XML 31 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods included therein. Substantially all operations are conducted through the Operating Company, and all significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

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

Variable Interest Entities

The Company invests in entities that may qualify as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). A VIE is a legal entity that lacks one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A VIE is defined as an entity in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The determination of whether an entity is a VIE includes both a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Management bases the qualitative analysis on its review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including allocation of decision-making authority and relevant financial agreements and the quantitative analysis on the forecasted cash flow of the entity. Management reassesses the initial evaluation of an entity as a VIE upon the occurrence of certain reconsideration events.

A VIE must be consolidated only by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party that, along with its affiliates and agents, has both the: (i) power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) obligation to absorb the losses of the VIE or the right to receive the benefits from the VIE, which could be significant to the VIE. Management determines whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by considering qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: which activities most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and which party controls such activities; the amount and characteristics of its investment; the obligation or likelihood for the Company or other interests to provide financial support; and consideration of the VIE’s purpose and design, including the risks the VIE was designed to create and pass through to its variable interest holders and the similarity with and significance to the Company’s business activities and the other interests. Management reassesses the determination of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE each reporting period.

Equity Investments

Investments in real estate ventures and entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825-10”), issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), the Company has elected the fair value option of accounting for its development property investments and bridge loan investments, which would otherwise be required to be accounted for under the equity method. The Company also holds an investment in a self-storage real estate venture that is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Loan Investments and Election of Fair Value Option of Accounting for Certain Loan Investments

Investments and Election of Fair Value Option of Accounting for Certain Investments

The Company has elected the fair value option of accounting for all of its investment portfolio loan and equity investments, including those that are required under GAAP to be accounted for under the equity method, in order to provide stockholders and others who rely on the Company’s financial statements with a more complete and accurate understanding of the Company’s economic performance including its revenues and value inherent in the Company’s equity participation in development projects. Changes in the fair value of these investments are recorded in change in fair value of investments within other income. Interest income is reported in interest income from investments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and is not included in the change in fair value of investments within other income. All direct loan costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Each loan investment, including those recorded at cost and presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as other loans, is evaluated for impairment on a periodic basis. For loans carried at fair value, indicators of impairment are reflected in measurement of the loan. For loans that are carried at cost, the Company estimates an allowance for loan loss at each reporting date. In evaluating loan impairment, the Company also periodically evaluates the extent and impact of any credit deterioration associated with the performance and/or value of the underlying collateral property as well as the financial and operating capability of the borrower on a loan by loan basis. The Company also evaluates the financial wherewithal of any loan guarantors as well as the borrower’s competency in managing and operating the property. In addition, the Company considers the overall economic environment, real estate sector and geographic sub-market in which the borrower operates. A loan will be considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the loan will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors to be considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no loans that were deemed to be impaired loans. Additionally, for loans recorded at cost, the Company determined that no allowance for loan loss was necessary at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company carries certain financial instruments at fair value because it has elected to apply the fair value option on an instrument by instrument basis under ASC 825-10. The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, development property investments and bridge loan investments (which are generally structured as first mortgages and a 49.9% Profits Interest in the project), operating property loans (loans secured by operating properties), the investment in self-storage real estate venture, other loans, receivables, the secured revolving Credit Facility (as defined below), senior loan participation, and payables.

The following table presents the financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2018:



	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Development property investments	$	302,245	$	-	$	-	$	302,245
Bridge loan investments (1)		79,581		-		-		79,581
Operating property loans		5,862		-		-		5,862
Total investments	$	387,688	$	-	$	-	$	387,688


		The Company closed its first bridge loan investment on March 2, 2018.

The following table presents the financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2017:



	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Development property investments	$	228,233	$	-	$	-	$	228,233
Operating property loans		5,938		-		-		5,938
Total investments	$	234,171	$	-	$	-	$	234,171

Estimating fair value requires the use of judgment. The types of judgments involved depend upon the availability of observable market information. Management’s judgments include determining the appropriate valuation model to use, estimating unobservable inputs and applying valuation adjustments. See Note 4, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for additional disclosure on the valuation methodology and significant assumptions, as well as the election of the fair value option for certain financial instruments.

Self-Storage Real Estate Owned

Land is carried at historical cost. Building and improvements are carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. The cost primarily reflects the funded principal balance of the loan to the Company, net of unamortized origination fees, unrealized appreciation recognized as of the acquisition date, and the cash consideration paid and assumed liabilities, if applicable, to acquire the developer’s equity interest and portion of Profits Interest. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred; major replacements and betterments, which improve or extend the life of the asset, are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The costs of building and improvements are generally depreciated using the straight-line method based on a useful life of 40 years.

