Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION Nature of Operations Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT” or the “Company”) prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the included disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in PREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, the consolidated results of our operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, consolidated statements of equity and our consolidated statements of cash flows are included. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. PREIT, a Pennsylvania business trust founded in 1960 and one of the first equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) in the United States, has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls located in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. As of March 31, 2021, our portfolio consists of a total of 26 properties operating in nine states, including 20 shopping malls, five other retail properties and one development property. The property in our portfolio that is classified as under development does not currently have any activity occurring. We hold our interest in our portfolio of properties through our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. (“PREIT Associates” or the “Operating Partnership”). We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of March 31, 2021, we held a 97.6% controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and consolidated it for reporting purposes. The presentation of consolidated financial statements does not itself imply that the assets of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are available to pay the liabilities of any other consolidated entity, or that the liabilities of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are obligations of any other consolidated entity. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, each of the limited partners has the right to redeem such partner’s units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) for cash or, at our election, we may acquire such OP Units in exchange for our common shares on a one-for-one basis, in some cases beginning one year following the respective issue date of the OP Units and in other cases immediately. If all of the outstanding OP Units held by limited partners had been redeemed for cash as of March 31, 2021, the total amount that would have been distributed would have been $3.8 million, which is calculated using our March 31, 2021 closing share price on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) of $1.92 multiplied by the number of outstanding OP Units held by limited partners, which was 1,975,928 as of March 31, 2021. The current terms of our credit agreements prohibit the Company from acquiring whole share OP Units for cash and, as such, any whole share OP Units presented for redemption will be redeemed for shares. Partial share OP Unit redemptions will be redeemed for cash. We provide management, leasing and real estate development services through two of our subsidiaries: PREIT Services, LLC (“PREIT Services”), which generally develops and manages properties that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes, and PREIT-RUBIN, Inc. (“PRI”), which generally develops and manages properties that we do not consolidate for financial reporting purposes, including properties owned by partnerships in which we own an interest, and properties that are owned by third parties in which we do not have an interest. PREIT Services and PRI are consolidated. PRI is a taxable REIT subsidiary, as defined by federal tax laws, which means that it is able to offer an expanded menu of services to tenants without jeopardizing our continuing qualification as a REIT under federal tax law. We evaluate operating results and allocate resources on a property-by-property basis, and do not distinguish or evaluate our consolidated operations on a geographic basis. Due to the nature of our operating properties, which involve retail shopping, dining, entertainment and certain non-traditional tenant operations, we have concluded that our individual properties have similar economic characteristics and meet all other aggregation criteria. Accordingly, we have aggregated our individual properties into one reportable segment. In addition, no single tenant accounts for 10% or more of consolidated revenue, and none of our properties are located outside the United States. Financial Restructuring On October 7, 2020, the Company and certain of the Company’s wholly owned direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Parties”) entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “RSA”), which contemplated agreed-upon terms for a financial restructuring of the then-existing debt and certain other obligations of the Company Parties (collectively with the following events, the “Financial Restructuring”). The RSA was amended on October 16, 2020, and again on October 23, 2020, to, among other things, extend the date by which the Company Parties were required to commence the solicitation of votes on their joint prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and, thereafter, the voluntary chapter 11 cases. On November 1, 2020, the Company and the other Company Parties under the RSA (the “Debtors”) filed their respective voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532 (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”), commencing the chapter 11 cases to confirm and consummate the Plan in order to effectuate the Debtors’ financial restructuring. The Debtors’ chapter 11 cases were jointly administered for procedural convenience under the caption In re Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, et al., Case No. 20-12737 (KBO). Under the Plan, the Debtors would be recapitalized and their debt maturities extended. The Debtors continued to operate their businesses as debtors in possession under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. On November 30, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”), confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and Certain of Its Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries (with Additional Technical Modifications As of November 20, 2020) (the “Confirmed Plan”). On December 10, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), each