Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, and include, on a consolidated basis, our accounts, the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities, or VIEs, of which we are the primary beneficiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain of the assets and credit of our consolidated subsidiaries are not available to satisfy the debt or other obligations of us, our affiliates, or other entities.

One of our subsidiaries, CT Legacy Partners, LLC, or 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 accounting treatment in consolidation and, accordingly, report the loans and other investments of CT Legacy Partners at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets.

Certain reclassifications have been made in the presentation of the prior period consolidated financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

We consolidate all entities that we control through either majority ownership or voting rights. In addition, we consolidate all VIEs of which we are considered the primary beneficiary. 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 affect 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.

As of both December 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not consolidate any VIEs.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated 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 as of 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.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Interest income from our loans receivable is recognized over the life of each investment using the effective interest method and is recorded on the accrual basis. Recognition of fees, premiums, and discounts associated with these investments is deferred until the loan is advanced and is then recorded over the term of the loan as an adjustment to yield. 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. In addition, for loans we originate, the related origination expenses are deferred and recognized as a component of interest income, however expenses related to loans we acquire are included in general and administrative expenses as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents represent cash held in banks, cash on hand, and liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. We may have bank balances in excess of federally insured amounts; however, we deposit our cash and cash equivalents with high credit-quality institutions to minimize credit risk exposure. We have not experienced, and do not expect, any losses on our cash or cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

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 its operations, they cannot be used by us until our allocable share is distributed from CT Legacy Partners and cannot be commingled with any of our unrestricted cash balances.

Loans Receivable and Provision for Loan Losses

Loans Receivable and Provision for Loan Losses

We originate and purchase 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 to us pursuant 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 of these loans, which are collateral dependent, is measured by comparing the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, 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.

Our Manager performs a quarterly review of our portfolio of loans. In conjunction with this review, our Manager assesses the risk factors of each loan, and assigns a risk rating based on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, loan-to-value ratio, or LTV, debt yield, property type, geographic and local market dynamics, physical condition, cash flow volatility, leasing and tenant profile, loan structure and exit plan, and project sponsorship. Based on a 5-point scale, our loans are rated “1” through “5,” from less risk to greater risk, which ratings are defined as follows:

1  – Very Low Risk

2  – Low Risk

3  – Medium Risk

4  – High Risk/Potential for Loss: A loan that has a risk of realizing a principal loss.

5  – Impaired/Loss Likely: A loan that has a very high risk of realizing a principal loss or has otherwise incurred a principal loss.

During the second quarter of 2015, we acquired a portfolio of loans from General Electric Capital Corporation and certain of its affiliates for a total purchase price of $4.7 billion. We allocated the aggregate purchase price between each loan based on its fair value relative to the overall portfolio, which allocation resulted in purchase discounts or premiums determined on an asset-by-asset basis. Each loan will accrete from its allocated purchase price to its expected collection value over the life of the loan, consistent with the other loans in our portfolio.

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

Equity Investments in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

Our carried interest in CT Opportunity Partners I, LP, or 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 other investors in CTOPI 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 sheets. The recognition of income from CTOPI is generally deferred until cash is collected or appropriate contingencies have been eliminated.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

We classify all derivative financial instruments as either other assets or other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate each contract as (i) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, or net investment hedge, (ii) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability, or cash flow hedge, (iii) a hedge of a recognized asset or liability, or fair value hedge, or (iv) a derivative instrument not to be designated as a hedging derivative, or freestanding derivative. For all derivatives other than those designated as freestanding derivatives, we formally document our hedge relationships and designation at inception. This documentation includes the identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, its risk management objectives, strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction and our evaluation of the effectiveness of its hedged transaction.

On a quarterly basis, we also formally assess whether the derivative we designated in each hedging relationship is expected to be, and has been, highly effective in offsetting changes in the value or cash flows of the hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued. Changes in the fair value of the effective portion of our hedges are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our consolidated financial statements. Changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion of our hedges are included in net income. Amounts are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and into net income when the hedged item is either sold or substantially liquidated. To the extent a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting and is deemed a freestanding derivative, the changes in its value are included in net income.

Repurchase Agreements

Repurchase Agreements

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

Loan Participations Sold

Loan Participations Sold

Loan participations sold represent senior interests in certain loans that we sold, however we present such loan participations sold as liabilities because these arrangements do not qualify as sales under GAAP. These participations are non-recourse and remain on our consolidated balance sheet until the loan is repaid. The gross presentation of loan participations sold does not impact stockholders’ equity or net income.

Convertible Notes

Convertible Notes

The “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, requires the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement, to be separately accounted for in a manner that reflects the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The initial proceeds from the sale of convertible notes are allocated between a liability component and an equity component in a manner that reflects interest expense at the rate of similar nonconvertible debt that could have been issued at such time. The equity component represents the excess initial proceeds received over the fair value of the liability component of the notes as of the date of issuance. We measured the estimated fair value of the debt component of our convertible notes as of the issuance date based on our nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The equity component of the convertible notes is reflected within additional paid-in capital on our consolidated balance sheet, and the resulting debt discount is amortized over the period during which the convertible notes are expected to be outstanding (through the maturity date) as additional non-cash interest expense. The additional non-cash interest expense attributable to the convertible notes will increase in subsequent periods through the maturity date as the notes accrete to their par value over the same period.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred Financing Costs

The deferred financing costs that are included as a reduction in the net book value of the related liability on our consolidated balance sheets include issuance and other costs related to our debt obligations. These costs are amortized as interest expense using the effective interest method over the life of the related obligations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” Topic, or ASC 820, 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.

ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument, and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.

Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination, as follows:

• Level 1: Generally includes only unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical financial instruments as of the reporting date.

• Level 2: Pricing inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, quoted prices in less active or inactive markets for identical or similar instruments where multiple price quotes can be obtained, and other observable inputs, such as interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, and default rates.

• Level 3: Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. These inputs require significant judgment or estimation by management of third parties when determining fair value and generally represent anything that does not meet the criteria of Levels 1 and 2.

The estimated value of each asset reported at fair value using Level 3 inputs is determined by an internal committee composed of members of senior management of our Manager, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior officers.

Certain of our other assets are reported at fair value either (i) on a recurring basis, as of each quarter-end, or (ii) on a nonrecurring basis, as a result of impairment or other events. Our assets that are recorded at fair value are discussed further in Note 14. We generally value our assets recorded at fair value by either (i) discounting expected cash flows based on assumptions regarding the collection of principal and interest and estimated market rates, or (ii) obtaining assessments from third-party dealers. For collateral-dependent loans that are identified as impaired, we measure impairment by comparing our Manager’s estimation of fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, to the book value of the respective loan. These valuations may 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.

We are also required by GAAP to disclose fair value information about financial instruments, that are not otherwise reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheet, to the extent it is practicable to estimate a fair value for those instruments. These disclosure requirements exclude certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments.

The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments, for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

• Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount of cash on deposit and in money market funds approximates fair value.

• Restricted cash: The carrying amount of restricted cash approximates fair value.

• Loans receivable, net: The fair values for these loans were estimated by our Manager based on discounted cash flow methodology taking into consideration factors, including capitalization rates, discount rates, leasing, occupancy rates, availability and cost of financing, exit plan, sponsorship, actions of other lenders, and indications of market value from other market participants.

• Derivative financial instruments: The fair value of our foreign currency contracts and interest rates caps was valued using advice from a third party derivative specialist, based on contractual cash flows and observable inputs comprising foreign currency rates and credit spreads.

• Repurchase obligations: The fair values for these instruments were estimated based on the rate at which a similar credit facility would have currently priced.

• Convertible notes, net: The convertible notes are actively traded and their fair values were obtained using quoted market prices for these instruments.

• Loan participations sold: The fair value of these instruments were estimated based on the value of the related loan receivable asset.

Income Taxes

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. 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. Refer to Note 12 for additional information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Our stock-based compensation consists of awards issued to our Manager and certain of its employees that vest over the life of the awards as well as deferred stock units issued to certain members of our Board of Directors. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized for these awards in net income on a variable basis over the applicable vesting period of the awards, based on the value of our class A common stock. Refer to Note 13 for additional information.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share, or Basic EPS, is computed in accordance with the two-class method and is based on the net earnings allocable to our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units, divided by the weighted-average number of shares of class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units outstanding during the period. Our restricted class A common stock is considered a participating security, as defined by GAAP, and has been included in our Basic EPS under the two-class method as these restricted shares have the same rights as our other shares of class A common stock, including participating in any gains or losses.

Diluted earnings per share, or Diluted EPS, is determined using the treasury stock method, and is based on the net earnings allocable to our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units, divided by the weighted-average number of shares of class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units. Refer to Note 10 for additional discussion of earnings per share.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

In the normal course of business, we enter into transactions not denominated in United States, or U.S., dollars. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising on such transactions are recorded as a gain or loss in our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, we consolidate entities that have a non-U.S. dollar functional currency. Non-U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the reporting date and income, expenses, gains, and losses are translated at the average exchange rate over the applicable period. Cumulative translation adjustments arising from the translation of non-U.S. dollar denominated subsidiaries are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Underwriting Commissions and Offering Costs

Underwriting Commissions and Offering Costs

Underwriting commissions and offering costs incurred in connection with common stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in capital. Costs incurred that are not directly associated with the completion of a common stock offering are expensed when incurred.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

We previously operated our business through two segments, the Loan Origination segment and the CT Legacy Portfolio segment. In the first quarter of 2015, as a result of asset resolutions in our CT Legacy Portfolio, our Manager determined that the CT Legacy Portfolio segment was no longer a distinct and separately managed business. Accordingly, we no longer present segment reporting.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs,” or ASU 2015-03. ASU 2015-03 simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs by amending the accounting guidance to require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. The amendments presented in ASU 2015-03 are consistent with the accounting guidance related to debt discounts. We adopted ASU 2015-03 in the fourth quarter of 2015 and applied its provisions retrospectively. This resulted in the reclassification of unamortized deferred financing costs from other assets to reductions in secured debt agreements, loan participations sold, and convertible notes of $12.1 million, $3.4 million, and $398,000, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. Other than this reclassification, the adoption of this standard did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” or ASU 2015-02. ASU 2015-02 amends the guidance related to accounting for the consolidation of certain legal entities. The modifications made in ASU 2015-02 impact limited partnerships and similar legal entities, the evaluation of (i) fees paid to a decision maker or a service provider as a variable interest, (ii) fee arrangements, and (iii) related parties on the primary beneficiary determination. ASU 2015-02 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2015. We adopted ASU 2015-02 in the second quarter of 2015 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 2015-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” or ASU 2014-15. ASU 2014-15 introduces an explicit requirement for management to assess and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016. We do not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-15 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-11, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures,” or ASU 2014-11. ASU 2014-11 amends the accounting guidance for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and repurchase agreements executed as repurchase financings, and requires additional disclosure about certain transactions by the transferor. ASU 2014-11 is effective for certain transactions that qualify for sales treatment for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2014. The new disclosure requirements for repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions that qualify for secured borrowing treatment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015. We have historically recorded our repurchase arrangements as secured borrowings and, accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2014-11 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” or ASU 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 broadly amends the accounting guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2017, and is to be applied retrospectively. We do not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.