The Company expects that the majority of future self-storage facility acquisitions will be considered asset acquisitions, however the Company will evaluate each acquisition using Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01 - Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business to determine whether accounting for a business combination or asset acquisition applies.

When facilities are acquired, the cost is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on relative fair values. Allocations to the individual assets and liabilities are based upon their relative fair values as estimated by management.

In allocating the purchase price for an acquisition, the Company determines whether the acquisition includes intangible assets or liabilities. The Company allocates a portion of the cost to an intangible asset attributable to the value of in-place leases. This intangible asset is amortized to expense over the expected remaining term of the respective leases, which is generally one year. Substantially all of the leases in place at acquired facilities are at market rates, as the majority of the leases are month-to-month contracts. Accordingly, to date, no portion of the basis for an acquired property has been allocated to above- or below-market lease intangibles. To date, no intangible asset has been recorded for the value of customer relationships, because the Company does not have any concentrations of significant customers and the average customer turnover is fairly frequent.

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment when events and circumstances, such as declines in occupancy and operating results, indicate that there may be an impairment. The carrying value of these long-lived assets is compared to the undiscounted future net operating cash flows, plus a terminal value, attributable to the assets to determine if the facility’s basis is recoverable. If an asset’s basis is not considered recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value. The impairment loss recognized equals the excess of net carrying value over the related fair value of the asset. There were no impairment losses recognized in accordance with these procedures during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, investments in money market accounts and certificates of deposit with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents primarily with three financial institutions, and the balance at each financial institution exceeds the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit of $250,000 per institution.

Other Loans

The Company’s other loans balance primarily includes principal balances for certain revolving loan agreements and short-term mortgage loans made by the Company in situations where it was determined that making such loans would benefit the Company’s primary business. As of June 30, 2018, the Company had executed eight revolving loan agreements with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $1.0 million. Seven of the agreements are with individuals who are owners of limited liability companies, one is with a limited liability company, and all are personally guaranteed. Seven of these borrowers are either directly or indirectly owners of certain of the Company’s development property investments. The revolving loans are typically unsecured but cross-defaulted against development loans. One of the revolving loans is guaranteed by a part owner of one of the Company’s development loan investments, and this guaranty is secured by a pledge of the owner’s membership interest in one of the Company’s development loan investments. The loans bear interest at 6.9 - 7.0% per annum and are due in full in three years. At December 31, 2017, the Company had executed nine revolving loan agreements with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $1.0 million.

These loans are accounted for under the cost method, and fair value approximates cost at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. None of these loans are in non-accrual status as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company determined that no allowance for loan loss was necessary at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are recorded at cost and consist of furniture, office and computer equipment, and software. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three to seven years. Fixed assets are generally purchased by the Manager and the cost reimbursed by the Company. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to expense as incurred. Upon sale or retirement, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the respective accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in income.

Revenue Recognition

Interest income is recognized as earned on a simple interest basis and is reported in interest income from investments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Accrual of interest will be discontinued on a loan when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts, that the borrower’s financial condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful. The Company will recognize income on impaired loans when they are placed into non-accrual status on a cash basis when the loans are both current and the collateral on the loan is sufficient to cover the outstanding obligation to the Company. If these factors do not exist, the Company will not recognize income on such loans. Accrued interest generally is reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status.

The Company’s loan origination fees are accreted into interest income over the term of the investment using the effective yield method.

The operations of the self-storage real estate owned are managed by a third-party self-storage management company. All rental leases are operating leases, and rental income is recognized in accordance with the terms of the leases, which generally are month to month.

Debt Issuance Costs

Costs related to the issuance of a debt instrument are deferred and amortized as interest expense over the estimated life of the related debt instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. If a debt instrument is repurchased prior to its original maturity date, the Company evaluates both the unamortized balance of debt issuance costs as well as any new debt issuance costs, including third party fees, to determine if the costs should be written off to interest expense or, if significant, included in “loss on modification or extinguishment of debt” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Debt issuance costs related to the sale of senior participations are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a deduction from the carrying amount of the principal balance. Debt issuance costs related to the revolving Credit Facility are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Deferred Costs.

