2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements: The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. for interim financial information, including rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. for complete financial statements.

For information about significant accounting policies, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no material changes to these policies.

Recent Accounting Developments:

Clarifying the Definition of a Business

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-01, “Clarifying the Definition of a Business” (“ASU 2017-01”). The amendments in ASU 2017-01 provide an initial screen to determine if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, in which case, the transaction would be accounted for as an asset acquisition rather than as a business combination. In addition, ASU 2017-01 clarifies the requirements for a set of activities to be considered a business and narrows the definition of an output. A reporting entity must apply the amendments in ASU 2017-01 using a prospective approach. We expect to adopt ASU 2017-01on January 1, 2018 for our 2018 fiscal year. Upon adoption, we expect to recognize a majority of our real estate acquisitions as asset transactions rather than business combinations, which will result in the capitalization of third party transaction costs that are directly related to an acquisition. Indirect and internal transaction costs will continue to be expensed but we do not expect to include these costs as an adjustment in deriving normalized funds from operations in the future. We expect this change in accounting, once adopted, may decrease our normalized funds from operations by $1.5 million per quarter.

Reclassifications and Revisions

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Variable Interest Entities

At March 31, 2017, we had loans to and/or equity investments in certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”), which are also tenants of our facilities. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. The carrying value and classification of the related assets and maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with these VIEs are presented below at March 31, 2017 (in thousands):


VIE Type	Maximum Loss Exposure(1)		Asset Type Classification	Carrying Amount(2)
Loans, net	$	320,668	Mortgage and other loans	$	234,821
Equity investments	$	13,114	Other assets	$	—

(1)

Our maximum loss exposure related to loans with VIEs represents our current aggregate gross carrying value of the loan plus accrued interest and any other related assets (such as rent receivables), less any liabilities. Our maximum loss exposure related to our equity investment in VIEs represents the current carrying values of such investment plus any other related assets (such as rent receivables), less any liabilities.

(2)	Carrying amount reflects the net book value of our loan or equity interest only in the VIE.

For the VIE types above, we do not consolidate the VIE because we do not have the ability to control the activities (such as the day-to-day healthcare operations of our borrowers or investees) that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. As of March 31, 2017, we were not required to provide financial support through a liquidity arrangement or otherwise to our unconsolidated VIEs, including circumstances in which it could be exposed to further losses (e.g., cash short falls).

Typically, our loans are collateralized by assets of the borrower (some assets of which are on the premises of facilities owned by us) and further supported by limited guarantees made by certain principals of the borrower.

See Note 3 and Note 5 for additional description of the nature, purpose and activities of our more significant VIEs and interests therein (such as Ernest Health Inc. (“Ernest”)).