XML 24 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.5.0.2
Organization and Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Liberty Property Trust (the “Trust”) is a self-administered and self-managed Maryland real estate investment trust (a “REIT”). Substantially all of the Trust’s assets are owned directly or indirectly, and substantially all of the Trust’s operations are conducted directly or indirectly, by its subsidiary, Liberty Property Limited Partnership, a Pennsylvania limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership” and, together with the Trust and their consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”). The Trust is the sole general partner and also a limited partner of the Operating Partnership, owning 97.6% of the common equity of the Operating Partnership at June 30, 2016. The Company owns and operates industrial properties nationally and owns and operates office properties in a focused group of office markets. Additionally, the Company owns certain assets in the United Kingdom. Unless otherwise indicated, the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements apply to both the Trust and the Operating Partnership. The terms the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean the Trust and Operating Partnership collectively.
As of January 1, 2016 under the revised accounting standard Topic 810 (see Recently Issued Accounting Standards below), the Operating Partnership is a variable interest entity ("VIE") of the Trust as the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. The Trust is the primary beneficiary of the Operating Partnership as it has the power to direct the activities of the Operating Partnership and the rights to absorb 97.6% of the net income of the Operating Partnership. The Trust has no significant assets or liabilities other than its investment in the Operating Partnership. As the Operating Partnership is already consolidated in the balance sheets of the Trust, the identification of this entity as a VIE has no impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Trust. In addition, the Company holds a 20% interest in Liberty/Comcast 1701 JFK Boulevard, LP which was determined to be a VIE. The Company determined that it is not the primary beneficiary as the Company and its third party partner share control of the joint venture. The Company's maximum exposure to loss is equal to its equity investment in the joint venture which was $19.8 million and $20.5 million as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2015. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for these interim periods have been included. The results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be obtained for a full fiscal year.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard clarifies the required factors that an entity must consider when recognizing revenue. The standard also requires additional disclosures concerning contracts with customers, judgments concerning revenue recognition, and assets recognized for the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018. The Company is evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on its financial position and results of operations and has not yet selected a transition method.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (Topic 810) ("ASU 2015-02"). The standard requires that all entities re-evaluate and revise consolidation documentation for limited partnerships and similar legal entities. It makes changes to both the variable interest model and voting model. The Company adopted ASU 2015-02 beginning January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position and results of operations.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019. Early adoption of ASU 2016-02 is permitted. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. The Company is evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position and results of operations.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-05, Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships ("ASU 2016-05"). ASU 2016-05 states that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under FASB Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. ASU 2016-05 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017. Early adoption of ASU 2016-05 is permitted. The standard allows application on a prospective or modified retrospective basis. The Company does not believe that ASU 2016-05 will have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 is designed to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2017. Early adoption of ASU 2016-09 is permitted. Certain amendments in the standard are to be applied retrospectively and certain amendments are to be applied prospectively. The Company is evaluating the impact ASU 2016-09 will have on its financial position and results of operations.