Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

American Assets Trust, Inc. (which may be referred to in these financial statements as the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a Maryland corporation formed on July 16, 2010 that did not have any operating activity until the consummation of our initial public offering (the “Offering”) and the related acquisition on January 19, 2011 of certain assets of a combination of entities whose assets included entities owned and/or controlled by Ernest S. Rady and his affiliates, including the Rady Trust, which in turn owned (1) controlling interests in entities owning 17 properties and the property management business of American Assets, Inc. and (2) noncontrolling interests in entities owning four properties. The company is the sole general partner of American Assets Trust, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership formed on July 16, 2010 (the “Operating Partnership”). The company's operations are carried on through our Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, including our taxable REIT subsidiary. Since the formation of our Operating Partnership, the company has controlled our Operating Partnership as its general partner and has consolidated its assets, liabilities and results of operations.

We are a vertically integrated and self-administered REIT with 189 employees providing substantial in-house expertise in asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisitions, repositioning, redevelopment and financing.

Any reference to the number of properties or units, square footage or acres, employees; or references to beneficial ownership interests, are unaudited and outside the scope of our independent registered public accounting firm's audit of our financial statements in accordance with the standards of the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

As of December 31, 2018, we owned or had a controlling interest in 27 office, retail, multifamily and mixed-use operating properties, the operations of which we consolidate. Additionally, as of December 31, 2018, we owned land at three of our properties that we classify as held for development and construction in progress. A summary of the properties owned by us is as follows:



Retail
Carmel Country Plaza	Gateway Marketplace	Alamo Quarry Market
Carmel Mountain Plaza	Del Monte Center	Hassalo on Eighth - Retail
South Bay Marketplace	Geary Marketplace
Lomas Santa Fe Plaza	The Shops at Kalakaua
Solana Beach Towne Centre	Waikele Center



Office
Torrey Reserve Campus	First & Main
Torrey Point	Lloyd District Portfolio
Solana Beach Corporate Centre	City Center Bellevue
The Landmark at One Market
One Beach Street



Multifamily
Loma Palisades	Hassalo on Eighth - Multifamily
Imperial Beach Gardens
Mariner's Point
Santa Fe Park RV Resort
Pacific Ridge Apartments



Mixed-Use
Waikiki Beach Walk Retail and Embassy Suites™ Hotel



Held for Development and Construction in Progress
Solana Beach Corporate Centre – Land
Solana Beach – Highway 101 – Land
Lloyd District Portfolio – Construction in Progress

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the company, our Operating Partnership and our subsidiaries. The equity interests of other investors in our Operating Partnership are reflected as noncontrolling interests.

All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, referred to as “GAAP,” requires management to make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and revenues and expenses. These estimates are prepared using management's best judgment, after considering past, current and expected events and economic conditions. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows-Supplemental Disclosures

The following table provides supplemental disclosures related to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018		2017			2016
Supplemental cash flow information
Total interest costs incurred	$	53,736	$	55,418		$	53,487
Interest capitalized	$	1,488	$	1,570		$	1,551
Interest expense	$	52,248	$	53,848		$	51,936
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	$	52,632	$	47,473		$	47,793
Cash paid for income taxes	$	462	$	461		$	641
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities for construction in progress	$	8,379	$	(2,746	)	$	(435	)
Increase (decrease) in accrued leasing commissions	$	3,534	$	726		$	(355	)
Reduction to capital for prepaid equity financing costs	$	241	$	—		$	—

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Our leases with tenants are classified as operating leases. Substantially all such leases contain fixed rent escalations which occur at specified times during the term of the lease. Base rents are recognized on a straight-line basis from when the tenant controls the space through the term of the related lease, net of valuation adjustments, based on management's assessment of credit, collection and other business risks. When we determine that we are the owner of tenant improvements and the tenant has reimbursed us for a portion or all of the tenant improvement costs, we consider the amount paid to be additional rent, which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related lease. For first generation tenants, in instances in which we fund tenant improvements and the improvements are deemed to be owned by us, revenue recognition will commence when the improvements are substantially completed and possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant. When we determine that the tenant is the owner of tenant improvements, tenant allowances are recorded as lease incentives and we commence revenue recognition and lease incentive amortization when possession or control of the space is turned over to the tenant for tenant work to begin. Percentage rents, which represent additional rents based upon the level of sales achieved by certain tenants, are recognized at the end of the lease year or earlier if we have determined the required sales level is achieved and the percentage rents are collectible. Real estate tax and other cost reimbursements are recognized on an accrual basis over the periods in which the related expenditures are incurred.

