Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2019. Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined, are defined in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and Equipment, Net Long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, which meet certain criteria, are reclassified to real estate held-for-sale and measured at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs of sale. The Company suspends depreciation and amortization for assets held-for-sale. Subsequent changes to the estimated fair value less costs to sell could impact the measurement of assets held-for-sale. Decreases are recognized as an impairment loss and recorded in "Impairment" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. To the extent the fair value increases, any previously reported impairment is reversed. Real estate held-for-sale is recorded in “Real estate assets, held-for-sale, net” and “Real estate liabilities, held-for-sale” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Leasing Arrangements
Leasing Arrangements The Company evaluates at lease inception whether an arrangement is or contains a lease by providing the Company with the right to control an asset. Operating leases are accounted for on balance sheet with the Right of Use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities recognized in "Operating lease right-of-use assets," "Other current liabilities" and "Operating lease liabilities - noncurrent" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance lease ROU assets, current lease liabilities and noncurrent lease liabilities are recognized in "Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation," and "Obligations under finance leases" and "Credit facilities and obligations under finance leases - noncurrent" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, respectively.

All lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the associated payments, discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate determined using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that the Company would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments for similar term and in a similar economic environment on a collateralized basis. ROU assets, for both operating and finance leases, are initially measured based on the lease liability, adjusted for initial direct costs, prepaid rent, and lease incentives received. The operating lease ROU assets are subsequently measured at the carrying amount of the lease liability adjusted for initial direct costs, prepaid or accrued lease payments, and lease incentives. Depreciation of the finance lease ROU assets are subsequently calculated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the expected lease terms and recorded in "Depreciation and amortization" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In addition to the fixed minimum payments required under the lease arrangements, certain leases require variable lease payments, which are payment of the excess of various percentages of gross revenue or net operating income over the minimum rental payments as well as payment of taxes assessed against the leased property. The leases generally also require the payment for the cost of insurance and maintenance. Variable lease payments are recognized when the associated activity occurs and contingency is resolved.

The Company has elected to combine lease and non-lease components for all lease contracts. Additionally, the Company does not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for arrangements with lease terms of 12 months or less and lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term with variable lease payments recognized in the period in which the obligation is incurred.
Other Investment
Other Investment The Company owns an approximately 22% economic interest in a limited liability company which owns preferred equity secured by a commercial real estate project. The Company accounts for this investment as an equity method investment. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the carrying value of this investment was $23.3 million and $22.6 million, respectively. The Company evaluates its equity method investment for other-than-temporary impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. The evaluation of recoverability is based on management’s assessment of the financial condition and near-term prospects of the commercial real estate project, the length of time and the extent to which the market value of the investment has been less than cost, availability and cost of financing, demand for space, competition for tenants, changes in market rental rates, and operating costs.  As these factors are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter management’s assumptions, the values estimated by management in its recoverability analyses may not be realized, and actual losses or impairment may be realized in the future.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of its long-lived assets, including real estate held-for-use and held-for-sale, as well as finite-lived intangible assets, to determine whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The assessment of recoverability is based on management’s estimates by comparing the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows generated by the underlying asset, or other appropriate grouping of assets, to its carrying value to determine whether an impairment existed at its lowest level of identifiable cash flows. If the carrying amount of the asset is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset, an impairment is recognized to the extent the carrying value of such asset exceeds its fair value. The Company generally measures fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets
Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of its long-lived assets, including real estate held-for-use and held-for-sale, as well as finite-lived intangible assets, to determine whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The assessment of recoverability is based on management’s estimates by comparing the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows generated by the underlying asset, or other appropriate grouping of assets, to its carrying value to determine whether an impairment existed at its lowest level of identifiable cash flows. If the carrying amount of the asset is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset, an impairment is recognized to the extent the carrying value of such asset exceeds its fair value. The Company generally measures fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The standard requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet and addresses certain aspects of lessor accounting. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02 using a modified retrospective approach. The Company has utilized the effective date transition method and accordingly is not required to adjust its comparative period financial information for effects of ASU 2016-02. The Company has elected to adopt practical expedients which permits it to not reassess its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs under the new standard. The Company elected to combine lease and non-lease components for all lease contracts and also elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases with terms of 12 months or less. The Company has also elected to adopt the practical expedient for land easements which permits it not to evaluate existing and expired land easements under the new standard. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, resulting in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities of $225.6 million and $205.9 million, respectively, with the difference primarily due to reclassifications of leasehold intangibles and an adjustment to accumulated deficit. There was no material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. For available-for-sale debt securities, entities will be required to record allowances rather than reduce the carrying amount under the other-than-temporary impairment model. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which clarifies that operating lease receivables accounted for under ASC 842 are not in the scope of this guidance. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04 Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which addresses certain fair value disclosure requirements, the measurement basis under the measurement alternative and which equity securities have to be remeasured at historical exchange rates. In May 2019, the FASB issued Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Targeted Transition Relief, which allows entities to elect to measure assets in the scope of ASC 326-20, using the fair value option when ASU 2016-13 is adopted. The effective date of the standards will be for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Entities will apply the standard's provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The standard requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement (i.e., a hosting arrangement) that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance in ASC 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets or expense as incurred. That guidance requires certain costs incurred during the application development stage to be capitalized and other costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages to be expensed as they are incurred. Capitalized implementation costs related to a hosting arrangement that is a service contract will be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement, beginning when the module or component of the hosting arrangement is ready for its intended use.  The effective date of the standard will be for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. Entities can either apply the guidance prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the timing for adoption and the impact it may have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fair Value Measurements
Liabilities for Which Fair Value is Only Disclosed
 
