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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation—The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements of the Company reflect, for all periods presented, the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of (i) the net-leased skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living facilities; (ii) the operations of the three independent living facilities that the Company owns and operates; and (iii) the preferred equity investments. For the periods prior to the Spin-Off, the Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a “carve-out” basis from Ensign’s consolidated financial statements using the historical results of operations, cash flows, assets and liabilities attributable to such skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living facilities (the “Ensign Properties”).
For the periods prior to the Spin-Off, the combined statements of operations reflect allocations of general corporate expenses from Ensign including, but not limited to, executive management, finance, legal, information technology, human resources, employee benefits administration, treasury, risk management, procurement, and other shared services. See further discussion in Note 6, Related Party Transactions.
The consolidated and combined financial statements for the periods prior to June 1, 2014, do not necessarily reflect what the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows would have been if the Company had been a stand-alone company during those periods presented. The historical financial information prior to June 1, 2014, is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s future results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements of the Company were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the Company. All intercompany transactions and account balances within the Company have been eliminated.
Estimates and Assumptions—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Management believes that the assumptions and estimates used in preparation of the underlying consolidated and combined financial statements are reasonable. Actual results, however, could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Reclassifications—Certain amounts in the Company’s consolidated and combined 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.
Real Estate Depreciation and Amortization—Real estate costs related to the acquisition and improvement of properties are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the asset on a straight-line basis. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred and significant replacements and betterments are capitalized. Repair and maintenance costs include all costs that do not extend the useful life of the real estate asset. The Company considers the period of future benefit of an asset to determine its appropriate useful life. Expenditures for tenant improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of the tenant’s lease term or expected useful life. The Company anticipates the estimated useful lives of its assets by class to be generally as follows:
 
Building
 
25-40 years
Building improvements
 
10-25 years
Tenant improvements
 
Shorter of lease term or expected useful life
Integral equipment, furniture and fixtures
 
5 years
Identified intangible assets
 
Shorter of lease term or expected useful life

 
 
Real Estate Acquisition Valuation— In accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, the Company records the acquisition of income-producing real estate as a business combination. If the acquisition does not meet the definition of a business, the Company records the acquisition as an asset acquisition. Under both methods, all assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured at their acquisition date fair values. For transactions that are business combinations, acquisition costs are expensed as incurred and restructuring costs that do not meet the definition of a liability at the acquisition date are expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date. For transactions that are asset acquisitions, acquisition costs are capitalized as incurred.
The Company assesses the acquisition date fair values of all tangible assets, identifiable intangibles and assumed liabilities using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers, generally utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis that applies appropriate discount and/or capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors, including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The fair value of tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it were vacant.
Estimates of the fair values of the tangible assets, identifiable intangibles and assumed liabilities require the Company to make significant assumptions to estimate market lease rates, property-operating expenses, carrying costs during lease-up periods, discount rates, market absorption periods, and the number of years the property will be held for investment. The use of inappropriate assumptions would result in an incorrect valuation of the Company’s acquired tangible assets, identifiable intangibles and assumed liabilities, which would impact the amount of the Company’s net income.

