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Note 1 - Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
1.  
Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., a Maryland corporation ("ROIC"), is a fully integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT").  ROIC specializes in the acquisition, ownership and management of necessity-based community and neighborhood shopping centers in the western regions of the United States anchored by national and regional supermarkets and drugstores.  ROIC refers to the properties it targets for investments as its target assets.

ROIC is organized in a traditional umbrella partnership real estate investment trust ("UpREIT") format pursuant to which Retail Opportunity Investments GP, LLC, its wholly-owned subsidiary, serves as the general partner of, and ROIC conducts substantially all of its business through, its wholly-owned operating partnership subsidiary, Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership") and its subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references to the “Company”, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “our company” refer to ROIC together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP.

With the approval of its stockholders, ROIC reincorporated as a Maryland corporation on June 2, 2011.  ROIC began operations as a Delaware corporation, known as NRDC Acquisition Corp., which was incorporated on July 10, 2007, for the purpose of acquiring assets or operating business through a merger, capital stock exchange, stock purchase, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with one or more assets or control of one or more operating businesses.  On October 20, 2009, ROIC’s stockholders and warrantholders approved each of the proposals presented at the special meetings of stockholders and warrantholders, respectively, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Framework Agreement (the "Framework Agreement") ROIC entered into on August 7, 2009 with NRDC Capital Management, LLC, which, among other things, set forth the steps to be taken by ROIC to continue its business as a corporation that has elected to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2010.

ROIC’s only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of the Operating Partnership and membership interests in Retail Opportunity Investments GP, LLC, which is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. As a result, ROIC does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the parent company and issuing equity from time to time.  The Operating Partnership holds substantially all the assets of the Company and directly or indirectly holds the ownership interests in the Company’s real estate ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the Company’s business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for net proceeds from warrant exercises and equity issuances by ROIC, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generates the capital required by the Company’s business through the Operating Partnership’s operations, by the Operating Partnership’s incurrence of indebtedness (directly and through subsidiaries.  In the future the Operating Partnership may generate capital through the issuance of partnership units of the Operating Partnership or equity interests in subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), requiring companies to present information about reclassifications out of AOCI in one place and by component.  This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2012.  Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statement disclosures. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those of its subsidiaries, which are wholly-owned or controlled by the Company.  Entities which the Company does not control through its voting interest and entities which are variable interest entities ("VIEs"), but where it is not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company follows the FASB guidance for determining whether an entity is a VIE and requires the performance of a qualitative rather than a quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a VIE.  Under this guidance, an entity would be required to consolidate a VIE if it has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

A non-controlling interest in a consolidated subsidiary is defined as the portion of the equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to a parent.  Non-controlling interests are required to be presented as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheet and modifies the presentation of net income by requiring earnings and other comprehensive income to be attributed to controlling and non-controlling interests.

The Company assesses the accounting treatment for each joint venture.  This assessment includes a review of each joint venture or limited liability company agreement to determine which party has what rights and whether those rights are protective or participating.  For all VIEs, the Company reviews such agreements in order to determine which party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance.  In situations where the Company or its partner approves, among other things, the annual budget, receives a detailed monthly reporting package from the Company, meets on a quarterly basis to review the results of the joint venture, reviews and approves the joint venture's tax return before filing, and approves all leases that cover more than a nominal amount of space relative to the total rentable space at each property, the Company does not consolidate the joint venture as it considers these to be substantive participation rights that result in shared power of the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the joint venture.  The Company's joint venture agreements also contain certain protective rights such as the requirement of partner approval to sell, finance or refinance the property and the payment of capital expenditures and operating expenditures outside of the approved budget or operating plan.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods covered by the financial statements.  The most significant assumptions and estimates relate to the purchase price allocations, depreciable lives, revenue recognition and the collectability of tenant receivables, other receivables, notes receivables, the valuation of performance based restricted stock, stock options, and derivatives.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Federal Income Taxes

Commencing with ROIC’s taxable year ended December 31, 2010, ROIC has elected to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").  Under those sections, a REIT that, among other things, distributes at least 90% of REIT taxable income and meets certain other qualifications prescribed by the Code will not be taxed on that portion of its taxable income that is distributed.

Although it may qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, ROIC is subject to state income or franchise taxes in certain states in which some of its properties are located.  In addition, taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through the Company's taxable REIT subsidiary ("TRS") is fully subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes.  As of June 30, 2013 and for all prior periods since inception, Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP has been an entity disregarded from its sole owner, ROIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as such is not subject to federal income taxes.    

The Company follows the FASB guidance that defines a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  The FASB also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  The Company records interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as interest expense.  As of June 30, 2013, the tax years 2009 through and including 2012 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and state taxing authorities.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, the IRS conducted an examination of the Company's 2009 federal tax return.  During the six months ended June 30, 2012 the Company reached a settlement with the IRS in which the Company paid to the IRS approximately $122,000.