Offering and Registration Costs

Offering and registration costs represent underwriting discounts and commissions, professional fees, fees paid to various regulatory agencies, and other costs incurred in connection with the registration and sale of the Company’s securities. Offering and registration costs incurred in connection with the Company’s common stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

On July 27, 2016, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 8, Stockholders’ Equity) which required the Company to issue and sell a minimum of $50.0 million of Series A Preferred Stock by July 27, 2018. As of June 30, 2018, the Company has issued and sold $110.0 million in shares of of Series A Preferred Stock. On July 25, 2018, the Purchase Agreement was amended to allow the Company to issue the remaining portion of the Series A Preferred Stock on or before September 30, 2018 (See Note 11, Subsequent Events). The Company incurred $2.8 million of preferred stock offering costs in conjunction with the execution of the Purchase Agreement. Such costs are presented as deferred costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets until such time as Series A Preferred Stock is issued. A pro rata portion of such deferred costs, based upon the ratio of the amount issued to the $50.0 million minimum issuance of Series A Preferred Stock, was reclassified to cumulative preferred stock upon each issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock. Of the $2.8 million of offering costs incurred, none and $0.6 million is in deferred costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and $2.8 million and $2.2 million has reduced the cumulative preferred stock balance on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and to comply with the related provisions of the Code. Accordingly, the Company will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent of its distributions to stockholders and as long as certain asset, income and share ownership tests are met. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must annually distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders and meet certain other requirements.

Earnings per Share (“EPS”)

Basic EPS includes only the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the weighted average number of common shares and the dilutive effect of restricted stock, accrued stock dividends, and redeemable Operating Company units when such instruments are dilutive.

All outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to nonforfeitable dividends are treated as participating in undistributed earnings with common shareholders. Awards of this nature are considered participating securities and the two-class method of computing basic and diluted EPS must be applied.

Comprehensive Income

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, comprehensive income equaled net income; therefore, separate Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income are not included in the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

The Company does not evaluate performance on a relationship specific or transactional basis and does not distinguish its principal business or group its operations on a geographical basis for purposes of measuring performance. Accordingly, the Company believes it has a single operating segment for reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This update creates a single accounting model for all share-based payments. As a result of this update, the existing employee guidance will apply to nonemployee share-based transactions, with the cost of nonemployee awards continuing to be recorded as if the grantor had paid cash for the goods or services. The equity-classified share-based payment awards issued to nonemployees will now be measured on the grant date, instead of the previous requirement to re-measure the awards through the performance completion date. This ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. As allowed, the Company has elected to early adopt the amendments in ASU 2018-07 effective April 1, 2018. As required by the ASU, the Company has established a grant date fair value of $18.10 based on the market value of the award as of April 1, 2018 for all nonemployee awards that have not vested as of April 1, 2018. The cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 was immaterial to the financial statements as a whole. As such, the Company recorded this adjustment through its consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2018.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance on whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. Specifically, when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets, the set of assets is not a business. Additionally, ASU 2017-01 also provides other guidance providing a more robust framework to use in determining whether a set of assets and activities is a business. Upon adoption of the new guidance, the Company expects that the majority of future self-storage facility acquisitions will now be considered asset acquisitions. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2017-01 for new acquisitions beginning on July 1, 2017. The costs related to the acquisitions of self-storage facilities that qualify as asset acquisitions will be capitalized as part of the purchase.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU provides guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows (defined in the ASU as “cash flow issues”), including distributions received from equity method investees. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption being allowed. The Company has elected to early adopt effective October 1, 2017 on a retrospective basis as required. The Company has concluded that the new accounting guidance does not impact its current classification of distributions received from equity method investees as an operating activity in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company further considered its components of cash flows under the cash flow issue “Separately Identifiable Cash Flow and Applicable of the Predominance Principle,” which addresses certain cash receipts and cash payments that may have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. In the absence of specific GAAP guidance, the Company evaluated its cash flows from origination fees received in cash, which have been historically presented as operating cash flows, on the basis of the nature of the underlying cash flows. The Company concluded that the origination fees are related to the origination of loans and the funding of our investment portfolio for which the associated cash flows are presented as investing activities. As a result, $2.7 million of origination fees received in cash for the six months ended June 30, 2017, have been retrospectively presented as an investment activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption being allowed as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently assessing the impact this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements; however, the Company does not expect the new accounting guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which is the final standard on accounting for leases. The most significant change for lessees is the requirement under the new guidance to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases not considered short term leases. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. The Company does have rental income from month-to-month self-storage leases within the scope of ASU 2016-02. The Company does not have material amounts of rental or lease expense. The amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2017. This ASU outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry specific guidance. Several ASUs expanding and clarifying the initial guidance issued in ASU 2014-09 have been released since May 2014. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2018. The Company has evaluated all applicable contracts and revenue streams and has concluded that the adoption does not have an effect on its consolidated financial statements, primarily due to the new guidance not applying to revenue associated with loans or derived from lease contracts.