Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. In our opinion, all material adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation, in accordance with GAAP, have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2013.

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements include, on a consolidated basis, our accounts, the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities, or VIEs, in which we are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

VIEs are defined as entities in which equity investors (i) do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, and/or (ii) do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The entity that consolidates a VIE is known as its primary beneficiary, and is generally the entity with (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (ii) the right to receive benefits from the VIE or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

We have separately presented, following our consolidated balance sheet, the assets of consolidated VIEs that can only be used to satisfy the obligations of those VIEs, and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs that are non-recourse to us. We have aggregated all of such assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs in this presentation due to our determination that these entities are substantively similar and therefore a further disaggregated presentation would not be more meaningful.

CT Legacy Partners accounts for its operations in accordance with industry-specific GAAP accounting guidance for investment companies, pursuant to which it reports its investments at fair value. We have retained this specialized accounting in consolidation and, accordingly, report the loans and securities investment of CT Legacy Partners at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet.

As more fully described in Note 1, we sold our investment management business to Blackstone in December 2012. As a result, the income and expense items related to our investment management business have been reclassified to income from discontinued operations on our consolidated statement of operations.

Certain reclassifications have been made in the presentation of the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform to the March 31, 2013 presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates.

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

Our carried interest in CTOPI is accounted for using the equity method. CTOPI’s assets and liabilities are not consolidated into our financial statements due to our determination that (i) it is not a VIE and (ii) the investors have sufficient rights to preclude consolidation by us. As such, we report our allocable percentage of the net assets of CTOPI on our consolidated balance sheet. We have deferred the recognition of income from CTOPI until cash is collected or appropriate contingencies have been eliminated and, therefore do not recognize any income from equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries.

Revenue Recognition

Interest income from our loans receivable is recognized over the life of the investment using the effective interest method and is recorded on the accrual basis. Fees, premiums, discounts and direct costs associated with these investments are deferred until the loan is advanced and are then recognized over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield. For loans where we have unfunded commitments, we amortize these fees and other items on a straight line basis. Fees on commitments that expire unused are recognized at expiration. Income accrual is generally suspended for loans at the earlier of the date at which payments become 90 days past due or when, in the opinion of our Manager, recovery of income and principal becomes doubtful. Income is then recorded on the basis of cash received until accrual is resumed when the loan becomes contractually current and performance is demonstrated to be resumed.

Interest income from our securities is recognized using a level yield with any purchase premium or discount accreted through income over the life of the security. This yield is calculated using cash flows expected to be collected which are based on a number of assumptions on the underlying loans. Examples include, among other things, the rate and timing of principal payments, including prepayments, repurchases, defaults and liquidations, the pass-through or coupon rate, and interest rates. Additional factors that may affect reported interest income on our securities include interest payment shortfalls due to delinquencies on the underlying mortgage loans and the timing and magnitude of expected credit losses on the mortgage loans underlying the securities. These are impacted by, among other things, the general condition of the real estate market, including competition for tenants and their related credit quality, and changes in market rental rates. These uncertainties and contingencies are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter the assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We classify highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase as cash equivalents. We place our cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality institutions to minimize credit risk exposure. We may have bank balances in excess of federally insured amounts. We have not experienced, and do not expect, any losses on our demand deposits, commercial paper or money market investments.

Restricted Cash

We classify the cash balances held by CT Legacy Partners as restricted because, while these cash balances are available for use by CT Legacy Partners for operations, debt service, or other purposes, they cannot be used by us until our allocable share is distributed from CT Legacy Partners, and cannot be co-mingled with any of our other, unrestricted cash balances. See Note 3 for additional discussion of CT Legacy Partners.

Securities

We classify our securities as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading on the date of acquisition of the investment. Held-to-maturity investments are stated at cost, adjusted for the amortization of any premiums or discounts, which are amortized through our consolidated statements of operations using the level yield method described above. Other than in the instance of an other-than-temporary impairment, as discussed below, these held-to-maturity investments are carried on our consolidated financial statements at their amortized cost basis.

We may also invest in securities which may be classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Changes in the valuations do not affect our reported income or cash flows, but do impact stockholders’ equity and, accordingly, book value per share.

Further, as required under GAAP, when, based on current information and events, there has been an adverse change in the cash flows expected to be collected from those previously estimated for one of our securities, an other-than-temporary impairment is deemed to have occurred. A change in expected cash flows is considered adverse if the present value of the revised cash flows (taking into consideration both the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected) discounted using the security’s current yield is less than the present value of the previously estimated remaining cash flows, adjusted for cash receipts during the intervening period.

Should an other-than-temporary impairment be deemed to have occurred, the security is written down to fair value. The total other-than-temporary impairment is bifurcated into (i) the amount related to expected credit losses, and (ii) the amount related to fair value adjustments in excess of expected credit losses, or the Valuation Adjustment. The portion of the other-than-temporary impairment related to expected credit losses is calculated by comparing the amortized cost basis of the security to the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, discounted at the security’s current yield, and is recognized through earnings in the consolidated statement of operations. The remaining other-than-temporary impairment related to the Valuation Adjustment is recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. A portion of other-than-temporary impairments recognized through earnings is accreted back to the amortized cost basis of the security through interest income, while amounts recognized through other comprehensive income (loss) are amortized over the life of the security with no impact on earnings.

Loans Receivable, Provision for Loan Losses, Loans Held-for-Sale and Related Allowance

We purchase and originate commercial real estate debt and related instruments generally to be held as long-term investments at amortized cost. We are required to periodically evaluate each of these loans for possible impairment. Impairment is indicated when it is deemed probable that we will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. If a loan is determined to be impaired, we write down the loan through a charge to the provision for loan losses. Impairment on these loans is measured by comparing the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral to the book value of the respective loan. These valuations require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders and other factors deemed necessary by our Manager. Actual losses, if any, could ultimately differ from these estimates.

In conjunction with our quarterly loan portfolio review, our Manager assesses the performance of each loan, and assigns a risk rating based on several factors including risk of loss, loan-to-value ratio, or LTV, collateral performance, structure, exit plan, and sponsorship. Loans are rated one through eight, which ratings are defined as follows:

1 - Low Risk: A loan that is expected to perform through maturity, with relatively lower LTV, higher in-place debt yield, and stable projected cash flow.

2	-	Average Risk: A loan that is expected to perform through maturity, with medium LTV, average in-place debt yield, and stable projected cash flow.
3	-	Acceptable Risk: A loan that is expected to perform through maturity, with relatively higher LTV, acceptable in-place debt yield, and some uncertainty (due to lease rollover or other factors) in projected cash flow.
4	-	Higher Risk: A loan that is expected to perform through maturity, but has exhibited a material deterioration in cash flow and/or other credit factors. If negative trends continue, default could occur.
5	-	Low Probability of Default/Loss: A loan with one or more identified weakness that we expect to have a 15% probability of default or principal loss.
6	-	Medium Probability of Default/Loss: A loan with one or more identified weakness that we expect to have a 33% probability of default or principal loss.
7	-	High Probability of Default/Loss: A loan with one or more identified weakness that we expect to have a 67% or higher probability of default or principal loss.
8	-	In Default: A loan which is in contractual default and/or which has a very high likelihood of principal loss.

In certain cases, we may classify loans as held-for-sale based upon the specific facts and circumstances of particular loans, including known or expected transactions. Loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of their amortized cost basis and fair value. A reduction in the fair value of loans held-for-sale is recorded as a charge to our consolidated statement of operations as a valuation allowance on loans held-for-sale.

Deferred Financing Costs

The deferred financing costs which are included in prepaid expenses and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets include issuance costs related to our debt obligations, and are amortized using the effective interest method, or a method that approximates the effective interest method, over the life of the related obligations.

Repurchase Obligations

We record investments financed with repurchase obligations as a separate assets and the related borrowing under any repurchase agreement recorded as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets. Interest income earned on the investments and interest expense incurred on the repurchase obligations are reported separately on our consolidated statements of operations.

Interest Rate Derivative Financial Instruments

In the normal course of business, we use interest rate derivative financial instruments to manage, or hedge, cash flow variability caused by interest rate fluctuations. Specifically, we may use interest rate swaps to convert floating rate liabilities that are financing fixed rate assets into fixed rate liabilities. The differential to be paid or received on these agreements is recognized on the accrual basis as an adjustment to the interest expense related to the attendant liability. The interest rate swap agreements are generally accounted for on a held-to-maturity basis, and, in cases where they are terminated early, any gain or loss is generally amortized over the remaining life of the hedged item. These swap agreements must be effective in reducing the variability of cash flows of the hedged items in order to qualify for the aforementioned hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of effective cash flow hedges are reflected on our consolidated financial statements through accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and do not affect our net income (loss). To the extent a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting, and is deemed a non-hedge derivative, the changes in its fair value are included in net income (loss).

To determine the fair value of interest rate derivative financial instruments, we use a third-party derivative specialist to assist us in periodically valuing our interests.

Income Taxes

Our financial results generally do not reflect provisions for current or deferred income taxes on our REIT taxable income. We believe that we operate in a manner that will continue to allow us to be taxed as a REIT and, as a result, we generally do not expect to pay substantial corporate level taxes other than those payable by our taxable REIT subsidiaries. Many of these requirements, however, are highly technical and complex. If we were to fail to meet these requirements, we may be subject to federal, state and local income tax on current and past income, and penalties. See Note 9 for additional information.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in net income using a fair value measurement method, which we determine with the assistance of a third-party appraisal firm. Compensation expense for the time vesting of stock-based compensation grants is recognized on the accelerated attribution method and compensation expense for performance vesting of stock-based compensation grants is recognized on a straight line basis.

The fair value of the performance vesting restricted class A common stock is measured on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the probability of the market vesting conditions being satisfied. The Monte Carlo simulation is run approximately 100,000 times. For each simulation, the payoff is calculated at the settlement date, and is then discounted to the grant date at a risk-free interest rate. The average of the values over all simulations is the expected value of the restricted class A common stock on the grant date. The valuation is performed in a risk-neutral framework, so no assumption is made with respect to an equity risk premium. Significant assumptions used in the valuation include an expected term and stock price volatility, an estimated risk-free interest rate and an estimated dividend growth rate.

Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Total comprehensive (loss) income was ($1.6 million) and $144.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The primary components of comprehensive income other than net income are the unrealized gains and losses on derivative financial instruments and the component of other-than-temporary impairments of securities related to the Valuation Adjustment.

Earnings per Share of Common Stock

Basic earnings per share, or EPS, is computed based on the net earnings allocable to common stock and stock units, divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and stock units outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is determined using the treasury stock method, and is based on the net earnings allocable to common stock and stock units, divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock, stock units and potentially dilutive common stock options and warrants. On April 26, 2013, our board of directors approved a one-for-ten reverse stock split of our class A common stock which we effected on May 6, 2013. Our earnings per share disclosures have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

We have separately determined EPS and diluted EPS for income (loss) from continuing operations and for net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders. See Note 6 for additional discussion of earnings per share.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or the Codification, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements under GAAP. Specifically, this guidance defines fair value based on exit price, or the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Our assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value are discussed in Note 11.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-01, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures About Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” or ASU 2013-01. ASU 2013-1 was developed to clarify which instruments and transactions are subject to the offsetting disclosure requirements set forth by Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2013-01 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The adoption of ASU 2013-1 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2013-02, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2013-02. ASU 2013-02 implements the previously deferred requirement to disclose reclassification adjustments into and out of accumulated other comprehensive income in either a note or on the face of the financial statements. ASU 2013-02 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2012, and should be applied prospectively. As we no longer have a balance of accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2012, we do not expect the adoption of ASU 2013-02 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.