Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Basis of Presentation:

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. Investments in entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest or entities that meet the definition of a variable interest entity ("VIE") in which the Company has, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests, both the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE are consolidated; otherwise they are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are reflected as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

Consolidation of VIE

The Company's sole significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership and as a result, substantially all of the Company's assets and liabilities represent the assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. In addition, the Operating Partnership has investments in a number of VIEs.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents, for which cost approximates fair value. Restricted cash includes impounds of property taxes and other capital reserves required under loan agreements.

Revenues

Revenues:

Minimum rental revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the related leases. The difference between the amount of rent due in a year and the amount recorded as rental income is referred to as the "straight-line rent adjustment." Minimum rents were increased by $11,755, $8,597 and $5,237 due to the straight-line rent adjustment during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Percentage rents are recognized and accrued when tenants' specified sales targets have been met.

Estimated recoveries from certain tenants for their pro rata share of real estate taxes, insurance and other shopping center operating expenses are recognized as revenues in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. Other tenants pay a fixed rate and these tenant recoveries are recognized as revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the related leases.

The Management Companies provide property management, leasing, corporate, development, redevelopment and acquisition services to affiliated and non-affiliated shopping centers.

Property

Property:

Maintenance and repair expenses are charged to operations as incurred. Costs for major replacements and betterments, which includes HVAC equipment, roofs, parking lots, etc., are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Gains and losses are recognized upon disposal or retirement of the related assets and are reflected in earnings.

Property is recorded at cost and is depreciated using a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:



Buildings and improvements	5 - 40 years
Tenant improvements	5 - 7 years
Equipment and furnishings	5 - 7 years

Capitalization of Costs

Capitalization of Costs:

The Company capitalizes costs incurred in redevelopment, development, renovation and improvement of properties. The capitalized costs include pre-construction costs essential to the development of the property, development costs, construction costs, interest costs, real estate taxes, salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. These capitalized costs include direct and certain indirect costs clearly associated with the project. Indirect costs include real estate taxes, insurance and certain shared administrative costs. In assessing the amounts of direct and indirect costs to be capitalized, allocations are made to projects based on estimates of the actual amount of time spent on each activity. Indirect costs not clearly associated with specific projects are expensed as period costs. Capitalized indirect costs are allocated to development and redevelopment activities based on the square footage of the portion of the building not held available for immediate occupancy. If costs and activities incurred to ready the vacant space cease, then cost capitalization is also discontinued until such activities are resumed. Once work has been completed on a vacant space, project costs are no longer capitalized. For projects with extended lease-up periods, the Company ends the capitalization when significant activities have ceased, which does not exceed the shorter of a one-year period after the completion of the building shell or when the construction is substantially complete.

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures:

The Company accounts for its investments in joint ventures using the equity method of accounting unless the Company has a controlling financial interest in the joint venture or the joint venture meets the definition of a variable interest entity in which the Company is the primary beneficiary through both its power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the variable interest entity and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. Although the Company has a greater than 50% interest in Corte Madera Village, LLC, Macerich HHF Centers LLC, New River Associates LLC and Pacific Premier Retail LLC, the Company does not have controlling financial interests in these joint ventures due to the substantive participation rights of the outside partners in these joint ventures and, therefore, accounts for its investments in these joint ventures using the equity method of accounting.

Equity method investments are initially recorded on the balance sheet at cost and are subsequently adjusted to reflect the Company’s proportionate share of net earnings and losses, distributions received, additional contributions and certain other adjustments, as appropriate. The Company separately reports investments in joint ventures when accumulated distributions have exceeded the Company’s investment, as distributions in excess of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures. The net investment of certain joint ventures is less than zero because of financing or operating distributions that are usually greater than net income, as net income includes charges for depreciation and amortization.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions:

The Company allocates the estimated fair value of acquisitions to land, building, tenant improvements and identified intangible assets and liabilities, based on their estimated fair values. In addition, any assumed mortgage notes payable are recorded at their estimated fair values. The estimated fair value of the land and buildings is determined utilizing an “as if vacant” methodology. Tenant improvements represent the tangible assets associated with the existing leases valued on a fair value basis at the acquisition date prorated over the remaining lease terms. The tenant improvements are classified as an asset under property and are depreciated over the remaining lease terms. Identifiable intangible assets and liabilities relate to the value of in-place operating leases which come in three forms: (i) leasing commissions and legal costs, which represent the value associated with “cost avoidance” of acquiring in-place leases, such as lease commissions paid under terms generally experienced in the Company's markets; (ii) value of in-place leases, which represents the estimated loss of revenue and of costs incurred for the period required to lease the “assumed vacant” property to the occupancy level when purchased; and (iii) above or below-market value of in-place leases, which represents the difference between the contractual rents and market rents at the time of the acquisition, discounted for tenant credit risks. Leasing commissions and legal costs are recorded in deferred charges and other assets and are amortized over the remaining lease terms. The value of in-place leases are recorded in deferred charges and other assets and amortized over the remaining lease terms plus any below-market fixed rate renewal options. Above or below-market leases are classified in deferred charges and other assets or in other accrued liabilities, depending on whether the contractual terms are above or below-market, and the asset or liability is amortized to minimum rents over the remaining terms of the leases. The remaining lease terms of below-market leases may include certain below-market fixed-rate renewal periods. In considering whether or not a lessee will execute a below-market fixed-rate lease renewal option, the Company evaluates economic factors and certain qualitative factors at the time of acquisition such as tenant mix in the Center, the Company's relationship with the tenant and the availability of competing tenant space. The initial allocation of purchase price is based on management's preliminary assessment, which may change when final information becomes available. Subsequent adjustments made to the initial purchase price allocation are made within the allocation period, which does not exceed one year. The purchase price allocation is described as preliminary if it is not yet final. The use of different assumptions in the allocation of the purchase price of the acquired assets and liabilities assumed could affect the timing of recognition of the related revenues and expenses.

The Company immediately expenses costs associated with business combinations as period costs and capitalizes costs associated with asset acquisitions.

Remeasurement gains are recognized when the Company obtains control of an existing equity method investment to the extent that the fair value of the existing equity investment exceeds the carrying value of the investment.

Deferred Charges

Deferred Charges:

Costs relating to obtaining tenant leases are deferred and amortized over the initial term of the lease agreement using the straight-line method. As these deferred leasing costs represent productive assets incurred in connection with the Company's leasing arrangements at the Centers, the related cash flows are classified as investing activities within the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Costs relating to financing of shopping center properties are deferred and amortized over the life of the related loan using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.

The range of the terms of the agreements is as follows:



Deferred lease costs	1 - 15 years
Deferred financing costs	1 - 15 years

Accounting for Impairment

Accounting for Impairment:

The Company assesses whether an indicator of impairment in the value of its properties exists by considering expected future operating income, trends and prospects, as well as the effects of demand, competition and other economic factors. Such factors include projected rental revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures as well as estimated holding periods and capitalization rates. If an impairment indicator exists, the determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, excluding interest expense. The amount of impairment loss, if any, is determined by comparing the fair value, as determined by a discounted cash flows analysis, with the carrying value of the related assets. The Company generally holds and operates its properties long-term, which decreases the likelihood of their carrying values not being recoverable. Properties classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

The Company reviews its investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for a series of operating losses and other factors that may indicate that a decrease in the value of its investments has occurred which is other-than-temporary. The investment in each unconsolidated joint venture is evaluated periodically, and as deemed necessary, for recoverability and valuation declines that are other-than-temporary.