As part of the Company's asset acquisitions, the Company may commit to provide contingent payments to a seller or lessee (e.g., an earn-out payable upon the applicable property achieving certain financial metrics). Typically, when the contingent payments are funded, cash rent is increased by the amount funded multiplied by a rate stipulated in the agreement. Generally, if the contingent payment is an earn-out provided to the seller, the payment is capitalized to the property's basis. If the contingent payment is an earn-out provided to the lessee, the payment is recorded as a lease incentive and is amortized as a yield adjustment over the life of the lease.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—At each reporting period, management evaluates the Company’s real estate investments for impairment indicators, including the evaluation of the useful lives of the Company's assets. Management also assesses the carrying value of the Company’s real estate investments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators is based on factors such as, but not limited to, market conditions, operator performance and legal structure. If indicators of impairment are present, management evaluates the carrying value of the related real estate investments in relation to the future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying facilities. Provisions for impairment losses related to long-lived assets are recognized when expected future undiscounted cash flows are determined to be less than the carrying values of the assets. An adjustment is made to the net carrying value of the real estate investments for the excess of carrying value over fair value. All impairments are taken as a period cost at that time, and depreciation is adjusted going forward to reflect the new value assigned to the asset.
If the Company decides to sell real estate properties, it evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amounts of the assets. If the evaluation indicates that the carrying value is not recoverable from estimated net sales proceeds, the property is written down to estimated fair value less costs to sell.
In the event of impairment, the fair value of the real estate investment is determined by market research, which includes valuing the property in its current use as well as other alternative uses, and involves significant judgment. The Company’s estimates of cash flows and fair values of the properties are based on current market conditions and consider matters such as rental rates and occupancies for comparable properties, recent sales data for comparable properties, and, where applicable, contracts or the results of negotiations with purchasers or prospective purchasers. The Company’s ability to accurately estimate future cash flows and estimate and allocate fair values impacts the timing and recognition of impairments. While the Company believes its assumptions are reasonable, changes in these assumptions may have a material impact on financial results.
Other Real Estate Investments — Preferred equity investments are accounted for at unpaid principal balance, plus accrued return, net of reserves. The Company recognizes return income on a quarterly basis based on the outstanding investment including any accrued and unpaid return, to the extent there is outside contributed equity or cumulative earnings from operations. As the preferred member of the joint venture, the Company is not entitled to share in the joint venture’s earnings or losses. Rather, the Company is entitled to receive a preferred return, which is deferred if the cash flow of the joint venture is insufficient to pay all of the accrued preferred return. The unpaid accrued preferred return is added to the balance of the preferred equity investment up to the estimated economic outcome assuming a hypothetical liquidation of the book value of the joint venture. Any unpaid accrued preferred return, whether recorded or unrecorded by us, will be repaid upon redemption or as available cash flow is distributed from the joint venture.
The Company evaluates at each reporting period each of its other real estate investments for indicators of impairment. An investment is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. A reserve is established for the excess of the carrying value of the investment over its fair value.
 Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank term deposits and money market funds with original maturities of 3 months or less at time of purchase and therefore approximate fair value. The fair value of these investments is determined based on “Level 1” inputs, which consist of unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets. The Company places its cash and short-term investments with high credit quality financial institutions.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance periodically exceeds federally insurable limits. The Company monitors the cash balances in its operating accounts and adjusts the cash balances as appropriate; however, these cash balances could be impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets. To date, the Company has experienced no loss or lack of access to cash in its operating accounts.
Deferred Financing Costs—External costs incurred from placement of our debt are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related borrowings, which approximates the effective interest method. For senior unsecured notes payable, senior unsecured term loan and mortgage notes payable, deferred financing costs are netted against the outstanding debt amounts on the balance sheet. For the unsecured revolving credit facility, deferred financing costs are included in assets on the Company's balance sheet. Amortization of deferred financing costs is classified as interest expense in the consolidated and combined statements of operations. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing costs was $4.2 million and $3.3 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
When financings are terminated, unamortized deferred financing costs, as well as charges incurred for the termination, are expensed at the time the termination is made. Gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt are presented within income from continuing operations in the consolidated and combined statements of operations.
Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes rental revenue, including rental abatements, lease incentives and contractual fixed increases attributable to operating leases, if any, from tenants under lease arrangements with minimum fixed and determinable increases on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable term of the related leases when collectability is reasonably assured. Tenant recoveries related to the reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the expenses are incurred and presented gross if the Company is the primary obligor and, with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, such tenant reimbursement revenues consist of real estate taxes. Contingent revenue, if any, is not recognized until all possible contingencies have been eliminated.
The Company evaluates the collectability of rents and other receivables on a regular basis based on factors including, among others, payment history, the operations, the asset type and current economic conditions. If the Company's evaluation of these factors indicates it may not recover the full value of the receivable, the Company provides a reserve against the portion of the receivable that it estimates may not be recovered. This analysis requires the Company to determine whether there are factors indicating a receivable may not be fully collectible and to estimate the amount of the receivable that may not be collected. The Company did not reserve any receivables as of December 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
Income Taxes—The Company’s operations prior to the Spin-Off were historically included in Ensign’s U.S. federal and state income tax returns and all income taxes for periods prior to the Spin-Off were paid by Ensign. Income tax expense and other income tax related information contained in these consolidated and combined financial statements are presented on a separate tax return basis as if the Company filed its own tax returns for all periods. Management believes that the assumptions and estimates used to determine these tax amounts are reasonable. However, the consolidated and combined financial statements herein may not necessarily reflect the Company’s income tax expense or tax payments in the future, or what its tax amounts would have been if the Company had been a stand-alone company prior to the Spin-Off.
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2014. The Company believes it has been organized and has operated, and the Company intends to continue to operate, in a manner to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet certain organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to distribute to its stockholders at least 90% of the Company’s annual REIT taxable income (which is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction or net capital gain and which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP). As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent it distributes qualifying dividends to its stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates and generally will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost unless the Internal Revenue Service grants the Company relief under certain statutory provisions.
 