condition precedent to consummation of the Confirmed Plan, enumerated in Section 8.2 thereof, was satisfied or waived in accordance with the Confirmed Plan and the Confirmation Order, and therefore the Effective Date occurred and the Debtors emerged from bankruptcy. On the Effective Date, the Company entered into the credit agreements, which are described in Note 4. The final decree closing the bankruptcy case was entered by the Bankruptcy Court on March 11, 2021. COVID-19 Related Risks and Uncertainties The COVID-19 global pandemic that began in early 2020 has adversely impacted and continues to impact our business, financial condition, liquidity and operating results, as well as our tenants’ businesses. The prolonged and increased spread of COVID-19 has also led to unprecedented global economic disruption and volatility in financial markets. Some of our tenants’ financial health and business viability have been adversely impacted and their creditworthiness has deteriorated. We anticipate that our future business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, including in 2021 and potentially in future periods, will continue to be materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains highly uncertain how long the global pandemic, economic challenges and restrictions on day-to-day life and business operations will last based on the emergence of new strains of the virus and the current virus spread rate in the United States, which have resulted in a number of jurisdictions that previously relaxed restrictions implementing new or renewed restrictions. Given these factors, so long as the lingering effects of COVID-19 remain, the virus may continue to impact us or our tenants, or our ability or the ability of our tenants to resume more normal operations. COVID-19 closures of our properties began on March 12, 2020 and continued through the reopening of our last property on July 3, 2020. These closures impacted most of our properties for the full second quarter of 2020 with traffic and tenant reopenings increasing through the third and fourth quarters of 2020. New or renewed restrictions in the jurisdictions where our properties are located may be implemented in response to evolving conditions and overall uncertainty about the timing and widespread availability, acceptance, and efficacy of vaccines, including in response to new variants. As such, as the pandemic continues and potentially intensifies or we experience resurgences, it is possible that additional closures will occur. During the mall closure period in the second quarter of 2020, the Company furloughed a significant portion of its property and corporate employee base and later made permanent headcount reductions, which contributed to decreased general and administrative expenses in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. All of our properties have remained open since July 3, 2020 and are employing safety and sanitation measures designed to address the risks posed by COVID-19, with some of our tenants still operating at reduced capacity. The significance of COVID-19 on our business, however, will continue to depend on, among other things, the extent and duration of the pandemic, the severity of the disease and the number of people infected with the virus, the timing and widespread availability, acceptance, and efficacy of vaccines, further effects on the economy of the pandemic and of the measures taken by governmental authorities and other third parties restricting daily activities and the length of time that such measures remain in place or are renewed, implementation of governmental programs to assist businesses and consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effect of any relaxation of current restrictions, all of which could vary by geographic region in which our properties are located. In the first quarter of 2021, we experienced further uncertainty as to whether government authorities will maintain the relaxation of current restrictions on businesses in the regions in which our properties are located, if these restrictions have been relaxed at all, and whether government authorities will issue recommendations or impose requirements on landlords like us to further enhance health and safety protocols, or whether we will voluntarily adopt any of these requirements ourselves, which could result in increased operating costs and demands on our property management teams to ensure compliance with any of these requirements. Fair Value Fair value accounting applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements. Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, these accounting requirements establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy). Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs might include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. We utilize the fair value hierarchy in our accounting for derivatives (Level 2) and financial instruments (Level 2) and in our reviews for impairment of real estate assets (Level 3) and goodwill (Level 3). Impairment of Assets Real estate investments and related intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property might not be recoverable, which is referred to as a “triggering event.” The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy and market conditions, together with the resulting closures of our properties and the delayed and/or limited reopening of some tenants was deemed to be a triggering event as of June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, which led to impairment reviews and assessment of the undiscounted future cash flows for each of the respective quarters of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, certain of our properties had triggering events due to various indicators of impairment, however, we did not identify any impairments based on our assessment of the undiscounted future cash flows. In connection with our review of our long-lived assets for impairment, we utilize qualitative and quantitative factors in order to estimate fair value. The significant qualitative factors that we use include age and condition of the property, market conditions in the property’s trade area, competition with other shopping centers within the property’s trade area and the creditworthiness and performance of the property’s tenants. The significant quantitative factors that we use include historical and forecasted financial and operating information relating to the property, such as net operating income, estimated holding periods, occupancy statistics, vacancy projections and tenants’ sales levels. If there is a triggering event in relation to a property to be held and used, we will estimate the aggregate future cash flows, net of estimated capital expenditures, to be generated by the property, undiscounted and without interest charges. In addition, this estimate may consider a probability weighted cash flow estimation approach when alternative courses of action to recover the carrying amount of a long-lived asset are under consideration or when a range of possible values is estimated. The determination of undiscounted cash flows requires significant estimates by our management, including the expected course of action at the balance sheet date that would lead to such cash flows. Subsequent changes in estimated undiscounted cash flows arising from changes in the anticipated action to be taken with respect to the property could affect the determination of whether an impairment exists, and the effects of such changes could materially affect our net income. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the carrying value is written down to its fair value. We intend to hold and operate our properties long-term, which reduces the likelihood that our carrying value is not recoverable. A shortened holding period would increase the likelihood that the carrying value is not recoverable. Assessment of our ability to recover certain lease-related costs must be made when we have a reason to believe that a tenant might not be able to perform under the terms of the lease as originally expected. This requires us to make estimates as to the recoverability of such costs. An other-than-temporary impairment of an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture is recognized when the carrying value of the investment is not considered recoverable based on evaluation of the severity and duration of the decline in value. To the extent impairment has occurred, the excess carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value is recorded as a reduction to income. Share-Based Compensation On March 31, 2021, the Company approved the 2021-2023 Equity Award Program design (the “Program”). Having approved the Program, the Company made long term incentive plan awards in the form of performance-based restricted share units (“PSUs”) and time-based restricted share units (“RSUs”). The grants of PSUs and RSUs were made pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2018 Equity Incentive Plan”), as amended by the Plan Amendment (defined below). On March 31, 2021, the Board approved the first amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan Amendment”), which permits, among other clarifying changes, that restricted stock units granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may be made subject to vesting restrictions other than performance goals (i.e., RSUs). As a result of the Plan Amendment and as incorporated into the awards made under the Program settlement of RSUs or PSUs may be made in cash or shares, as determined by the Executive Compensation and Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Trustees. On March 31, 2021, the Company granted 1,406,123 RSUs and 1,523,432 PSUs to its employees. Under the Program, the number of common shares to be issued by the Company with respect to the PSUs, if any, depends on the Company’s achievement of certain specified operating performance measures and a modification based on total shareholder return (“TSR”) for the three-year period beginning January 1, 2021 and ending on the earlier of December 31, 2023 or the date of a change in control of the Company (the “Measurement Period”). The preliminary number of common shares to be issued by the Company with respect to the PSUs awarded is based on a multiple determined by achievement of certain specified operating performance measures during the Measurement Period. These performance measures, the three-year core mall total occupancy and the three-year corporate debt yield, are each weighted 50%. The Committee approved minimum, target and maximum performance levels for both measures. For all participants, the minimum performance level will have a 0.5 multiplier, the target performance level will have a 1.0 multiplier and the maximum performance level will have a 2.0 multiplier. The preliminary number of common shares to be issued by the Company as determined under the operating performance goals will be adjusted, upwards or downwards, depending on the Company’s TSR performance over the Measurement Period relative to the TSR performance of other real estate investment trusts comprising a leading index of retail real estate investment trusts. Dividends, if any, on the Company’s common shares are deemed to be paid with respect to PSUs and credited to the PSU accounts and applied to “acquire” more PSUs at the 20-day average closing price per common share ending on the dividend payment date. With respect to the portion of the long-term incentive awards made in the form of RSUs, the RSUs generally will vest in three equal annual installments for all grants except director grants and two equal installments for the Company’s directors commencing on March 31, 2022, subject to continued employment. During the period that the RSUs have not vested, the holder will have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the RSUs; however, dividends, if any, on the Company’s common shares are deemed to be paid with respect to RSUs and credited to the RSU accounts and applied to “acquire” more RSUs at the 20-day average closing price per common share ending on the dividend payment date. New Accounting Developments In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Companies may generally elect to apply the guidance for periods that include March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01 to provide additional guidance around Topic 848 primarily as it relates to the ASU’s effect on derivative contracts. The Company is evaluating the anticipated impact of this standard on its condensed consolidated financial statements as well as timing of adoption.

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Nature of Operations

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (“PREIT” or the “Company”) prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the included disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in PREIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position, the consolidated results of our operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, consolidated statements of equity and our consolidated statements of cash flows are included. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.

PREIT, a Pennsylvania business trust founded in 1960 and one of the first equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) in the United States, has a primary investment focus on retail shopping malls located in the eastern half of the United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. As of March 31, 2021, our portfolio consists of a total of 26 properties operating in nine states, including 20 shopping malls, five other retail properties and one development property. The property in our portfolio that is classified as under development does not currently have any activity occurring.

We hold our interest in our portfolio of properties through our operating partnership, PREIT Associates, L.P. (“PREIT Associates” or the “Operating Partnership”). We are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of March 31, 2021, we held a 97.6% controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and consolidated it for reporting purposes. The presentation of consolidated financial statements does not itself imply that the assets of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are available to pay the liabilities of any other consolidated entity, or that the liabilities of any consolidated entity (including any special-purpose entity formed for a particular project) are obligations of any other consolidated entity.

Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, each of the limited partners has the right to redeem such partner’s units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) for cash or, at our election, we may acquire such OP Units in exchange for our common shares on a one-for-one basis, in some cases beginning one year following the respective issue date of the OP Units and in other cases immediately. If all of the outstanding OP Units held by limited partners had been redeemed for cash as of March 31, 2021, the total amount that would have been distributed would have been $3.8 million, which is calculated using our March 31, 2021 closing share price on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) of $1.92 multiplied by the number of outstanding OP Units held by limited partners, which was 1,975,928 as of March 31, 2021. The current terms of our credit agreements prohibit the Company from acquiring whole share OP Units for cash and, as such, any whole share OP Units presented for redemption will be redeemed for shares. Partial share OP Unit redemptions will be redeemed for cash.

We provide management, leasing and real estate development services through two of our subsidiaries: PREIT Services, LLC (“PREIT Services”), which generally develops and manages properties that we consolidate for financial reporting purposes, and PREIT-RUBIN, Inc. (“PRI”), which generally develops and manages properties that we do not consolidate for financial reporting purposes, including properties owned by partnerships in which we own an interest, and properties that are owned by third parties in which we do not have an interest. PREIT Services and PRI are consolidated. PRI is a taxable REIT subsidiary, as defined by federal tax laws, which means that it is able to offer an expanded menu of services to tenants without jeopardizing our continuing qualification as a REIT under federal tax law.

We evaluate operating results and allocate resources on a property-by-property basis, and do not distinguish or evaluate our consolidated operations on a geographic basis. Due to the nature of our operating properties, which involve retail shopping, dining, entertainment and certain non-traditional tenant operations, we have concluded that our individual properties have similar economic characteristics and meet all other aggregation criteria. Accordingly, we have aggregated our individual properties into one reportable segment. In addition, no single tenant accounts for 10% or more of consolidated revenue, and none of our properties are located outside the United States.

Financial Restructuring

On October 7, 2020, the Company and certain of the Company’s wholly owned direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Parties”) entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “RSA”), which contemplated agreed-upon terms for a financial restructuring of the then-existing debt and certain other obligations of the Company Parties (collectively with the following events, the “Financial Restructuring”). The RSA was amended on October 16, 2020, and again on October 23, 2020, to, among other things, extend the date by which the Company Parties were required to commence the solicitation of votes on their joint prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and, thereafter, the voluntary chapter 11 cases. On November 1, 2020, the Company and the other Company Parties under the RSA (the “Debtors”) filed their respective voluntary petitions under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532 (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”), commencing the chapter 11

cases to confirm and consummate the Plan in order to effectuate the Debtors’ financial restructuring. The Debtors’ chapter 11 cases were jointly administered for procedural convenience under the caption In re Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, et al., Case No. 20-12737 (KBO). Under the Plan, the Debtors would be recapitalized and their debt maturities extended. The Debtors continued to operate their businesses as debtors in possession under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. On November 30, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”), confirming the Joint Prepackaged Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and Certain of Its Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries (with Additional Technical Modifications As of November 20, 2020) (the “Confirmed Plan”). On December 10, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), each condition precedent to consummation of the Confirmed Plan, enumerated in Section 8.2 thereof, was satisfied or waived in accordance with the Confirmed Plan and the Confirmation Order, and therefore the Effective Date occurred and the Debtors emerged from bankruptcy. On the Effective Date, the Company entered into the credit agreements, which are described in Note 4. The final decree closing the bankruptcy case was entered by the Bankruptcy Court on March 11, 2021.

COVID-19 Related Risks and Uncertainties

The COVID-19 global pandemic that began in early 2020 has adversely impacted and continues to impact our business, financial condition, liquidity and operating results, as well as our tenants’ businesses. The prolonged and increased spread of COVID-19 has also led to unprecedented global economic disruption and volatility in financial markets. Some of our tenants’ financial health and business viability have been adversely impacted and their creditworthiness has deteriorated. We anticipate that our future business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, including in 2021 and potentially in future periods, will continue to be materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains highly uncertain how long the global pandemic, economic challenges and restrictions on day-to-day life and business operations will last based on the emergence of new strains of the virus and the current virus spread rate in the United States, which have resulted in a number of jurisdictions that previously relaxed restrictions implementing new or renewed restrictions. Given these factors, so long as the lingering effects of COVID-19 remain, the virus may continue to impact us or our tenants, or our ability or the ability of our tenants to resume more normal operations.

COVID-19 closures of our properties began on March 12, 2020 and continued through the reopening of our last property on July 3, 2020. These closures impacted most of our properties for the full second quarter of 2020 with traffic and tenant reopenings increasing through the third and fourth quarters of 2020. New or renewed restrictions in the jurisdictions where our properties are located may be implemented in response to evolving conditions and overall uncertainty about the timing and widespread availability, acceptance, and efficacy of vaccines, including in response to new variants. As such, as the pandemic continues and potentially intensifies or we experience resurgences, it is possible that additional closures will occur. During the mall closure period in the second quarter of 2020, the Company furloughed a significant portion of its property and corporate employee base and later made permanent headcount reductions, which contributed to decreased general and administrative expenses in the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

All of our properties have remained open since July 3, 2020 and are employing safety and sanitation measures designed to address the risks posed by COVID-19, with some of our tenants still operating at reduced capacity. The significance of COVID-19 on our business, however, will continue to depend on, among other things, the extent and duration of the pandemic, the severity of the disease and the number of people infected with the virus, the timing and widespread availability, acceptance, and efficacy of vaccines, further effects on the economy of the pandemic and of the measures taken by governmental authorities and other third parties restricting daily activities and the length of time that such measures remain in place or are renewed, implementation of governmental programs to assist businesses and consumers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effect of any relaxation of current restrictions, all of which could vary by geographic region in which our properties are located. In the first quarter of 2021, we experienced further uncertainty as to whether government authorities will maintain the relaxation of current restrictions on businesses in the regions in which our properties are located, if these restrictions have been relaxed at all, and whether government authorities will issue recommendations or impose requirements on landlords like us to further enhance health and safety protocols, or whether we will voluntarily adopt any of these requirements ourselves, which could result in increased operating costs and demands on our property management teams to ensure compliance with any of these requirements.

Fair Value

Fair value accounting applies to reported balances that are required or permitted to be measured at fair value under existing accounting pronouncements. Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, these accounting requirements establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.

Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs might include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity.

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. We utilize the fair value hierarchy in our accounting for derivatives (Level 2) and financial instruments (Level 2) and in our reviews for impairment of real estate assets (Level 3) and goodwill (Level 3).

Impairment of Assets

Real estate investments and related intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property might not be recoverable, which is referred to as a “triggering event.” The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy and market conditions, together with the resulting closures of our properties and the delayed and/or limited reopening of some tenants was deemed to be a triggering event as of June 30, 2020, September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, which led to impairment reviews and assessment of the undiscounted future cash flows for each of the respective quarters of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, certain of our properties had triggering events due to various indicators of impairment, however, we did not identify any impairments based on our assessment of the undiscounted future cash flows. In connection with our review of our long-lived assets for impairment, we utilize qualitative and quantitative factors in order to estimate fair value. The significant qualitative factors that we use include age and condition of the property, market conditions in the property’s trade area, competition with other shopping centers within the property’s trade area and the creditworthiness and performance of the property’s tenants. The significant quantitative factors that we use include historical and forecasted financial and operating information relating to the property, such as net operating income, estimated holding periods, occupancy statistics, vacancy projections and tenants’ sales levels.

If there is a triggering event in relation to a property to be held and used, we will estimate the aggregate future cash flows, net of estimated capital expenditures, to be generated by the property, undiscounted and without interest charges. In addition, this estimate may consider a probability weighted cash flow estimation approach when alternative courses of action to recover the carrying amount of a long-lived asset are under consideration or when a range of possible values is estimated.

The determination of undiscounted cash flows requires significant estimates by our management, including the expected course of action at the balance sheet date that would lead to such cash flows. Subsequent changes in estimated undiscounted cash flows arising from changes in the anticipated action to be taken with respect to the property could affect the determination of whether an impairment exists, and the effects of such changes could materially affect our net income. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the carrying value is written down to its fair value. We intend to hold and operate our properties long-term, which reduces the likelihood that our carrying value is not recoverable. A shortened holding period would increase the likelihood that the carrying value is not recoverable.

Assessment of our ability to recover certain lease-related costs must be made when we have a reason to believe that a tenant might not be able to perform under the terms of the lease as originally expected. This requires us to make estimates as to the recoverability of such costs.

An other-than-temporary impairment of an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture is recognized when the carrying value of the investment is not considered recoverable based on evaluation of the severity and duration of the decline in value. To the extent impairment has occurred, the excess carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value is recorded as a reduction to income.

Share-Based Compensation

On March 31, 2021, the Company approved the 2021-2023 Equity Award Program design (the “Program”). Having approved the Program, the Company made long term incentive plan awards in the form of performance-based restricted share units (“PSUs”) and time-based restricted share units (“RSUs”). The grants of PSUs and RSUs were made pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2018 Equity Incentive Plan”), as amended by the Plan Amendment (defined below).

On March 31, 2021, the Board approved the first amendment to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan Amendment”), which permits, among other clarifying changes, that restricted stock units granted under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may be made subject to vesting restrictions other than performance goals (i.e., RSUs). As a result of the Plan Amendment and as incorporated into the awards made under the Program settlement of RSUs or PSUs may be made in cash or shares, as determined by the Executive Compensation and Human Resources Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Trustees. On March 31, 2021, the Company granted 1,406,123 RSUs and 1,523,432 PSUs to its employees.

Under the Program, the number of common shares to be issued by the Company with respect to the PSUs, if any, depends on the Company’s achievement of certain specified operating performance measures and a modification based on total shareholder return (“TSR”) for the three-year period beginning January 1, 2021 and ending on the earlier of December 31, 2023 or the date of a change in control of the Company (the “Measurement Period”).

The preliminary number of common shares to be issued by the Company with respect to the PSUs awarded is based on a multiple determined by achievement of certain specified operating performance measures during the Measurement Period. These performance measures, the three-year core mall total occupancy and the three-year corporate debt yield, are each weighted 50%. The Committee approved minimum, target and maximum performance levels for both measures. For all participants, the minimum performance level will have a 0.5 multiplier, the target performance level will have a 1.0 multiplier and the maximum performance level will have a 2.0 multiplier. The preliminary number of common shares to be issued by the Company as determined under the operating performance goals will be adjusted, upwards or downwards, depending on the Company’s TSR performance over the Measurement Period relative to the TSR performance of other real estate investment trusts comprising a leading index of retail real estate investment trusts. Dividends, if any, on the Company’s common shares are deemed to be paid with respect to PSUs and credited to the PSU accounts and applied to “acquire” more PSUs at the 20-day average closing price per common share ending on the dividend payment date.

With respect to the portion of the long-term incentive awards made in the form of RSUs, the RSUs generally will vest in three equal annual installments for all grants except director grants and two equal installments for the Company’s directors commencing on March 31, 2022, subject to continued employment. During the period that the RSUs have not vested, the holder will have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the RSUs; however, dividends, if any, on the Company’s common shares are deemed to be paid with respect to RSUs and credited to the RSU accounts and applied to “acquire” more RSUs at the 20-day average closing price per common share ending on the dividend payment date.

New Accounting Developments

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Companies may generally elect to apply the guidance for periods that include March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01 to provide additional guidance around Topic 848 primarily as it relates to the ASU’s effect on derivative contracts. The Company is evaluating the anticipated impact of this standard on its condensed consolidated financial statements as well as timing of adoption.