The following table summarizes the level of the fair value hierarchy, valuation techniques and inputs used for estimating each class of liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which fair value is disclosed:
Type of Liabilities Not Measured At Fair Value for Which Fair Value Is Disclosed
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
 
Valuation Techniques and Significant Inputs
Junior subordinated notes payable
 
Level 3
 
Valuation technique is based on discounted cash flows. Significant inputs include:
 
 
 
 
l
Amount and timing of expected future cash flows
 
 
 
 
l
Interest rates
 
 
 
 
l
Market yields and the credit spread of the Company
All of the inputs used have some degree of market observability, based on the Company’s knowledge of the market, relationships with market participants, and use of common market data sources. Collateral prepayment, default and loss severity projections are in the form of “curves” or “vectors” that vary for each monthly collateral cash flow projection. Methods used to develop these projections vary by asset class but conform to industry conventions. The Company uses assumptions that generate its best estimate of future cash flows of each respective security.
Fair Value Measurements

Valuation Hierarchy
The fair value of financial instruments is categorized based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique and categorized into a three-level fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Company follows this hierarchy for its financial instruments measured at fair value.

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.
Level 2 - Valuations based principally on observable market parameters, including
quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets,
inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, implied volatilities and credit spreads), and
market corroborated inputs (derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data).
Level 3 - Valuations determined using unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity, and that are significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The Company’s real estate securities and loans, and debt obligations are currently not traded in active markets and therefore have little or no price transparency. As a result, the Company has estimated the fair value of these illiquid instruments based on internal pricing models subject to the Company’s controls described below.

The Company has various processes and controls in place to ensure that fair value measurements are reasonably estimated. With respect to broker and pricing service quotations, and in order to ensure these quotes represent a reasonable estimate of fair value, the Company’s quarterly procedures include a comparison of such quotations to quotations from different sources, outputs generated from its internal pricing models and transactions completed, as well as on its knowledge and experience of these markets. With respect to fair value estimates generated based on the Company’s internal pricing models, the Company’s management validates the inputs and outputs of the internal pricing models by comparing them to available independent third-party market parameters and models, where available, for reasonableness. The Company believes its valuation methods and the assumptions used are appropriate and consistent with other market participants.
Fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 are sensitive to changes in the assumptions or methodology used to determine fair value and such changes could result in a significant increase or decrease in the fair value. For the Company’s investments in real estate securities and loans categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the significant unobservable inputs include the discount rates, assumptions relating to prepayments, default rates and loss severities.
Earnings Per Share
The Company’s dilutive securities are outstanding stock options and RSUs.
Valuation of Options
The valuation of the employee options has been determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model uses assumptions of expected volatility, expected dividend yield of the Company’s stock, expected term of the awards and the risk-free interest rate.
Income Taxes
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences become deductible.