 
In connection with the Company’s intention to qualify as a real estate investment trust in 2014, on October 17, 2014, the Company’s board of directors declared a special dividend (the “Special Dividend”) of $132.0 million, or approximately $5.88 per common share, which represents the amount of accumulated earnings and profits, or “E&P,” allocated to the Company as a result of the Spin-Off. The Special Dividend was intended to purge the Company of accumulated E&P attributable to the period prior to the Company’s first taxable year as a REIT. The Special Dividend was paid on December 10, 2014, to stockholders of record on October 31, 2014, in a combination of both cash and stock. The cash portion totaled $33.0 million and the stock portion totaled $99.0 million. The Company issued 8,974,249 shares of common stock in connection with the stock portion of the Special Dividend.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities—The Company evaluates variable and fixed interest rate risk exposure on a routine basis and to the extent the Company believes that it is appropriate, it will offset most of its variable rate risk exposure by entering into interest rate swap agreements. It is the Company’s policy to only utilize derivative instruments for hedging purposes (i.e., not for speculation). The Company formally designates its interest rate swap agreements as hedges and documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items. The Company formally assesses effectiveness of its hedging relationships, both at the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, then measures and records ineffectiveness. The Company would discontinue hedge accounting prospectively (i) if it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item, (ii) when the derivative expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, (iii) if it is no longer probable that the forecasted transaction will occur, or (iv) if management determines that designation of the derivative as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate.
Effective May 30, 2014, the Company de-designated its interest rate swap contract that historically qualified for cash flow hedge accounting. This was due to the termination of the interest rate swap agreement related to the early retirement of the senior secured credit facility in place prior to the Spin-Off. As a result, the loss previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the interest rate swap was recognized in interest expense in the consolidated and combined statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2014. There was no outstanding interest rate swap contract as of December 31, 2016.
Stock-Based Compensation—The Company accounts for share-based payment awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. ASC 718 requires all entities to apply a fair value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with directors, officers and employees except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans. Net income (loss) reflects stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million, $1.5 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Concentration of Credit Risk—The Company is subject to concentrations of credit risk consisting primarily of operating leases on its owned properties. See Note 12, Concentration of Risk, for a discussion of major operator concentration.
Segment Disclosures —The FASB accounting guidance regarding disclosures about segments of an enterprise and related information establishes standards for the manner in which public business enterprises report information about operating segments. The Company has one reportable segment consisting of investments in healthcare-related real estate assets.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share—The Company calculates earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially-dilutive securities. Basic and diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2014 was retroactively restated for the number of basic and diluted shares outstanding immediately following the Spin-Off.
Beds, Units, Occupancy and Other Measures—Beds, units, occupancy and other non-financial measures used to describe real estate investments included in these Notes to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements are presented on an unaudited basis.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards—In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU No. 2014-09”). ASU No. 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize the revenue 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 and services. ASU No. 2014-09 supersedes the revenue requirements in Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. ASU No. 2014-09 does not apply to lease contracts within the scope of Leases (Topic 840). In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which deferred the effective date of its new revenue recognition standard by one year. The standard will be effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU No. 2014-09 but does not believe it will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements when adopted.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10) (“ASU No. 2016-01”).  ASU No. 2016-01 updates guidance related to recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. ASU No. 2016-01 requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The amendments in ASU No. 2016-01 also require an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. In addition, the amendments in ASU No. 2016-01 eliminate the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet for public business entities. ASU No. 