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Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Organization, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

Acadia Realty Trust and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a fully-integrated equity real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on the ownership, acquisition, development, and management of retail properties located primarily in high-barrier-to-entry, supply-constrained, densely-populated metropolitan areas in the United States.

All of the Company’s assets are held by, and all of its operations are conducted through, Acadia Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) and entities in which the Operating Partnership owns an interest. As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company controlled approximately 94% of the Operating Partnership as the sole general partner and is entitled to share, in proportion to its percentage interest, in the cash distributions and profits and losses of the Operating Partnership. The limited partners primarily represent entities or individuals that contributed their interests in certain properties or entities to the Operating Partnership in exchange for common or preferred units of limited partnership interest (“Common OP Units” or “Preferred OP Units”) and employees who have been awarded restricted Common OP Units (“LTIP Units”) as long-term incentive compensation (Note 13). Limited partners holding Common OP and LTIP Units are generally entitled to exchange their units on a one-for-one basis for common shares of beneficial interest of the Company (“Common Shares”). This structure is referred to as an umbrella partnership REIT or “UPREIT.”

As of December 31, 2018, the Company has ownership interests in 118 properties within its core portfolio, which consist of those properties either 100% owned, or partially owned through joint venture interests, by the Operating Partnership, or subsidiaries thereof, not including those properties owned through its funds (“Core Portfolio”). The Company also has ownership interests in 53 properties within its opportunity funds, Acadia Strategic Opportunity Fund II, LLC (“Fund II”), Acadia Strategic Opportunity Fund III LLC (“Fund III”), Acadia Strategic Opportunity Fund IV LLC (“Fund IV”), and Acadia Strategic Opportunity Fund V LLC (“Fund V”). Acadia Strategic Opportunity Fund I, LP (“Fund I,” together with Funds II, III, IV, and V, the “Funds”) was liquidated in 2015. The 171 Core Portfolio and Fund properties primarily consist of street and urban retail, and suburban shopping centers. In addition, the Company, together with the investors in the Funds, invest or invested in operating companies through Acadia Mervyn Investors I, LLC (“Mervyns I,” which was liquidated in 2018), Acadia Mervyn Investors II, LLC (“Mervyns II”) and Fund II, all on a non-recourse basis. The Company consolidates the Funds as it has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Funds’ economic performance, (ii) is obligated to absorb the Funds’ losses and (iii) has the right to receive benefits from the Funds that could potentially be significant.

The Operating Partnership is the sole general partner or managing member of the Funds and Mervyns I and II and earns fees or priority distributions for asset management, property management, construction, development, leasing, and legal services. Cash flows from the Funds and Mervyns I and II are distributed pro-rata to their respective partners and members (including the Operating Partnership) until each receives a certain cumulative return (“Preferred Return”) and the return of all capital contributions. Thereafter, remaining cash flow is distributed 20% to the Operating Partnership (“Promote”) and 80% to the partners or members (including the Operating Partnership). All transactions between the Funds and the Operating Partnership have been eliminated in consolidation.

The following table summarizes the general terms and Operating Partnership’s equity interests in the Funds and Mervyns II (dollars in millions):

 

Entity

 

Formation

Date

 

Operating

Partnership

Share of

Capital

 

 

Capital Called as of December 31, 2018

 

 

Unfunded

Commitment

 

 

Equity Interest

Held By

Operating

Partnership (a)

 

 

Preferred

Return

 

 

Total Distributions

as of

December 31, 2018 (b)

 

Fund II and Mervyns II (c)

 

6/2004

 

 

28.33

%

 

$

347.1

 

 

$

 

 

 

28.33

%

 

 

8

%

 

$

146.6

 

Fund III

 

5/2007

 

 

24.54

%

 

 

423.9

 

 

 

26.1

 

 

 

24.54

%

 

 

6

%

 

 

551.9

 

Fund IV

 

5/2012

 

 

23.12

%

 

 

420.8

 

 

 

109.2

 

 

 

23.12

%

 

 

6

%

 

 

147.4

 

Fund V

 

8/2016

 

 

20.10

%

 

 

85.1

 

 

 

434.9

 

 

 

20.10

%

 

 

6

%

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Amount represents the current economic ownership at December 31, 2018, which could differ from the stated legal ownership based upon the cumulative preferred returns of the respective fund.

(b)

Represents the total for the Funds, including the Operating Partnership and noncontrolling interests’ shares.

(c)

During April 2018, a distribution of $15.0 million was made to the Fund II investors, including $4.3 million to the Operating Partnership. This amount remains subject to re-contribution to Fund II until April 2021.