Other property income includes parking income, general excise tax billed to tenants and fees charged to tenants at our multifamily properties. Other property income is recognized when we satisfy performance obligations as evidenced by the transfer of control of our services to customers. We measure other property income based on the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for the services provided. We recognize general excise tax gross, with the amounts billed to tenants and customers recorded in other property income and the related taxes paid as rental expense. The general excise tax included in other income was $3.6 million, $3.7 million and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For a tenant to terminate its lease agreement prior to the end of the agreed term, we may require that they pay a fee to cancel the lease agreement. Lease termination fees for which the tenant has relinquished control of the space are generally recognized on the later of the termination date or the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the lease termination, including, without limitation, payment of all lease termination fees. When a lease is terminated early but the tenant continues to control the space under a modified lease agreement, the lease termination fee is generally recognized evenly over the remaining term of the modified lease agreement.

We recognize revenue on the hotel portion of our mixed-use property from the rental of hotel rooms and guest services when we satisfy performance obligations as evidenced by the transfer of control when the rooms are occupied and services have been provided. Food and beverage sales are recognized when the customer has been served or at the time the transaction occurs. Revenue from room rental is included in rental revenue on the statement of income. Revenue from other sales and services provided is included in other property income on the statement of income.

We make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable related to minimum rents, straight-line rents, expense reimbursements and other revenue. Accounts receivable and deferred rent receivable are carried net of this allowance for doubtful accounts. We generally do not require collateral or other security from our tenants, other than letters of credit or security deposits. Our determination as to the collectability of accounts receivable and correspondingly, the adequacy of this allowance, is based primarily upon evaluations of individual receivables, current economic conditions, historical experience and other relevant factors. The allowance for doubtful accounts is increased or decreased through bad debt expense. In some cases, primarily relating to straight-line rents, the collection of these amounts extends beyond one year. Our experience relative to unbilled straight-line rents is that a portion of the amounts otherwise recognizable as revenue is never billed to or collected from tenants due to early lease terminations, lease modifications, bankruptcies and other factors. Accordingly, the extended collection period for straight-line rents along with our evaluation of tenant credit risk may result in the nonrecognition of a portion of straight-line rental income until the collection of such income is reasonably assured. If our evaluation of tenant credit risk changes indicating more straight-line revenue is reasonably collectible than previously estimated and realized, the additional straight-line rental income is recognized as revenue. If our evaluation of tenant credit risk changes indicating a portion of realized straight-line rental income is no longer collectible, a reserve and bad debt expense is recorded. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Our allowance for deferred rent receivables at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $0.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Total bad debt expense was $0.8 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We recognize gains on sales of properties upon the closing of the transaction with the purchaser. Gains on properties sold are recognized when we satisfy performance obligations as evidenced when (1) the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured, (2) we are not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale, (3) the initial investment from the buyer is sufficient and (4) other profit recognition criteria have been satisfied. Gains on sales of properties may be deferred until the requirements for gain recognition have been met.

Real Estate

Land, buildings and improvements are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives range generally from 30 years to a maximum of 40 years on buildings and major improvements. Minor improvements, furniture and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over useful lives ranging from 3 years to 15 years. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the useful lives of the related assets are charged to operations as incurred. Tenant improvements are capitalized and depreciated over the life of the related lease or their estimated useful life, whichever is shorter. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of its lease, the undepreciated balance of any tenant improvements are written off if they are replaced or have no future value. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, real estate depreciation expense was $99.6 million, $70.2 million and $62.5 million, respectively.

Acquisitions of properties are accounted for in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance on acquisitions and business combinations. Our methodology of allocating the cost of acquisitions to assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based on estimated fair values, replacement cost and appraised values. When we acquire operating real estate properties, the purchase price is allocated to land and buildings, intangibles such as in-place leases, and to current assets and liabilities acquired, if any. Such valuations include a consideration of the noncancelable terms of the respective leases as well as any applicable renewal periods. The fair values associated with below market renewal options are determined based on a review of several qualitative and quantitative factors on a lease-by-lease basis at acquisition to determine whether it is probable that the tenant would exercise its option to renew the lease agreement. These factors include: (1) the type of tenant in relation to the property it occupies, (2) the quality of the tenant, including the tenant's long term business prospects and (3) whether the fixed rate renewal option was sufficiently lower than the fair rental of the property at the date the option becomes exercisable such that it would appear to be reasonably assured that the tenant would exercise the option to renew. The value allocated to in-place leases is amortized over the related lease term and reflected as depreciation and amortization in the statement of income.

The value of above and below market leases associated with the original noncancelable lease terms are amortized to rental income over the terms of the respective noncancelable lease periods and are reflected as either an increase (for below market leases) or a decrease (for above market leases) to rental income in the statement of income. The value of the leases associated with below market lease renewal options that are likely to be exercised are amortized to rental income over the respective renewal periods. If a tenant vacates its space prior to contractual termination of its lease or the lease is not renewed, the unamortized balance of any in-place lease value is written off to rental income and amortization expense.