Real Estate Investments

All costs related to the improvement or replacement of real estate properties are capitalized.  Additions, renovations and improvements that enhance and/or extend the useful life of a property are also capitalized.  Expenditures for ordinary maintenance, repairs and improvements that do not materially prolong the normal useful life of an asset are charged to operations as incurred.  The Company expenses transaction costs associated with business combinations in the period incurred.  During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, capitalized costs related to the improvements or replacement of real estate properties were approximately $8.5 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

Upon the acquisition of real estate properties, the fair value of the real estate purchased is allocated to the acquired tangible assets (consisting of land, buildings and improvements), and acquired intangible assets and liabilities (consisting of above-market and below-market leases and acquired in-place leases).  Acquired lease intangible assets include above-market leases and acquired in-place leases in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.  The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property is determined by valuing the property as if it were vacant, which value is then allocated to land, buildings and improvements based on management's determination of the relative fair values of these assets.  In valuing an acquired property's intangibles, factors considered by management include an estimate of carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods, and estimates of lost rental revenue during the expected lease-up periods based on its evaluation of current market demand.  Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases, including leasing commissions, tenant improvements, legal and other related costs.  Leasing commissions, legal and other related costs ("lease origination costs") are classified as deferred charges in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

The value of in-place leases is measured by the excess of (i) the purchase price paid for a property after adjusting existing in-place leases to market rental rates, over (ii) the estimated fair value of the property as if vacant.  Above-market and below-market lease values are recorded based on the present value (using a discount rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between the contractual amounts to be received and management's estimate of market lease rates, measured over the terms of the respective leases that management deemed appropriate at the time of acquisition.  Such valuations include a consideration of the non-cancellable terms of the respective leases as well as any applicable renewal periods.  The fair values associated with below-market rental renewal options are determined based on the Company's experience and the relevant facts and circumstances that existed at the time of the acquisitions.  The value of the above-market and below-market leases associated with the original lease term is amortized to rental income, over the terms of the respective leases.  The value of in-place leases are amortized to expense, and the above-market and below-market lease values are amortized to rental income, over the remaining non-cancellable terms of the respective leases.  If the value of below-market leases includes renewal option periods, the Company includes such renewal periods in the amortization period utilized.  If a lease were to be terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts relating to that lease would be recognized in operations at that time.  The Company may record a bargain purchase gain if it determines that the purchase price for the acquired assets was less than the fair value.  The Company will record a liability in situations where any part of the cash consideration is deferred.  The amounts payable in the future are discounted to their present value.  The liability is subsequently re-measured to fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.  If, up to one year from the acquisition date, information regarding fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received and estimates are refined, appropriate property adjustments are made to the purchase price allocation on a retrospective basis.

In conjunction with the Company's pursuit and acquisition of real estate investments, the Company expensed acquisition transaction costs during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $520,000 and $630,000, respectively, and approximately $928,000 and $753,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Regarding the Company's 2013 property acquisitions (see Note 2), the fair value of in-place leases and other intangibles have been allocated to intangible asset and liability accounts.  Such allocations are preliminary and may be adjusted as final information becomes available.

Asset Impairment

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to aggregate future net cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) expected to be generated by the asset.  If such assets are considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceed the fair value.  Management does not believe that the value of any of the Company's real estate investments was impaired at June 30, 2013.

In June 2013, the Company sold the Nimbus Winery Shopping Center, a non-grocery anchored, non-core shopping center located in Rancho Cordova, California. The sales price of this property of approximately $6.3 million, less costs to sell, resulted in proceeds to the Company of approximately $5.6 million.  Accordingly, the Company recorded a loss on sale of property of approximately $714,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, which has been included in discontinued operations.

The Company reviews its investment in its unconsolidated joint venture for impairment periodically and the Company would record an impairment charge when events or circumstances change indicating that a decline in the fair values below the carrying values has occurred and such decline is other-than temporary.  The ultimate realization of the Company's investment in its unconsolidated joint venture is dependent on a number of factors, including the performance of each investment and market conditions.  Management does not believe that the carrying value of the Company's unconsolidated joint venture was impaired at June 30, 2013.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed the federally insured limit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances.

Restricted Cash

The terms of several of the Company's mortgage loans payable require the Company to deposit certain replacement and other reserves with its lenders.  Such "restricted cash" is generally available only for property-level requirements for which the reserves have been established and is not available to fund other property-level or Company-level obligations.

Revenue Recognition

Management has determined that all of the Company's leases with its various tenants are operating leases.  Rental income is generally recognized based on the terms of leases entered into with tenants.  In those instances in which the Company funds tenant improvements and the improvements are deemed to be owned by the Company, revenue recognition will commence when the improvements are substantially completed and possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant.  When the Company determines that the tenant allowances are lease incentives, the Company commences revenue recognition and lease incentive amortization when possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant for tenant work to begin.  Minimum rental income from leases with scheduled rent increases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  Percentage rent is recognized when a specific tenant's sales breakpoint is achieved.  Property operating expense recoveries from tenants of common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other recoverable costs are recognized in the period the related expenses are incurred.  Lease incentives are amortized as a reduction of rental revenue over the respective tenant lease terms.

