SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sabra and its wholly owned subsidiaries as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and for the periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information as contained within the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for financial statements. In the opinion of management, the financial statements for the unaudited interim periods presented include all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary for a fair statement of the results for such periods. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. For further information, refer to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC.

GAAP requires the Company to identify entities for which control is achieved through voting rights or other means and to determine which business enterprise is the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). A VIE is broadly defined as an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance the entity’s activities without additional subordinated financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack (i) the ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or (iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests, and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve, or are conducted on behalf of, an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. If the Company were determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the Company would consolidate investments in the VIE. The Company may change its original assessment of a VIE due to events such as modifications of contractual arrangements that affect the characteristics or adequacy of the entity’s equity investments at risk and the disposal of all or a portion of an interest held by the primary beneficiary.

The Company identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the entity. The Company performs this analysis on an ongoing basis.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company determined it was the primary beneficiary of three variable interest entities—two exchange accommodation titleholder variable interest entities and a joint venture variable interest entity owning one skilled nursing/transitional care facility—and has consolidated the operations of these entities in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2018, the Company determined that operations of these entities were not material to the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

As it relates to investments in loans, in addition to the Company’s assessment of VIEs and whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of those VIEs, the Company evaluates the loan terms and other pertinent facts to determine whether the loan investment should be accounted for as a loan or as a real estate joint venture. If an investment has the characteristics of a real estate joint venture, including if the Company participates in the majority of the borrower’s expected residual profit, the Company would account for the investment as an investment in a real estate joint venture and not as a loan investment. Expected residual profit is defined as the amount of profit, whether called interest or another name, such as an equity kicker, above a reasonable amount of interest and fees expected to be earned by a lender. At September 30, 2018, none of the Company’s investments in loans are accounted for as real estate joint ventures.

As it relates to investments in joint ventures, the Company assesses any limited partners’ rights and their impact on the presumption of control of the limited partnership by any single partner. The Company also applies this guidance to managing member interests in limited liability companies. The Company reassesses its determination of which entity controls the joint venture if: there is a change to the terms or in the exercisability of the rights of any partners or members, the sole general partner or managing member increases or decreases its ownership interests, or there is an increase or decrease in the number of outstanding ownership interests. As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s determination of which entity controls its investments in joint ventures has not changed as a result of any reassessment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have not changed the results of operations of prior periods. As a result, certain reclassifications were made to the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture

The Company reports investments in unconsolidated entities over whose operating and financial policies it has the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method of accounting. Under this method of accounting, the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses is included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income. The initial carrying value of the investment is based on the amount paid to purchase the joint venture interest. Differences between the Company’s cost basis and the basis reflected at the joint venture level are generally amortized over the lives of the related assets and liabilities, and such amortization is included in the Company’s share of earnings of the joint venture.

The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of its equity method investments may not be recoverable or realized. When indicators of potential impairment are identified, the Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment based on a comparison of the fair value of the investment to its carrying value. The fair value is estimated based on discounted cash flows that include all estimated cash inflows and outflows over a specified holding period and any estimated debt premiums or discounts. If, based on this analysis, the Company does not believe that it will be able to recover the carrying value of its equity method investment, the Company would record an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of its equity method investment.

On January 2, 2018, the Company completed its transaction with affiliates of Enlivant and TPG Real Estate, the real estate platform of TPG, and contributed $352.7 million, before closing costs, to acquire a 49% equity interest in an entity that owns 172 senior housing communities managed by Enlivant (the “Enlivant Joint Venture”). At closing, the Enlivant Joint Venture had outstanding indebtedness of $791.3 million and net working capital of $22.9 million, and the Company’s investment in the Enlivant Joint Venture implied an aggregate portfolio value of $1.49 billion. The joint venture agreement includes an option for the Company to acquire the remainder of the outstanding equity interests in the Enlivant Joint Venture by January 2, 2021 and grants the Company the right of first offer if the Company’s partner in the Enlivant Joint Venture desires to transfer its equity interest (which it may do commencing on January 2, 2020). Sabra also has the right to designate three directors on the seven member board of directors of the Enlivant Joint Venture and has other customary minority rights. As of September 30, 2018, the book value of the Company’s investment in the Enlivant Joint Venture was $344.3 million.

Net Investment in Direct Financing Lease

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had a $23.3 million net investment in one skilled nursing/transitional care facility leased to an operator under a direct financing lease, as the tenant is obligated to purchase the property at the end of the lease term. The net investment in direct financing lease is recorded in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and represents the total undiscounted rental payments, plus the estimated unguaranteed residual value, less the unearned lease income. Unearned lease income represents the excess of the minimum lease payments and residual value over the cost of the investment. Unearned lease income is deferred and amortized to income over the lease term to provide a constant yield when collectability of the lease payments is reasonably assured. Income from the Company’s net investment in direct financing lease was $0.6 million and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and is reflected in interest and other income on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Future minimum lease payments contractually due under the direct financing lease at September 30, 2018, were as follows: $0.5 million for the remainder of 2018; $2.2 million for 2019; $2.3 million for 2020; and $2.1 million for 2021.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Update

Adopted

Between May 2014 and February 2017, the FASB issued four Accounting Standards Updates (each, an “ASU”) changing the requirements for recognizing and reporting revenue (together, herein referred to as the “Revenue ASUs”): (i) ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), (ii) ASU No. 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) (“ASU 2016-08”), (iii) ASU No. 2016-12, Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”) and (iv) ASU No. 2017-05, Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (“ASU 2017-05”). ASU 2014-09 provides guidance for revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2016-08 is intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. ASU 2016-12 provides practical expedients and improvements on the previously narrow scope of ASU 2014-09. The Revenue ASUs became effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 with the Company electing to use the modified retrospective approach for its adoption. Further, the Company elected to reassess only contracts that were not completed as of the adoption date. The adoption of these ASUs did not have a material impact to beginning retained earnings as of January 1, 2018.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 provides specific guidance clarifying how certain cash receipts and payments should be classified. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 and ASU 2016-18 on January 1, 2018. The full retrospective approach of adoption is required for both ASUs and, accordingly, certain line items in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The following table illustrates changes in the Company’s cash flows as reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and as previously reported prior to the adoption (in thousands):



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
	As Reported	As Previously Reported
Net cash provided by operating activities	53,258	49,771
Net increase in balance	7,939	4,452
Balance - beginning of the year	34,665	25,663
Balance - end of the year	43,362	30,873

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (“ASU 2017-12”). ASU 2017-12 is intended to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2017-12 effective beginning January 1, 2018. ASU 2017-12 requires a modified retrospective transition method in which the Company recognized the cumulative effect of the change on the opening balance of each affected component of equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of the date of adoption, which resulted in a decrease to cumulative distributions in excess of net income and an increase to accumulated other comprehensive income of $0.8 million.

Issued but Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 supersedes guidance related to accounting for leases. ASU 2016-02 updates guidance around the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The objective of ASU 2016-02 is to establish the principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. ASU 2016-02 does not fundamentally change lessor accounting; however, some changes have been made to lessor accounting to conform and align that guidance with the lessee guidance and other areas within GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. Under ASU 2016-02, entities currently are required to adopt the new lease requirements using a modified retrospective transition method whereby an entity initially applies the new lease requirements (subject to specific transition requirements and optional practical expedients) at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”) that allows lessors to elect, as a practical expedient, not to separate lease and nonlease components (such as services rendered) in a contract for the purpose of revenue recognition and disclosure. The practical expedient can only be applied to leasing arrangements for which (i) the timing and pattern of transfer are the same for the lease and nonlease components and (ii) the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. Under this practical expedient, contracts that are predominantly lease-based would be accounted for under Topic 842, and contracts that are predominantly service-based would be accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company preliminarily expects that rental income will be predominately lease-based and accounted for under Topic 842. The Company is still in the process of completing its preliminary assessment related to resident fees and services revenue. Further, ASU 2018-11 also provides for an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new lease requirements by allowing entities to initially apply the requirements by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company plans to elect this practical expedient and apply the optional transition method for its operating leases for which the Company is the lessee, using the cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, the Company will recognize its operating leases for which it is the lessee, mainly corporate office leases and ground leases, on its consolidated balance sheets. Further, as a result of adoption, the Company may be required to increase its revenue and expense for the amount of real estate taxes and insurance paid by its tenants under certain leasing arrangements with no net impact to net income. The Company is still evaluating the full impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 to its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires that a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 are an improvement because they eliminate the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, reflect an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. Previously, when credit losses were measured under GAAP, an entity generally only considered past events and current conditions in measuring the incurred loss. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. An entity will apply the amendments in this update through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements when adopted.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 updates the fair value measurement disclosure requirements by (i) eliminating certain requirements, including disclosure of the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements, (ii) modifying certain requirements, including clarifying that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date and (iii) adding certain requirements, including disclosure of the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for any eliminated or modified disclosures. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements when adopted.