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements when adopted.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02") that sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). ASU 2016-02 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 of the leased asset by the lessee. This classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 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. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. ASU 2016-02 is expected to result in the recognition of a right-to-use asset and related liability to account for the Company's future obligations for which the it is lessee. As of December 31, 2016, the remaining contractual payments under the Company's lease agreements aggregated $0.4 million. Additionally, ASU 2016-02 will require that lessees and lessors capitalize, as initial direct costs, only those costs that are incurred due to the execution of a lease. Under ASU 2016-02, allocated payroll costs and other costs that are incurred regardless of whether the lease is obtained will no longer be capitalized as initial direct costs and instead will be expensed as incurred. Lessors will continue to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases, and operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective transition method. The Company continues to assess the potential effect that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU No. 2016-09"), that simplifies several aspects of employee share-based payment accounting, including the accounting for forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 allows an entity to make an accounting policy election either to continue to estimate the total number of awards that are expected to vest (current method) or to account for forfeitures when they occur. This entity-wide accounting policy election only applies to service conditions; for performance conditions, the entity continues to assess the probability that such conditions will be achieved. If an entity elects to account for forfeitures when they occur, all nonforfeitable dividends paid on share-based payment awards are initially charged to retained earnings and reclassified to compensation cost only when forfeitures of the underlying awards occur. Under current guidance, nonforfeitable dividends paid on share-based payment awards that are not expected to vest are recognized as additional compensation cost. An entity must also disclose its policy election for forfeitures. The ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. If adopted, the ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption.  The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) ("ASU 2016-13") that changes the impairment model for most financial instruments by requiring companies to recognize an allowance for expected losses, rather than incurred losses as required currently by the other-than-temporary impairment model. ASU 2016-13 will apply to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases, and off-balance-sheet credit exposures (e.g., loan commitments). ASU 2016-13 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied as a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. The Company is currently assessing the potential effect the adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15"), which provided guidance on certain specific cash flow issues, including, but not limited to, debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and distributions received from equity method investees. ASU 2016-15 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted and shall be applied retrospectively where practicable. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) ("ASU 2016-18") that will require companies to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 will require a disclosure of a reconciliation between the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows when the statement of financial position includes more than one line item for cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents. Entities with material restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents balances will be required to disclose the nature of the restrictions. ASU 2016-18 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not have any restricted cash. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805) ("ASU 2017-01") that clarifies the framework for determining whether an integrated set of assets and activities meets the definition of a business. The revised framework establishes a screen for determining whether an integrated set of assets and activities is a business and narrows the definition of a business, which is expected to result in fewer transactions being accounted for as business combinations. Acquisitions of integrated sets of assets and activities that do not meet the definition of a business are accounted for as asset acquisitions. This update is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for transactions that have not been reported in previously issued (or available to be issued) financial statements and shall be applied on a prospective basis. The Company expects that acquisitions of real estate or in-substance real estate will not meet the revised definition of a business because substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets (i.e. land, buildings, and related intangible assets) or because the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce or an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay.