Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Operating Partnership have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements include the normal, recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the information required to be set forth therein. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year. Certain information and note disclosures, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, have been condensed or omitted from these statements pursuant to SEC rules and regulations and, accordingly, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as filed with the SEC in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership include the accounts of the Operating Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All expenses incurred by the Company have been allocated to the Operating Partnership in accordance with the Operating Partnership's first amended and restated agreement of limited partnership, which management determined to be a reasonable method of allocation. Therefore, expenses incurred would not be materially different if the Operating Partnership had operated as an unaffiliated entity. The Company has formed numerous special purpose entities to acquire and hold real estate encumbered by indebtedness (see Note 4). Each special purpose entity is a separate legal entity and is the sole owner of its assets and responsible for its liabilities. The assets of these special purpose entities are not available to pay, or otherwise satisfy obligations to, the creditors of any affiliate or owner of another entity unless the special purpose entities have expressly agreed and are permitted under their governing documents. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, net assets totaling $2.73 billion and $2.95 billion, respectively, were held, and net liabilities totaling $2.15 billion and $2.26 billion, respectively, were owed by these special purpose entities and are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Use of 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 at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although management believes its estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates. Segment Reporting The Company views its operations as one segment, which consists of net leasing operations. The Company has no other reportable segments. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company reviews its rent and other tenant receivables for collectability on a regular basis, taking into consideration changes in factors such as the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates, and economic conditions in the area in which the tenant operates. In the event that the collectability of a receivable with respect to any tenant is in doubt, a provision for uncollectible amounts will be established or a direct write-off of the specific receivable will be made. The Company provided for reserves for uncollectible amounts totaling $8.3 million and $6.4 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, against accounts receivable balances of $22.4 million and $25.3 million, respectively. Receivables are recorded within deferred costs and other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Receivables are written off against the reserves for uncollectible amounts when all possible means of collection have been exhausted. For deferred rental revenues related to the straight-line method of reporting rental revenue, the collectability review includes management’s estimates of amounts that will not be realized and an assessment of the risks inherent in the portfolio, giving consideration to historical experience and industry default rates for long-term receivables. The Company established a reserve for losses of $2.4 million at September 30, 2017 and $7.7 million at December 31, 2016, against deferred rental revenue receivables of $77.3 million and $71.1 million, respectively. Deferred rental revenue receivables are recorded within deferred costs and other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Restricted Cash and Escrow Deposits Restricted cash and deposits in escrow, classified within deferred costs and other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consisted of the following (in thousands):
(1) Funds held in reserve by lenders which can be applied at their discretion to the repayment of debt (any funds remaining on deposit after the debt is paid in full are released to the borrower). Balance changes are reflected in financing activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. (2) Deposits held as additional collateral support by lenders to fund tenant improvements, repairs and leasing commissions incurred to secure a new tenant. Balance changes are reflected in financing activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. (3) Proceeds from the sale of assets pledged as collateral under the Spirit Master Funding Program, which are held on deposit until a qualifying substitution is made or the funds are applied as prepayment of principal. Balance changes are reflected in investing activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. (4) Funds held in lender controlled accounts generally used to meet future debt service or certain property operating expenses. Balance changes are reflected in financing activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. (5) Primarily funds held in lender controlled accounts released after scheduled debt service requirements are met. Balance changes are reflected in operating activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. Goodwill Goodwill arises from business combinations and represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net fair value amounts that were assigned to the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. Income Taxes The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax provided it continues to satisfy certain tests concerning the Company’s sources of income, the nature of its assets, the amounts distributed to its stockholders and the ownership of Company stock. Management believes the Company has qualified and will continue to qualify as a REIT and therefore, no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Even if the Company qualifies for taxation as a REIT, it may be subject to state and local income and franchise taxes and to federal income tax and excise tax on its undistributed income. Franchise taxes are included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries are subject to federal, state and local taxes, which are not material. New Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or the SEC that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. These new accounting pronouncements entail technical corrections to existing guidance or affect guidance related to specialized industries or entities. There are no updates to our prior disclosures regarding adoption of pronouncements that are not yet effective. Additionally, we have evaluated new accounting pronouncements issued subsequent to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and have concluded that they are either not applicable or will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Changes in Accounting Principle In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies many aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions under ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liability, forfeiture rate calculations and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2017 and made an accounting policy election to recognize stock-based compensation forfeitures as they occur, whereas previously stock-based compensation forfeitures were estimated and recognized based on historical forfeiture rates. This change in accounting principle has been applied prospectively and the change in accounting principle had no material impact on the financial statements of the Company. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which narrows the definition of a business. The Company early adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2017 and application is on a prospective basis. Under the new guidance, the acquisition of a property with an in-place lease generally is no longer accounted for as an acquisition of a business, but instead as an asset acquisition, meaning the transaction costs of such an acquisition are now capitalized instead of expensed. Further, dispositions of properties generally no longer qualify as a disposition of a business and therefore do not generate allocated goodwill when determining gain or loss on sale. |
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