Basis of Presentation

Segments

At December 31, 2018, the Company had three reportable operating segments: Core Portfolio, Funds and Structured Financing. The Company’s chief operating decision maker may review operational and financial data on a property basis and does not differentiate properties on a geographical basis for purposes of allocating resources or capital. 

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company and its investments in partnerships and limited liability companies in which the Company has control in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810 “Consolidation” (“ASC Topic 810”). The ownership interests of other investors in these entities are recorded as noncontrolling interests. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in entities for which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over, but does not have financial or operating control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company’s share of the earnings (or losses) of these entities are included in consolidated net income.

Use of Estimates

GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant assumptions and estimates relate to the valuation of real estate, depreciable lives, revenue recognition and the collectability of notes receivable and rents receivable. Application of these estimates and assumptions requires the exercise of judgment as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation in the statement of cash flows. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.

 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Real Estate

Land, buildings, and personal property are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Improvements and significant renovations that extend the useful life of the properties are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance, and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred. Real estate under development includes costs for significant property expansion and development.

Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings and improvements       Useful lives of 40 years for buildings and 15 years for improvements

Furniture and fixtures             Useful lives, ranging from five years to 20 years

Tenant improvements            Shorter of economic life or lease terms

Purchase Accounting – Upon acquisitions of real estate, the Company assesses the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities (including land, buildings and improvements, and identified intangibles such as above- and below-market leases and acquired in-place leases and customer relationships) and acquired liabilities in accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations” and ASC Topic 350 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other,” and allocates the acquisition price based on these assessments. When acquisitions of properties do not meet the criteria for business combinations, no goodwill is recorded and acquisition costs are capitalized.

The Company assesses fair value of its tangible assets acquired and assumed liabilities based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and capitalization rates and available market information at the measurement period. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including the historical operating results, known trends, and market/economic conditions that may affect the property.

In determining the value of above- and below-market leases, the Company estimates the present value difference between contractual rent obligations and estimated market rate of leases at the time of the transaction. To the extent there were fixed-rate options at below-market rental rates, the Company included these along with the current term below-market rent in arriving at the fair value of the acquired leases. The discounted difference between contract and market rents is being amortized to rental income over the remaining applicable lease term, inclusive of any option periods.

In determining the value of acquired in-place leases and customer relationships, the Company considers market conditions at the time of the transaction and values the costs to execute similar leases during the expected lease-up period from vacancy to existing occupancy, including carrying costs. The value assigned to in-place leases and tenant relationships is amortized over the estimated remaining term of the leases. If a lease were to be terminated prior to its scheduled expiration, all unamortized costs relating to that lease would be written off.

The Company estimates the value of any assumption of mortgage debt based on market conditions at the time of acquisitions including prevailing interest rates, terms and ability to obtain financing for a similar asset. Mortgage debt discounts or premiums are amortized into interest expense over the remaining term of the related debt instrument.

Real Estate Under Development – The Company capitalizes certain costs related to the development of real estate. Interest and real estate taxes incurred during the period of the construction, expansion or development of real estate are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the building. The Company will cease the capitalization of these costs when construction activities are substantially completed and the property is available for occupancy by tenants, but no later than one year from the completion of major construction activity at which time the project is placed in service and depreciation commences. If the Company suspends substantially all activities related to development of a qualifying asset, the Company will cease capitalization of interest and taxes until activities are resumed.

Real Estate Impairment – The Company reviews its real estate and real estate under development for impairment when there is an event or a change in circumstances that indicates that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In cases where the Company does not expect to recover its carrying costs on properties held for use, the Company reduces its carrying costs to fair value. The determination of anticipated undiscounted cash flows is inherently subjective, requiring significant estimates made by management, and considers the most likely expected course of action at the balance sheet date based on current plans, intended holding periods and available market information. If the Company is evaluating the potential sale of an asset, the undiscounted future cash flows analysis is probability-weighted based upon management’s best estimate of the likelihood of the alternative courses of action as of the balance sheet date. Such cash flow projections consider factors such as expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other factors. If an impairment is indicated, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value. See Note 8 for information about impairment charges incurred during the periods presented.

