – The Operating Partnership is a variable interest entity. The Company’s only significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership, and consequently, substantially all of the Company’s assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. All of the Company’s debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries.

Income Taxes – The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax. MHI TRS, our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary which leases our hotels from subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, is subject to federal and state income taxes.

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, deferred tax assets totaled approximately $4.8 million and $5.1 million, respectively, of which approximately $4.2 million and $4.4 million relate to net operating losses of our TRS Lessee.  A valuation allowance is required for deferred tax assets if, based on all available evidence, it is “more-likely-than-not” that all or a portion of the deferred tax asset will or will not be realized due to the inability to generate sufficient taxable income in certain financial statement periods.  The “more-likely-than-not” analysis means the likelihood of realization is greater than 50%, that we will or will not be able to fully utilize the deferred tax assets against future taxable income. The net amount of deferred tax assets that are recorded on the financial statements must reflect the tax benefits that are expected to be realized using these criteria.  We perform this analysis by evaluating future hotel revenues and expenses accounting for certain non-recurring costs and expenses during the current and prior two fiscal years as well as anticipated changes in the lease rental payments from the TRS Lessee to subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. We have determined that it is more-likely-than-not that we will be able to fully utilize our deferred tax assets for future tax consequences, therefore no valuation allowance is required.  

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had no uncertain tax positions. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2019, the tax years that remain subject to examination by the major tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject generally include 2015 through 2017. In addition, as of March 31, 2019, the tax years that remain subject to examination, because of NOL carryforwards, by the major tax jurisdictions to which MHI TRS is subject include the years 2009 and 2014 through 2017.

The Operating Partnership is generally not subject to federal and state income taxes as the unit holders of the Partnership are subject to tax on their respective shares of the Partnership’s taxable income.

Stock-based Compensation – The Company’s 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”), which the Company’s stockholders approved in April 2013, permit the grant of stock options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock and performance share compensation awards to its employees and directors for up to 350,000 and 750,000 shares of common stock, respectively. The Company believes that such awards better align the interests of its employees with those of its stockholders.

Under the 2013 Plan, the Company has made stock awards totaling 176,350 shares, including 143,350 non-restricted shares and 33,000 restricted shares issued to certain executives and employees and to its independent directors.  All awards have vested except for 20,000 shares issued to one employee, which will vest over 4 years and 13,000 shares issued to the Company’s independent directors in February 2019, which will vest by December 31, 2019.  

Under the 2013 Plan, the Company may issue a variety of performance-based stock awards, including nonqualified stock options. The value of the awards is charged to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting or service period based on the value of the award as determined by the Company’s stock price on the date of grant or issuance.  As of March 31, 2019, no performance-based stock awards have been granted. Total compensation cost recognized under the 2013 Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $100,358 and $111,352, respectively.

Additionally, the Company sponsors and maintains an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) and related trust for the benefit of its eligible employees. We reflect unearned ESOP shares as a reduction of stockholders’ equity.  Dividends on unearned ESOP shares, when paid, are considered compensation expense. The Company recognizes compensation expense equal to the fair value of the Company’s ESOP shares during the periods in which they are committed to be released.  For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the ESOP compensation cost was $66,093 and $60,170, respectively. To the extent that the fair value of the Company’s ESOP shares differs from the cost of such shares, the differential is recognized as additional paid in capital.  Because the ESOP is internally leveraged through a loan from the Company to the ESOP, the loan receivable by the Company from the ESOP is not reported as an asset nor is the debt of the ESOP shown as a liability in the consolidated financial statements.

Advertising – Advertising costs were $97,668 and $98,313 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Involuntary Conversion of Assets – We record gains or losses on involuntary conversions of assets due to recovered insurance proceeds to the extent the undepreciated cost of a nonmonetary asset differs from the amount of monetary proceeds received. During each of the three-month periods ending March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized approximately $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in gain on involuntary conversion of assets, which is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Comprehensive Income – Comprehensive income as defined, includes all changes in equity during a period from non-owner sources. We do not have any items of comprehensive income other than net income.

Segment Information – We have determined that our business is conducted in one reportable segment: hotel ownership.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements – In July 2018, FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, The FASB decided to provide another transition method and practical expedients in addition to the existing transition method (a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements) by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date (such as January 1, 2019, for calendar year-end public business entities) and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption.  We adopted the practical expedients allowed under the guidance and retained the original lease classification and historical accounting for initial direct costs for leases existing prior to the adoption date on January 1, 2019. We also elected not to restate prior periods for the impact of the adoption of the new standard and instead recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings as of the adoption date. These standards resulted in the recognition of right-to-use assets and related liabilities to account for our future obligations under the ground lease arrangements for which we are the lessee. The right of use assets and corresponding liabilities were recorded in the amount of approximately $6.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively as of January 1, 2019.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The FASB issued this ASU to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under current GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendments in this ASU were effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application of this ASU was permitted for all entities. We created an inventory of our leases and have recorded current ground lease, office lease, other right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.  The standard required a modified retrospective approach for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements. This standard has been updated as noted above in ASU No. 2018-11. We adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2019. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations or cash flows.