Termination fees (included in rental revenue) are fees that the Company has agreed to accept in consideration for permitting certain tenants to terminate their lease prior to the contractual expiration date.  The Company recognizes termination fees in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin 104, "Revenue Recognition," when the following conditions are met:  (a) the termination agreement is executed; (b) the termination fee is determinable; (c) all landlord services pursuant to the terminated lease have been rendered; and (d) collectivity of the termination fee is assured.  Interest income is recognized as it is earned.  Gains or losses on disposition of properties are recorded when the criteria for recognizing such gains or losses under generally accepted accounting principles have been met.

The Company must make estimates as to the collectability of its accounts receivable related to base rent, straight-line rent, expense reimbursements and other revenues.  Management analyzes accounts receivable and the allowance for bad debts by considering tenant creditworthiness, current economic trends, and changes in tenants' payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.  The Company also provides an allowance for future credit losses of the deferred straight-line rents receivable.  The provision for doubtful accounts at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was approximately $2.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization

The Company uses the straight-line method for depreciation and amortization.  Buildings are depreciated over the estimated useful lives which the Company estimates to be 39-40 years.  Property improvements are depreciated over the estimated useful lives that range from 10 to 20 years.  Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over the estimated useful lives that range from 3 to 10 years.  Tenant improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the related leases or their useful life.

Deferred Charges

Deferred charges consist principally of leasing commissions and acquired lease origination costs (which are amortized ratably over the life of the tenant leases) and financing fees (which are amortized over the term of the related debt obligation).  Deferred charges in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are shown at cost, net of accumulated amortization of approximately $11.8 million and $9.1 million, as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and tenant receivables.  The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in excess of insured amounts with high quality financial institutions.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its tenants and requires tenants to provide security deposits.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes the impact of dilutive shares and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.  Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares of common stock were exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then shared in the earnings of the Company.

During the six months ended June 30, 2012 the effect of the 41,400,000 warrants to purchase ROIC’s common stock  (the "Public Warrants") issued in connection with ROIC’s initial public offering (the "IPO") and the 8,000,000 warrants (the "Private Placement Warrants") purchased by NRDC Capital Management, LLC (the "Sponsor") simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS as the weighted average share price was less than the exercise price during this period.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and the three months ended June 30, 2012, the effect of the outstanding Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants, for the time these were outstanding during these periods, were included in the calculation of diluted EPS as the weighted average share price was greater than the exercise price during this period.  See Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, basic EPS was determined by dividing net income allocable to common stockholders for the applicable period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during such period. Net income during the applicable period is also allocated to the time-based unvested restricted stock as these grants are entitled to receive dividends and are therefore considered a participating security.  Time-based unvested restricted stock is not allocated net losses and/or any excess of dividends declared over net income; such amounts are allocated entirely to the common stockholders other than the holders of time-based unvested restricted stock.  The performance based restricted stock awards outstanding under the 2009 Plan described in Note 6 are excluded from the basic EPS calculation, as these units are not participating securities until they vest.

As of June 30, 2013, the Operating Partnership is wholly-owned by ROIC, therefore the presentation of earnings per unit is currently not applicable.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation between basic and diluted EPS:

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30,
2013
   
June 30,
2012
   
June 30,
2013
   
June 30,
2012
 
Numerator:
                       
Net income attributable to ROIC
  $ 2,471,012     $ 4,424,752     $ 4,760,898     $ 5,552,156  
Less, earnings allocated to unvested shares
    (51,572 )     (65,915 )     (101,660 )     (95,669 )
Net income available for common shareholders, basic and diluted
  $ 2,419,440     $ 4,358,837     $ 4,659,238     $ 5,456,487  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Denominator for basic EPS – weighted average common shares
    67,915,106       50,394,722       62,651,921       49,999,241  
Warrants 
    2,987,628       448,720       3,667,635        
Restricted stock awards – performance-based
    120,268       52,073       104,278       51,870  
Stock Options
    72,090       46,525       62,367       43,791  
Denominator for diluted EPS – weighted average common equivalent shares
    71,095,092       50,942,040       66,486,201       50,094,902  

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has a stock-based employee compensation plan, which is more fully described in Note 6.

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans based on the FASB guidance which requires that compensation expense be recognized based on the fair value of the stock awards less estimated forfeitures.  Restricted stock grants vest based upon the completion of a service period ("time-based grants") and/or the Company meeting certain established financial performance criteria ("performance-based grants").  Time-based grants are valued according to the market price for ROIC’s common stock at the date of grant.  For performance-based grants, the Company generally engages an independent appraisal company to determine the value of the shares at the date of grant, taking into account the underlying contingency risks associated with the performance criteria.  It is the Company's policy to grant options with an exercise price equal to the quoted closing market price of stock on the grant date or the date immediately prior to the grant date.  Awards of stock options and time-based grants stock are expensed as compensation ratably over the vesting period.  Awards of performance-based grants are expensed as compensation under an accelerated method and are recognized in income regardless of the Company results against the performance criteria.

Derivatives

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, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting.  Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of 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 designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges.  Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.

Segment Reporting

The Company operates in one industry segment, ownership of commercial real estate properties.  The Company does not distinguish in property operations for purposes of measuring performance.  The Company reassesses its conclusion that it has one reportable operating segment at least annually.