Dispositions of Real Estate – The Company recognizes property sales in accordance with ASC Topic 970 “Real Estate.” Sales of real estate include the sale of land, operating properties and investments in real estate joint ventures. Beginning January 1, 2018, gains on sale of investment properties are recognized, and the related real estate derecognized, when the Company has satisfied its performance obligations by transferring control of the property. Typically, the timing of payment and satisfaction of performance obligations occur simultaneously on the disposition date upon transfer of the property’s ownership. Prior to January 1, 2018, gains from dispositions were recognized under the full accrual or partial sales method provided that various criteria relating to terms of sales and subsequent involvement by the Company with the asset sold are met.

Real Estate Held for Sale – The Company generally considers assets to be held for sale when it has entered into a contract to sell the property, all material due diligence requirements have been satisfied, and management believes it is probable that the disposition will occur within one year. Assets that are classified as held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value, less cost to sell.

Notes Receivable

Notes receivable include certain loans that are held for investment and are collateralized by real estate-related investments and may be subordinate to other senior loans. Notes receivable are recorded at stated principal amounts or at initial investment less accretive yield for loans purchased at a discount, which is accreted over the life of the note. The Company defers loan origination and commitment fees, net of origination costs, and amortizes them over the term of the related loan. The Company evaluates the collectability of both principal and interest based upon an assessment of the underlying collateral value to determine whether it is impaired. A reserve is recorded when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. The amount of the reserve is calculated by comparing the recorded investment to the value of the underlying collateral. As the underlying collateral for a majority of the notes receivable is real estate-related investments, the same valuation techniques are used to value the collateral as those used to determine the fair value of real estate investments for impairment purposes. Given the small number of notes outstanding, the Company does not provide for an additional reserve based on the grouping of loans, as the Company believes the characteristics of its notes are not sufficiently similar to allow an evaluation of these notes as a group for a possible loan loss allowance. As such, all of the Company’s notes are evaluated individually for this purpose. Interest income on performing notes is accrued as earned. A note is placed on non-accrual status when, based upon current information and events, it is probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the existing contractual terms. Recognition of interest income on an accrual basis on non-performing notes is resumed when it is probable that the Company will be able to collect amounts due according to the contractual terms.

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Some of the Company’s joint ventures obtain non-recourse third-party financing on their property investments, contractually limiting the Company’s exposure to losses. The Company recognizes income for distributions in excess of its investment where there is no recourse to the Company and no intention or obligation to contribute additional capital. For investments in which there is recourse to the Company or an obligation or intention to contribute additional capital exists, distributions in excess of the investment are recorded as a liability.

When characterizing distributions from equity investees within the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows, all distributions received are first applied as returns on investment to the extent there are cumulative earnings related to the respective investment and are classified as cash inflows from operating activities. If cumulative distributions are in excess of cumulative earnings, distributions are considered return of investment. In such cases, the distribution is classified as cash inflows from investing activities.

To the extent that the Company’s carrying basis in an unconsolidated affiliate is different from the basis reflected at the joint venture level, the basis difference is amortized over the life of the related assets and included in the Company’s share of equity in net income (loss) of investments in unconsolidated affiliates the joint venture.

The Company periodically reviews its investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for other-than-temporary losses in investment value. Any decline that is not expected to be recovered based on the underlying assets of the investment, is considered other than temporary and an impairment charge is recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the investment. During the periods presented there were no impairment charges related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed the limits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists principally of cash held for real estate taxes, construction costs, property maintenance, insurance, minimum occupancy and property operating income requirements at specific properties as required by certain loan agreements.

Deferred Costs

Fees and costs paid in the successful negotiation of leases are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases. Fees and costs incurred in connection with obtaining financing are deferred and amortized as a component of interest expense over the term of the related debt obligation on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method. The Company capitalizes salaries, commissions and benefits related to time spent by leasing and legal department personnel involved in originating leases. Effective January 1, 2019, these internal leasing costs will no longer be capitalized as discussed further below under ASU 2016-02.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company measures derivative instruments at fair value and records them as assets or liabilities, depending on its rights or obligations under the applicable derivative contract. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. For a derivative designated and that qualified as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized in Other comprehensive (loss) income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

Although the Company's derivative contracts are subject to master netting arrangements, which serve as credit mitigants to both the Company and its counterparties under certain situations, the Company does not net its derivative fair values or any existing rights or obligations to cash collateral on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. For the periods presented, all of the Company's derivatives qualified and were designated as cash flow hedges, and none of its derivatives were deemed ineffective.

Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interests represent the portion of equity that the Company does not own in those entities it consolidates. The Company identifies its noncontrolling interests separately within the equity section on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The amounts of consolidated net earnings attributable to the Company and to the noncontrolling interests are presented separately on the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Noncontrolling interests also include amounts related to common and preferred OP Units issued to unrelated third parties in connection with certain property acquisitions. In addition, the Company periodically issues common OP Units to certain employees of the Company under its share-based incentive program. Unit holders generally have the right to redeem their units for shares of the Company's common stock subject to blackout and other limitations. Common and restricted OP Units are included in the caption Noncontrolling interest within the equity section on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Minimum rents from tenants are recognized using the straight-line method over the non-cancelable lease term of the respective leases. Lease termination fees are recognized upon the effective termination of a tenant’s lease when the Company has no further obligations under the lease. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, unbilled rents receivable relating to the straight-lining of rents of $47.2 million and $37.4 million, respectively, are included in Rents Receivable, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Certain of these leases also provide for percentage rents based upon the level of sales achieved by the tenant. Percentage rent is recognized in the period when the tenants’ sales breakpoint is met. In addition, leases typically provide for the reimbursement to the Company of real estate taxes, insurance and other property operating expenses. These reimbursements are recognized as revenue in the period the related expenses are incurred.

The Company makes estimates of the uncollectability of its accounts receivable related to tenant revenues. An allowance for doubtful accounts has been provided against certain tenant accounts receivable that are estimated to be uncollectible. Once the amount is ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, it is written off. Rents receivable at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are shown net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $7.9 million and $5.9 million, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for all equity-classified stock-based compensation awards is based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with current accounting guidance for share-based payments. The Company recognizes these compensation costs for only those shares or units expected to vest on a straight-line or graded-vesting basis, as appropriate, over the requisite service period of the award. The Company includes stock-based compensation within the Additional paid-in capital caption of equity.

Income Taxes

The Company has made an election to be taxed, and believes it qualifies, as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To maintain REIT status for Federal income tax purposes, the Company is generally required to distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders as well as comply with certain other income, asset and organizational requirements as defined in the Code. Accordingly, the Company is generally not subject to Federal corporate income tax to the extent that it distributes 100% of its REIT taxable income each year.

In connection with the REIT Modernization Act, the Company is permitted to participate in certain activities and still maintain its qualification as a REIT, so long as these activities are conducted in entities that elect to be treated as taxable subsidiaries under the Code. As such, the Company is subject to Federal and state income taxes on the income from these activities. 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted in December 2017 and is generally effective for tax years beginning in 2018.  This new legislation is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and allows non-corporate shareholders to deduct a portion of the Company’s dividends.

Although it may qualify for REIT status for Federal income tax purposes, the Company is subject to state income or franchise taxes in certain states in which some of its properties are located. In addition, taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”) is fully subject to Federal, state and local income taxes.

The Company accounts for TRS income taxes under the liability method as required by ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the temporary differences between the GAAP basis and tax basis of the TRS income, assets and liabilities.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes it is more likely than not that these assets will be realized and would record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets when it has determined that an uncertainty exists regarding their realization, which would increase the provision for income taxes. In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including forecasts of future taxable income, the reversal of other existing temporary differences, available net operating loss carry-forwards, tax planning strategies and recent results of operations. Several of these considerations require assumptions and significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates that the Company is utilizing to manage its business. To the extent facts and circumstances change in the future, adjustments to the valuation allowances may be required.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements include those adopted during the year ended December 31, 2018.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 does not apply to the Company’s lease revenues, but does apply to certain reimbursed tenant costs. Additionally, this guidance modifies disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year, until years beginning in 2018, with early adoption permitted but not before 2017. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is derived from its leases and therefore falls outside of the scope of this guidance. The Company implemented the standard effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach; however, there was no cumulative effect required to be recognized in retained earnings at the date of application. With respect to its fee-derived revenue, the Company had no changes to the timing of the revenue recognition. However, the recognition of gains on dispositions of properties may be impacted prospectively in limited circumstances under which collectability may not be reasonably assured or if the Company has continuing involvement with a sold property. 