Capitalized Costs

We capitalize certain costs related to the development and redevelopment of real estate including pre-construction costs, real estate taxes, insurance and construction costs and salaries and related costs of personnel directly involved. Additionally, we capitalize interest costs related to development and significant redevelopment activities. Capitalization of these costs begins when the activities and related expenditures commence and cease when the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, at which time the project is placed in service and depreciation commences. Additionally, we make estimates as to the probability of certain development and redevelopment projects being completed. If we determine that the completion of development or redevelopment is no longer probable, we expense all capitalized costs which are not recoverable.

Impairment of Long Lived Assets

We review for impairment on a property by property basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a property may not be fully recoverable. Impairment is recognized on properties held for use when the expected undiscounted cash flows for a property are less than its carrying amount at which time the property is written-down to fair value. Properties held for sale are recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or the expected sales price less costs to sell.

Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values of financial instruments are determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methods. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair values. The use of different market assumptions or estimation methods may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. Accordingly, estimated fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in current market exchanges.

Derivative Instruments

At times, we may use derivative instruments to manage exposure to variable interest rate risk. We may enter into interest rate swaps to manage our exposure to variable interest rate risk. If and when we enter into derivative instruments, we ensure that such instruments qualify as cash flow hedges and would not enter into derivative instruments for speculative purposes.

Any interest rate swaps associated with our cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. We assess effectiveness of our cash flow hedges both at inception and on an ongoing basis. The effective portion of changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps associated with our cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and is subsequently reclassified into interest expense as interest is incurred on the related variable rate debt. Our cash flow hedges become ineffective if critical terms of the hedging instrument and the debt instrument do not perfectly match such as notional amounts, settlement dates, reset dates, calculation period and LIBOR rate. In addition, we evaluate the default risk of the counterparty by monitoring the credit worthiness of the counterparty. When ineffectiveness exists, the ineffective portion of changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps associated with our cash flow hedges is recognized in earnings in the period affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We define cash and cash equivalents as cash on hand, demand deposits with financial institutions and short term liquid investments with an initial maturity of less than 3 months. Cash balances in individual banks may exceed the federally insured limit of $250,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"). No losses have been experienced related to such accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of amounts held by lenders to provide for future real estate tax expenditures, insurance expenditures and reserves for capital improvements.

Other Assets

Other assets consist primarily of lease costs, lease incentives, acquired in-place leases and acquired above market leases. Capitalized lease costs are direct costs incurred which were essential to originate a lease and would not have been incurred had the leasing transaction not taken place and include third party commissions related to obtaining a lease. Capitalized lease costs are amortized over the life of the related lease and included in depreciation and amortization expense on the statement of income. If a tenant vacates its space prior to the contractual termination of its lease, the unamortized balance of any lease costs are written off. We view these lease costs as part of the up-front initial investment we made in order to generate a long-term cash inflow. Therefore, we classify cash outflows for lease costs as an investing activity in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Variable Interest Entities

Certain entities that do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties or in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest qualify as variable interest entities (“VIEs”). VIEs are required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has a controlling interest in the VIE. Identifying the party with the controlling interest requires a focus on which entity has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and (1) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the VIE or (2) the right to receive the benefits from the VIE.

Stock-Based Compensation

We grant stock-based compensation awards to our employees and directors typically in the form of restricted shares of common stock, options to purchase common stock and/or shares of common stock. We measure stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the award on the grant date and recognize the expense ratably over the vesting period.

Deferred Compensation

Our Operating Partnership has adopted the American Assets Trust Executive Deferral Plan V (“EDP V”) and the American Assets Trust Executive Deferral Plan VI (“EDP VI”). These plans were adopted by our Operating Partnership as successor plans to those deferred compensation plans maintained by American Assets Inc. ("AAI") in which certain employees of AAI, who were transferred to us in connection with the Offering (the “Transferred Participants”), participated prior to the Offering. EDP V and EDP VI contain substantially the same terms and conditions as these predecessor plans. AAI transferred to our Operating Partnership the Transferred Participants' account balances under the predecessor plans. These transferred account balances represent amounts deferred by the Transferred Participants prior to the Offering while they were employed by AAI.

At the time eligible participants defer compensation, we record compensation cost and a corresponding deferred compensation plan liability, which is included in other liabilities and deferred credits on our consolidated balance sheets. This liability is adjusted to fair value at the end of each accounting period based on the performance of the benchmark funds selected by each participant, and the impact of adjusting the liability to fair value is recorded as an increase or decrease to compensation cost.

