Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |||||||||||||
| Basis of Accounting | The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Operating Partnership have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with GAAP. |
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| Principles of Consolidation | The consolidated financial statements of the Company 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 intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. |
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| Special Purpose Entities | 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. |
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| Discontinued Operations | A discontinued operation represents: (i) a component of an entity or group of components that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale in a single transaction and represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results or (ii) an acquired business that is classified as held for sale on the date of acquisition. Examples of a strategic shift include disposing of: (i) a separate major line of business, (ii) a separate major geographic area of operations, or (iii) other major parts of the Company. The Company determined that the Spin- Off represented a strategic shift that has a major effect on the Company's results and, therefore, SMTA's operations qualify as discontinued operations. |
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| 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. |
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| Segment Reporting | The Company views its operations as one segment, which consists of net leasing operations. The Company has no other reportable segments. |
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| Real Estate Investments | Carrying Value of Real Estate Investments The Company’s real estate properties are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated remaining useful lives of the properties, which generally range from 20 to 50 years for buildings and improvements and from 5 to 20 years for land improvements. Portfolio assets classified as “held for sale” are not depreciated. Properties classified as “held for sale” are recorded at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value, less anticipated selling costs. Purchase Accounting and Acquisition of Real Estate When acquiring a property, the purchase price (including acquisition and closing costs) is allocated to land, building, improvements and equipment based on their relative fair values. For properties acquired with in-place leases, the purchase price of real estate is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired based on their estimated fair values. In making estimates of fair values for this purpose, a number of sources are used, including independent appraisals and information obtained about each property as a result of pre-acquisition due diligence and marketing and leasing activities. Lease Intangibles Lease intangibles, if any, acquired in conjunction with the purchase of real estate represent the value of in-place leases and above or below-market leases. For real estate acquired subject to existing lease agreements, in-place lease intangibles are valued based on the Company’s estimate of costs related to acquiring a tenant and the carrying costs that would be incurred during the time it would take to locate a tenant if the property were vacant, considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases at the time of the acquisition. Above and below-market lease intangibles are recorded based on the present value of the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the leases at the time of acquisition of the real estate and the Company’s estimate of current market lease rates for the property, measured over a period equal to the remaining initial term of the lease. In-place lease intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining initial term of the related lease and included in depreciation and amortization expense. Above-market lease intangibles are amortized over the remaining initial terms of the respective leases as a decrease in rental revenue. Below market lease intangibles are amortized as an increase to rental revenue over the remaining initial term of the respective leases, but may be amortized over the renewal periods if the Company believes it is likely the tenant will exercise the renewal option. If the Company believes it is likely a lease will terminate early, the unamortized portion of any related lease intangible is immediately recognized in impairment loss in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Investment in Direct Financing Leases For real estate property leases classified as direct financing leases, the building portion of the lease is accounted for as a direct financing lease, while the land portion is accounted for as operating leases when certain criteria are met. For direct financing leases, the Company records an asset which represents the net investment that is determined by using the aggregate of the total amount of future minimum lease payments, the estimated residual value of the leased property and deferred incremental direct costs less unearned income. Income is recognized over the life of the lease to approximate a level rate of return on the net investment. Residual values, which are reviewed annually, represent the estimated amount the Company expects to receive at lease termination from the disposition of the leased property. Actual residual values realized could differ from these estimates. The Company evaluates the collectability of future minimum lease payments on each direct financing lease primarily through the evaluation of payment history and the underlying creditworthiness of the tenant. There were no amounts past due as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company’s direct financing leases are evaluated individually for the purpose of determining if an allowance is needed. Any write-down of an estimated residual value is recognized as an impairment loss in the current period and earned income adjusted prospectively. The Company's direct financing leases were acquired in connection with the Merger. There were no impairment losses on direct financing leases during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. There were $4.8 million in impairment losses related to two direct financing leases during the year ended December 31, 2015. Impairment The Company reviews its real estate investments and related lease intangibles periodically for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company considers factors such as expected future undiscounted cash flows, estimated residual value, market trends (such as the effects of leasing demand and competition) and other factors in making this assessment. An asset is considered impaired if its carrying value exceeds its estimated undiscounted cash flows and the impairment is calculated as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. Estimating future cash flows and fair values are highly subjective and such estimates could differ materially from actual results. Key assumptions used in estimating future cash flows and fair values include, but are not limited to, revenue growth rates, interest rates, discount rates, capitalization rates, lease renewal probabilities, tenant vacancy rates and other factors. Revenue Recognition The Company primarily leases real estate to its tenants under long-term, triple-net leases that are classified as operating leases. Lease origination fees are deferred and amortized over the related lease term as an adjustment to rental revenue. Under a triple-net lease, the tenant is typically responsible for all improvements and is contractually obligated to pay all property operating expenses, such as real estate taxes, insurance premiums and repair and maintenance costs. Under certain leases, tenant reimbursement revenue, which is comprised of additional amounts recoverable from tenants for common area maintenance expenses and certain other recoverable expenses, is recognized as revenue in the period in which the related expenses are incurred. Tenant reimbursements are recorded on a gross basis in instances when our tenants reimburse us for property costs which we incur. Tenant receivables are carried net of the allowances for uncollectible amounts. The Company’s leases generally provide for rent escalations throughout the lease terms. For leases that provide for specific contractual escalations, rental revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis so as to produce a constant periodic rent over the term of the lease. Accordingly, accrued rental revenue, calculated as the aggregate difference between the rental revenue recognized on a straight-line basis and scheduled rents, represents unbilled rent receivables that the Company will receive only if the tenants make all rent payments required through the expiration of the initial term of the leases. The accrued rental revenue representing this straight-line adjustment is subject to an evaluation for collectability, and the Company records a provision for losses against rental revenues if collectability of these future rents is not reasonably assured. Leases that have contingent rent escalators indexed to future increases in the CPI may adjust over a one-year period or over multiple-year periods. Generally, these escalators increase rent at the lesser of (a) 1 to 2 times CPI over a specified period, (b) a fixed percentage, or (c) a fixed schedule. Because of the volatility and uncertainty with respect to future changes in the CPI, the Company’s inability to determine the extent to which any specific future change in the CPI is probable at each rent adjustment date during the entire term of these leases and the Company’s view that the multiplier does not represent a significant leverage factor, rental revenue from leases with this type of escalator are recognized only after the changes in the rental rates have occurred. Some of the Company’s leases also provide for contingent rent based on a percentage of the tenant’s gross sales. For contingent rentals that are based on a percentage of the tenant’s gross sales, the Company recognizes contingent rental revenue when the change in the factor on which the contingent lease payment is based actually occurs. The Company suspends revenue recognition if the collectability of amounts due pursuant to a lease is not reasonably assured or if the tenant’s monthly lease payments become more than 60 days past due, whichever is earlier. Lease termination fees are included in other income on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and are recognized when there is a signed termination agreement and all of the conditions of the agreement have been met. The Company recorded lease termination fees of $5.0 million, $7.3 million and $5.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
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| 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. The Company did not record any impairment on its existing goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Prior to the Company's adoption of ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, on January 1, 2017 on a prospective basis, when the Company disposed of a real estate asset that constituted a business under GAAP, a portion of goodwill was allocated to the carrying value of the real estate asset considered to be a business to determine the gain or loss on the disposal. The portion of goodwill allocated was derived from the proportionate fair value of the business to the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit. Goodwill related to real estate assets not previously classified as held for sale of $6.3 million and $12.7 million was written off during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Under the new guidance, the dispositions of properties generally no longer qualify as a disposition of a business and therefore no allocation of goodwill occurs when determining gain or loss on sale. |
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| 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 $12.4 million and $6.4 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, against accounts receivable balances of $27.2 million and $25.3 million, respectively. Receivables are recorded within deferred cost 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. The Company established a reserve for losses of $1.8 million and $7.7 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, against deferred rental revenue receivables of $81.6 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. |
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| Loans Receivable | Loans receivable consists of mortgage loans, net of premium, and notes receivables. Interest on loans receivable is recognized using the effective interest rate method. Impairment and Allowance for Loan Losses The Company periodically evaluates the collectability of its loans receivable, including accrued interest, by analyzing the underlying property-level economics and trends, collateral value and quality, and other relevant factors in determining the adequacy of its allowance for loan losses. A loan is determined to be impaired when, in management’s judgment based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Specific allowances for loan losses are provided for impaired loans on an individual loan basis in the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral less disposition costs. Delinquent loans receivable are written off against the allowance when all possible means of collection have been exhausted. As of December 31, 2017, there was an allowance for loan losses on loans receivable of $0.4 million and a $0.5 million allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2016. A loan is placed on non-accrual status when the loan has become 60 days past due, or earlier if management determines that full recovery of the contractually specified payments of principal and interest is doubtful. While on non-accrual status, interest income is recognized only when received. |
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| Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities | The Company utilizes derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps and caps for purposes of hedging exposures to fluctuations in interest rates associated with certain of its financing transactions. At the inception of a hedge transaction, the Company enters into a contractual arrangement with the hedge counterparty and formally documents the relationship between the derivative instrument and the financing transaction being hedged, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction. At inception and at least quarterly thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine whether the derivative instrument has been highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the related financing transaction and whether it is expected to be highly effective in the future. The fair value of the derivative instrument is recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portions of the corresponding change in fair value of the derivatives are recorded in AOCL within stockholders’ equity and partners' capital. Changes in fair value reported in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to operations in the period in which operations are affected by the underlying hedged transaction. Any ineffective portions of the change in fair value are recognized immediately in general and administrative expense. The amounts paid or received on the hedge are recognized as adjustments to interest expense (see Note 5). |
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investment securities with maturities at acquisition of three months or less. The Company invests cash primarily in money market funds of major financial institutions with fund investments consisting of highly-rated money market instruments and other short-term instruments. |
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| 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. Taxable income from non-REIT activities managed through any of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries is subject to federal, state, and local taxes, which are not material. The Operating Partnership is a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Partnerships are pass-through entities and are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes, therefore no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying financial statements. Although most states and cities where the Operating Partnership operates follow the U.S. federal income tax treatment, there are certain jurisdictions such as Texas, Tennessee and Ohio that impose income or franchise taxes on a partnership. Franchise taxes are included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. |
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| Earnings Per Share and Unit | The Company’s unvested restricted common stock, which contains non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends, are considered participating securities requiring the two-class method of computing earnings per share and unit. Under the two class method, earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares are deducted from income from continuing operations in the computation of net income attributable to common stockholders. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common stockholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities based on their respective weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Under the terms of the Amended Incentive Award Plan and the related restricted stock awards (see Note 13), losses are not allocated to participating securities including undistributed losses as a result of dividends declared exceeding net income. The Company uses income or loss from continuing operations as the basis for determining whether potential common shares are dilutive or anti-dilutive and undistributed net income or loss as the basis for determining whether undistributed earnings are allocable to participating securities. |
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| New Accounting Pronouncements | In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This new guidance establishes a principles-based approach for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early application permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted the new revenue recognition standard effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective method, and elected to apply the standard only to contracts that are not completed as of the date of adoption (i.e. January 1, 2018). In evaluating the impact of this new standard, the Company identified that lease contracts covered by Leases (Topic 840) are excluded from the scope of this new guidance. As such, this ASU had no material impact on the Company's reported revenues, results of operations, financial position or disclosures. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the existing guidance for lease accounting Leases (Topic 840). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize leases on their balance sheets, and leaves lessor accounting largely unchanged. Leases pursuant to which the Company is the lessee primarily consist of its corporate office and equipment leases. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted for all entities. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified restrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to elect to use certain transition relief. Upon adoption, the Company will record certain expenses paid directly by its tenants that protect the Company's interests in its properties, such as real estate taxes, to property costs and the related tenant reimbursement income to revenue, with no impact on net income. The Company has begun implementation of the ASU and is currently evaluating the overall impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements. 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 has been applied prospectively and had no material impact on the financial statements of the Company. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires more timely recognition of credit losses associated with financial assets. ASU 2016-13 requires financial assets (or a group of financial assets) measured at an amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and requires retrospective adoption unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case it is to be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 effective January 1, 2018 and has applied it retrospectively. As a result of adoption, debt prepayment and debt extinguishment costs, previously presented in operating activities, are now presented in financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. There was no impact on the statements of cash flows for the Company for other types of transactions. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This guidance requires entities to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents within the cash and cash equivalents balances presented in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, and the new guidance is to be applied retrospectively. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 effective January 1, 2018 and applied it retrospectively. As a result, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the consolidated statements of cash flows. 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 no allocation of goodwill occurs when determining gain or loss on sale. |
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| Fair Value Measurements | The fair value measurement framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation inputs which was established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based upon three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, two of which are considered observable and one that is considered unobservable. The following describes the three levels:
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