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 provides 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. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018 and elected the “cumulative distribution approach” whereby distributions received from equity method investments are classified as cash flows from operations to the extent of equity earnings and then as cash flows from investing activities thereafter. Accordingly, the Company has reclassified $6.3 million of its cash inflows from investing activities to cash flows from operating activities in its historical presentation of cash flows related to its equity method investments for the year ended December 31, 2017. No such reclassification was required for the year ended December 31, 2016.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018. Accordingly, the Company has reclassified $11.5 million and $1.9 million of its cash inflows from operating activities and $0.9 million and $9.9 million of its cash inflows from financing activities to change in cash and restricted cash in its historical presentation of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations—Clarifying the Definition of a Business. ASU 2017-01 clarifies that to be considered a business, the elements must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. The new standard illustrates the circumstances under which real estate with in-place leases would be considered a business and provides guidance for the identification of assets and liabilities in purchase accounting. ASU 2017-01 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and has been adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2018. Adoption of the new standard has reduced the number of real estate acquisitions that were accounted for as business combinations and, therefore, reduced the amount of acquisition costs that were expensed. Accordingly, the Company capitalized $0.3 million of acquisition costs during the year ended December 31, 2018 and expensed $2.1 million and $8.2 million of acquisition costs during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments— Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323). ASU 2017-03 amends certain SEC guidance in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification in response to SEC staff announcements made during 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) meetings which addressed (i) the additional qualitative disclosures that a registrant is expected to provide when it cannot reasonably estimate the impact that ASUs 2014-09, 2016-02 and 2016-13 will have in applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 11.M and (ii) guidance in ASC 323 related to the amendments made by ASU 2014-01 regarding use of the proportional amortization method in accounting for investments in qualified affordable housing projects (announcement made at the November 17, 2016, EITF meeting). The Company adopted 2017-03 effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-03 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets, which amends the guidance on nonfinancial assets in ASC 610-20. The amendments clarify that (i) a financial asset is within the scope of ASC 610-20 if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset and may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counter-party, (ii) an entity should identify each distinct nonfinancial asset or in substance nonfinancial asset promised to a counter-party and de-recognize each asset when a counter-party obtains control of it, and (iii) an entity should allocate consideration to each distinct asset by applying the guidance in ASC 606 on allocating the transaction price to performance obligations. Further, ASU 2017-05 provides guidance on accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The amendments are effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2014-09. The Company adopted ASU 2017-05 effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-05 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies the scope of modification accounting with respect to changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. Modification accounting would not apply if a change to an award does not affect the total current fair value (or other applicable measurement), vesting conditions, or the classification of the award. For all entities, ASU 2017-09 is effective prospectively for awards modified in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements because the Company has not had significant modifications of its awards.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The purpose of this updated guidance is to better align a company’s financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-12 effective January 1, 2018 and the adoption of ASU 2017-12 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which allowed public companies to record provisional amounts in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2017 due to the complexities involved in accounting for the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU 2018-05 was effective upon issuance. The Company recognized the estimated income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in its 2017 Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Lease Accounting

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 outlines a new model for accounting by lessees, whereby their rights and obligations under substantially all leases, existing and new, will be capitalized and recorded on the balance sheet. For lessors, however, the accounting remains largely unchanged from the current model, with the distinction between operating, sales-type and direct-financing leases retained, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard discussed above. Under the new guidance, contract consideration will be allocated to its lease components (such as the lease of our retail properties) and non-lease components (such as maintenance). For us as a lessor, any non-lease components will be accounted for under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, unless the Company elects a lessor practical expedient to not separate the nonlease components from the associated lease component (see discussion below). The new guidance also includes a definition of initial direct costs that is narrower than the prior definition in current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases). This will result in a change to the accounting for our internal leasing costs, which will be expensed as incurred, as opposed to being capitalized and deferred. Commissions subsequent to successful lease execution will continue to be capitalized.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 and will require extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures.

ASU 2016-02 initially provided for one retrospective transition method; however, a second transition method was later added with ASU 2018-11 as described below. To ease the transition, the new lease accounting guidance permits companies to utilize certain practical expedients in their implementation of the new standard:

 

A package of three practical expedients that must be elected together for all leases and includes: (i) not reassessing expired or existing contracts as to whether they are or contain leases; (ii) not reassessing lease classification of existing leases and (iii) not reassessing the amount of capitalized initial direct costs for existing leases;

 

ASU 2016-02 also includes a practical expedient to use hindsight in determining the lease term or assessing purchase options for existing leases and in assessing impairment of right of use assets;

 

ASU 2018-01, Land Easements Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842 added a transition practical expedient to not reassess existing or expired land easement agreements not previously accounted for as leases; and

 

A new practical expedient under ASU 2018-11, described below.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases. These amendments provide minor clarifications and corrections to ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. The amendments in this Update provide entities with an additional optional transition method to adopt ASU 2016-02. Under this new transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting under this additional transition method for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which it adopts the new leases standard would continue to be in accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases). The amendments in this Update also provide lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to make a policy election to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component and, instead, to account for those components as a single component if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for under the new revenue guidance (Topic 606). Conditions are required to elect the practical expedient, and if met, the single component will be accounted for under either under Topic 842 or Topic 606 depending on which component(s) are predominant. The lessor practical expedient to not separate nonlease components from the associated component must be elected for all existing and new leases.

In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20 Leases (Topic 842), Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors. This ASU modifies ASU No. 2016-02 to permit lessors, as an accounting policy election, not to evaluate whether certain sales taxes and other similar taxes are lessor costs or lessee costs. Instead, those lessors will account for those costs as if they are lessee costs. Consequently, a lessor making this election will exclude from the consideration in the contract and from variable payments not included in the consideration in the contract all collections from lessees of taxes within the scope of the election and will provide certain disclosures (includes sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes and excludes real estate taxes). The Company has elected not to evaluate whether the aforementioned costs are lessor or lessee costs. This ASU also provides that certain lessor costs require lessors to exclude from variable payments, and therefore revenue, specifically lessor costs paid by lessees directly to third parties. The amendments also require lessors to account for costs excluded from the consideration of a contract that are paid by the lessor and reimbursed by the lessee as variable payments. A lessor will record those reimbursed costs as revenue.

The Company has adopted ASU No. 2016-02 (as amended by subsequent ASUs) effective January 1, 2019 utilizing the new transition method described in ASU 2018-11 and has availed itself of all the available practical expedients described above except it will not use hindsight in determining the lease term or assessing purchase options for existing leases and in assessing impairment of right of use assets. As lessor, the Company expects that post-adoption substantially all existing leases will have no change in the timing of revenue recognition until their expiration or termination. For common area maintenance income, currently reported within expense reimbursements, while this will be considered a nonlease component within the scope of Topic 606 for new leases, the Company has elected the lessor practical expedient to not separate maintenance from the associated lease for all existing and new leases and to account for the combined component as a single lease component. The Company has determined that the effect of electing this lessor practical expedient is that revenues related to leases will be reported on one line in the presentation within the statement of income. The timing of revenue recognition is expected to be the same for the majority of the Company’s new leases as compared to similar existing leases. After adoption, the Company will no longer capitalize a significant portion of internal leasing costs that were previously capitalized (the Company capitalized $1.4 million and $1.3 million of internal leasing costs during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively).

As a lessee, the Company is party to several equipment, ground, and office leases with future payment obligations aggregating approximately $203.1 million at December 31, 2018. As lessee, the Company has applied the following practical expedients in the implementation ASU 2016-02: (i) to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component as described above and (ii) to not apply the right-of-use recognition requirements to short-term leases.

Other Accounting Topics

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. ASU 2016-13 introduces a new model for estimating credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including loans receivable, held-to-maturity debt securities, and net investments in direct financing leases, amongst other financial instruments. ASU 2016-13 also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating the allowance for losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with adoption permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Retrospective adjustments shall be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. These amendments provide financial statement preparers with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recorded. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. The Company adopted this guidance, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements, effective January 1, 2019.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. These amendments provide specific guidance for transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees and specify that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments also clarify that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (i) financing to the issuer or (ii) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted but not earlier than the adoption of Topic 606. The Company does not believe that this guidance will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements as it has not historically issued share-based payments in exchange for goods or services to be consumed within its operations.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-09, Codification Improvements. These amendments provide clarifications and corrections to certain ASC subtopics including the following: 220-10 (Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Overall), 470-50 (Debt - Modifications and Extinguishments), 480-10 (Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity - Overall), 718-740 (Compensation - Stock Compensation - Income Taxes), 805-740 (Business Combinations - Income Taxes), 815-10 (Derivatives and Hedging - Overall), and 820-10 (Fair Value Measurement - Overall). Some of the amendments in ASU 2018-09 do not require transition guidance and will be effective upon issuance; however, many of the amendments do have transition guidance with effective dates for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement which removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements in ASC 820. This guidance is effective for public companies in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract to provide guidance on implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The ASU aligns the accounting for such costs with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Specifically, the ASU amends ASC 350 to include in its scope implementation costs of such arrangements that are service contracts and clarifies that a customer should apply ASC 350-40 to determine which implementation costs should be capitalized. This ASU, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company has not incurred any significant costs associated with cloud computing arrangements.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. This ASU modifies ASU 2016-13, which the Company expects to adopt effective January 1, 2019. The amendment clarifies that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses – Measure at Amortized Cost. Instead, impairment of receivables arising from operating leases should be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842, Leases.