Share and Unit-based Compensation Plans

Share and Unit-based Compensation Plans:

The cost of share and unit-based compensation awards is measured at the grant date based on the calculated fair value of the awards and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the awards. For market-indexed LTIP awards, compensation cost is recognized under the graded attribution method.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

The Company recognizes all derivatives in the consolidated financial statements and measures the derivatives at fair value. The Company uses interest rate swap and cap agreements (collectively, "interest rate agreements") in the normal course of business to manage or reduce its exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates. The Company designs its hedges to be effective in reducing the risk exposure that they are designated to hedge. Any instrument that meets the cash flow hedging criteria is formally designated as a cash flow hedge at the inception of the derivative contract. On an ongoing quarterly basis, the Company adjusts its balance sheet to reflect the current fair value of its derivatives. To the extent they are effective, changes in fair value are recorded in comprehensive income. Ineffective portions, if any, are included in net income (loss).

Amounts paid (received) as a result of interest rate agreements are recorded as an addition (reduction) to (of) interest expense.

If any derivative instrument used for risk management does not meet the hedging criteria, it is marked-to-market each period with the change in value included in the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes:

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1994. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that it distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. It is management's current intention to adhere to these requirements and maintain the Company's REIT status. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to corporate level federal income tax on taxable income it distributes currently to its stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, then it will be subject to federal income taxes at regular corporate rates (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for four subsequent taxable years. Even if the Company qualifies for taxation as a REIT, the Company may be subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and property and to federal income and excise taxes on its undistributed taxable income, if any.

Each partner is taxed individually on its share of partnership income or loss, and accordingly, no provision for federal and state income tax is provided for the Operating Partnership in the consolidated financial statements. The Company's taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRSs") are subject to corporate level income taxes, which are provided for in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The deferred tax assets and liabilities of the TRSs relate primarily to differences in the book and tax bases of property and to operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is provided if the Company believes it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company generating sufficient taxable income in future periods.

Segment Information

Segment Information:

The Company currently operates in one business segment, the acquisition, ownership, development, redevelopment, management and leasing of regional and community shopping centers. Additionally, the Company operates in one geographic area, the United States.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

The fair value hierarchy distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity and the reporting entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions.

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has 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 may 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, which 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. The Company's 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.

The Company calculates the fair value of financial instruments and includes this additional information in the notes to consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of those financial instruments. When the fair value reasonably approximates the carrying value, no additional disclosure is made.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:(Continued)

The fair values of interest rate agreements are determined using the market standard methodology of discounting the future expected cash receipts that would occur if variable interest rates fell below or rose above the strike rate of the interest rate agreements. The variable interest rates used in the calculation of projected receipts on the interest rate agreements are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observable market interest rate curves and volatilities. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty's nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, mutual puts and guarantees.

The Company records its financing arrangement obligation at fair value on a recurring basis with changes in fair value being recorded as interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The fair value is determined based on a discounted cash flow model, with the significant unobservable inputs including the multiple of net operating income, discount rate, and market rents. The fair value of the financing arrangement obligation is sensitive to these significant unobservable inputs and a change in these inputs may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement.

Concentration of Risk

Concentration of Risk:

The Company maintains its cash accounts in a number of commercial banks. Accounts at these banks are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") up to $250.

Management Estimates

Management Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers (ASC 606)," which outlines a comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The standard 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 the standard specifically references contracts with customers, it may apply to certain other transactions such as the sale of real estate or equipment. The standard applies to the Company's recognition of management companies and other revenues. The Company's adoption of the standard on January 1, 2018 did not have an impact on the pattern of revenue recognition for management companies and other revenues.

Additionally, under ASC 606, the Company changed its accounting for its joint venture in Chandler Freehold from a co-venture arrangement to a financing arrangement (See Note 11—Financing Arrangement). Upon adoption of the standard on January 1, 2018, the Company replaced its $31,150 distributions in excess of co-venture obligation (See Note 8—Deferred Charges and Other Assets, net) with a financing arrangement obligation of $393,709 on its consolidated balance sheets. This resulted in the recognition of a $424,859 increase in the Company’s accumulated deficit as a cumulative effect adjustment under the modified retrospective method of adoption.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements: (Continued)

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which sets out principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). The standard requires that lessors expense, on an as-incurred basis, certain initial direct costs that are not incremental in negotiating a lease. Under existing standards, certain of these costs are capitalizable and therefore this new standard may result in certain of these costs being expensed as incurred after adoption. Under the standard, lessees apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases. A lessee is required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than twelve months, regardless of their lease classification. The Company is a lessee on ground leases at certain properties, on certain office space leases and on certain other improvements and equipment. The standard is effective for the Company under a modified retrospective approach beginning January 1, 2019.

The FASB has provided a transition package of practical expedients for implementation, which include (i) relief from re-assessing whether an expired or existing contract meets the definition of a lease, (ii) relief from re-assessing the classification of expired or existing leases at the adoption date and (iii) allowing previously capitalized initial direct leasing costs to continue to be amortized. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases: Targeted improvements”, which provides companies with an additional transition option that would permit the application of the standard as of the adoption date rather than to all periods presented. The Company plans to utilize this transition option when it adopts the new standard on January 1, 2019 and also plans to elect to use the transition practical expedients package available to the Company under the new standard.

Under ASU 2016-02, initial direct costs for both lessees and lessors would include only those costs that are incremental to the arrangement and would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained. As a result, the Company will no longer be able to capitalize internal leasing costs and instead will be required to expense these costs as incurred. The Company capitalized internal leasing costs of $22,536, $22,403 and $25,788 during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

For leases where the Company is the lessee, the adoption of the standard will significantly change the accounting on the Company's consolidated balance sheets since these leases will be required to be recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as an obligation of the Company. Existing leases executed before the January 1, 2019 adoption date will continue to be accounted for as operating leases and the new guidance will not have a material impact on the Company's recognition of lease expense. The Company anticipates that upon adoption, it will a recognize a right of use asset and a lease liability estimated to be between $110,000 and $130,000 on it consolidated balance sheets, which represents the present value of the minimum lease payments required in accordance with each lease. The right of use asset and lease liability are still being evaluated by management and will be finalized on the the Company's consolidated financial statements for the three months ending March 31, 2019.

On November 17, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Restricted Cash,” which requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during a reporting period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. This standard states that transfers between cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash are not part of the entity’s operating, investing, and financing activities. Therefore, restricted cash 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. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the standard and retrospectively applied the guidance of the standard to the prior period presented, which resulted in an increase of $2,116 and $8,562 in net cash on its consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements: (Continued)

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning of period and end of period cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the Company's consolidated balance sheets to the totals shown on its consolidated statements of cash flows:



	2018		2017		2016
Beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents	$	91,038	$	94,046	$	86,510
Restricted cash	52,067		49,951		41,389
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	143,105	$	143,997	$	127,899
End of period
Cash and cash equivalents	$	102,711	$	91,038	$	94,046
Restricted cash	46,590		52,067		49,951
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	149,301	$	143,105	$	143,997

On January 5, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” which clarifies the definition of a business. The objective of the standard is to add further guidance that assists entities in evaluating whether a transaction will be accounted for as an acquisition of an asset or a business. The guidance requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the set of transferred assets and activities are not a business and should be treated as an asset acquisition. The guidance also requires a business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. The primary difference between business combinations and asset acquisitions is the recognition of transaction costs, which are expensed as period costs for business combinations and capitalized for asset acquisitions. The Company's adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 did not have a significant impact on its 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 clarifies the scope of asset derecognition and adds further guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with non-customers. The Company has concluded that property sales represent transactions with non-customers. Sales of property generally represent only one performance obligation and are recognized when an enforceable contract is in place, collectability is ensured and control is transferred to the buyer. As a result of the adoption of the standard on January 1, 2018, the Company began measuring the noncontrolling interest retained in partial sale transactions of real estate at fair value.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” which aims to (i) improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity’s risk management activities by better aligning the entity’s financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities and (ii) reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting by preparers. The standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.