Recent Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

New Accounting Pronouncements And Changes In Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(6) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which adds or clarifies guidance of the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows with the intent to alleviate diversity in practice for classifying various types of cash flows.  This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on our statement of cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). The new standard 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 by the lessee. This classification will determine whether 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. 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. ASU 2016-02 supersedes the previous leases standard, Leases (Topic 840). The standard is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our financial position or results of operations.

In 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which outlines a comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 states that “an entity recognizes 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 or services.” While ASU 2014-09 specifically references contracts with customers, it may apply to certain other transactions such as the sale of real estate or equipment. In 2015, the FASB provided for a one-year deferral of the effective date for ASU 2014-09, which is now effective for us beginning January 1, 2018. We are continuing to evaluate ASU 2014-09 (and related clarifying guidance issued by the FASB); however, we do not expect its adoption to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements, as a substantial portion of our revenue consists of rental income from leasing arrangements, which is specifically excluded from ASU 2014-09.

In January, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business” to clarify the definition of a business in order to allow for the evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  We expect that future property acquisitions will generally qualify as asset acquisitions under the standard, which permits the capitalization of acquisition costs to the underlying assets. We adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2017. This new guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements.