Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements include the accounts of Paramount and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership. All significant inter-company amounts have been eliminated. In our opinion, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, result of operations and changes in the cash flows have been made. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. These consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC.

We have made estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

Our Predecessor’s combined financial statements included all the accounts of our Predecessor, including its interests in (i) the Funds, (ii) Waterview and (iii) the three partially-owned properties.  Our Predecessor evaluated each of the Funds pursuant to the control model of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-20, Consolidation—Control of Partnerships and Similar Entities and concluded that based on its rights and responsibilities as the sole managing member of the general partner it should consolidate each of the Funds.  With the exception of the Residential Fund, which is carried at historical cost, each of the Funds qualify as investment companies pursuant to Financial Services—Investment Companies (“ASC 946”); accordingly, the underlying real estate investments are carried at fair value, which was retained in consolidation by our Predecessor.    

Upon completion of the Offering and the Formation Transactions, we acquired substantially all of the assets of our Predecessor and all of the assets of the Property Funds that it controlled, other than their interests in 60 Wall Street, 50 Beale Street, and a residual 2.0% interest in One Market Plaza.  In addition, as part of the Formation Transactions, we also acquired the interests of certain unaffiliated third parties in 1633 Broadway, 31 West 52^nd Street and 1301 Avenue of the Americas.  These transactions were accounted for as transactions among entities under common control.  However, since the assets that we acquired from our Predecessor are no longer held by funds which qualify for investment company accounting, we account for these assets following the Formation Transactions using historical cost accounting. As a result, our consolidated financial statements following the Formation Transactions, differ significantly from, and are not comparable with, the historical financial position and results of operations of our Predecessor.

Significant Accounting Policies

Significant Accounting Policies

There were no material changes to our significant accounting policies disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Upon completion of the Offering and Formation Transactions, we acquired substantially all of the assets of our Predecessor and substantially all of the assets of the Property Funds that it controlled. Our business, post the Formation Transactions, is comprised of one reportable segment. We have determined that our properties have similar economic characteristics to be aggregated into one reportable segment (operating, leasing and managing office properties). Our determination was based primarily on our method of internal reporting. Our Predecessor historically operated an integrated business that consisted of three reportable segments, (i) Owned Properties, (ii) Managed Funds and (iii) a Management Company. The Owned Properties segment consisted of properties in which our Predecessor had a direct or indirect ownership interest, other than properties that it owned through its private equity real estate funds. The Managed Funds segment consisted of the private equity real estate funds.  In addition, our Predecessor included a Management Company that performed property management and asset management services and certain general and administrative level functions, including legal and accounting, as a separate reportable segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Literature

Recently Issued Accounting Literature

In May 2014, the FASB issued an update ("ASU 2014-09") Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  ASU 2014-09 establishes a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition guidance.  ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers 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 and also requires certain additional disclosures.  ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2016.  We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2014-12”) to ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation.  ASU 2014-12 requires an entity to treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share based award has ended, as a performance condition that affects vesting.  ASU 2014-12 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2015.  We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-12 on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2015-02”) Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis to ASC Topic 810, Consolidation. ASU 2015-02 modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities, eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership and affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. ASU 2015-02 is effective for fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2015. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2015-03”) Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs to ASC Topic 835, Interest – Imputation of Interest. ASU 2015-03 requires an entity to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2015.  The adoption of this update on January 1, 2016 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.