Fair Value of Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets:

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable (included in other assets), accounts payable and accrued liabilities: The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these instruments approximate their fair value due to the short term nature of these accounts.

Junior subordinated notes: At March 31, 2015 and 2014, the estimated fair value of the Trust’s junior subordinated notes is lower than their carrying value by approximately $21,000,000 and $24,300,000 based on a market interest rate of 6.15% and 6.84%, respectively.

Mortgages payable: At March 31, 2015, the estimated fair value of the Trust’s mortgages payable is greater than their carrying value by approximately $7,000,000 assuming market interest rates between 2.79% and 8.79% and

at March 31, 2014, the estimated fair value of the Trust's mortgages payable was lower than their carrying value by approximately $12,000,000 assuming market interest rates between 2.42% and 9.58% . Market interest rates were determined using rates which the Trust believes reflects institutional lender yield requirements.

Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value assumptions.

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The Trust’s fair value measurements are based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, there is a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions. Level 1 assets/liabilities are valued based on quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets, Level 2 assets/liabilities are valued based on quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, on quoted prices in less active or inactive markets, or on other “observable” market inputs, and Level 3 assets/liabilities are valued based significantly on “unobservable” market inputs. The Trust does not currently own any financial instruments that are classified as Level 3.

Set forth below is information regarding the Trust’s financial liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands):



	Carrying and Fair Value		Fair Value Measurements Using Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying and Fair Value		Level 1	Level 2
Financial Liabilities:
Interest rate swap	$	56	—	$	56

Derivative financial instrument: Fair values are approximated using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of the derivatives. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and implied volatilities. At March 31, 2015, this derivative is included in other accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

Note 8 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments - continued

Although the Trust has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivative fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with it utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparty. As of March 31, 2015, the Trust assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative position and determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivative. As a result, the Trust determined that its derivative valuation is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

- Definition

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

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