Income Taxes

We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2011. To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders and meet the various other requirements imposed by the Code relating to such matters as operating results, asset holdings, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. Provided we maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, we are generally not subject to corporate level income tax on the earnings distributed currently to our stockholders that we derive from our REIT qualifying activities. If we fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in any taxable year, and are unable to avail ourselves of certain savings provisions set forth in the Code, all of our taxable income would be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax. We are subject to certain state and local income taxes.

We, together with one of our subsidiaries, have elected to treat such subsidiary as a taxable REIT subsidiary (a “TRS”) for federal income tax purposes. Certain activities that we undertake must be conducted by a TRS, such as non-customary services for our tenants, and holding assets that we cannot hold directly. A TRS is subject to federal and state income taxes.

Segment Information

Segment information is prepared on the same basis that our management reviews information for operational decision-making purposes. We operate in four reportable segments: the acquisition, redevelopment, ownership and management of retail real estate, office real estate, multifamily real estate and mixed-use real estate. The products for our retail segment primarily include rental of retail space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental. The products for our office segment primarily include rental of office space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental. The products for our multifamily segment include rental of apartments and other tenant services. The products of our mixed-use segment include rental of retail space and other tenant services, including tenant reimbursements, parking and storage space rental and operation of a 369-room all-suite hotel.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The pronouncement was issued to simplify the on-going assessment of hedge effectiveness and increase transparency related to hedge accounting. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The company early adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2017-12 effective October 1, 2017 using the modified retrospective approach. The company determined there is no impact to the company’s historical results as a result of adoption of the new standard and therefore no adjustment to retained earnings from application of the ASU.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-1, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The pronouncement changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The pronouncement requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The company early adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017. For the period from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the company acquired three properties for which we concluded that substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired were concentrated in a single identifiable asset and that the assets therefore did not meet the definition of a business under ASU 2017-01. Acquisition transaction costs associated with these property acquisitions were approximately $0.2 million and were capitalized to real estate investments.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash. This pronouncement requires companies to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The pronouncement also requires a disclosure of a reconciliation between the statement of financial position and the statement of cash flows when the balance sheet includes more than one line item for cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents. Entities with material restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents balances will be required to disclose the nature of the restrictions. The ASU is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The company adopted this ASU effective December 31, 2017. The adoption of this ASU impacted the presentation of cash flows with inclusion of restricted cash flows for each of the presented periods. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had $9.3 million and $9.3 million of restricted cash, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017 and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2, Leases (Topic 842), which provides the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. This ASU significantly changes the accounting for leases by requiring lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for leases greater than 12 months on their balance sheet. The lessor model stays substantially the same; however, there were modifications to conform lessor accounting with the lessee model, eliminate real estate specific guidance, further define certain lease and non-lease components, and change the definition of initial direct costs of leases requiring significantly more leasing related costs to be expensed upfront.

The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We will adopt ASU No. 2016-2 in the first quarter of 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which allows lessors to elect a practical expedient by class of underlying assets to not separate non-lease components from the lease component if certain conditions are met. The lessor’s practical expedient election would be limited to circumstances in which the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for under the new revenue guidance and both (i) the timing and pattern of transfer are the same for the nonlease component and the related lease component and (ii) the lease component would be classified as an operating lease. The company will elect the practical expedient which would allow the company the ability to combine the lease and non-lease components if the underlying asset meets the criteria above. ASU 2018-11 also includes an optional transition method in addition to the existing requirements for transition to the new standard by recognizing a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance sheet of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Consequently, a company’s reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements would continue to be in accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840). The company will elect this practical expedient as well.

While we continue to evaluate the impact this pronouncement will have on our consolidated financial statements, we expect that the real estate leases designated as operating leases in Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies, will be recognized as right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets upon adoption. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining contractual payments under lease agreements for which the company is the lessee aggregated approximately $8.9 million. The company estimates the adoption of this standard will result in a right-of-use asset and lease liability of between $5.0 million and $10.0 million.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The pronouncement was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard and disclosure requirements for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The pronouncement is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted the provisions of the ASU effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. As discussed above, lease are specifically excluded from this and will be governed by the applicable lease codification.

We evaluated the revenue recognition for all contracts within this scope under existing accounting standards and under the new revenue recognition ASU and confirmed that there were no differences in the amounts recognized or the pattern of recognition. This evaluation included revenues from the hotel portion of our mixed-use property, parking income and excise taxes charged to customers. Therefore, the adoption of this ASU did not result in an adjustment to the company’s retained earnings on January 1, 2018.

Fair Value Measurements

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

A fair value measurement is based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value is as follows:


1.	Level 1 Inputs—quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities


2.	Level 2 Inputs—observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities


3.	Level 3 Inputs—unobservable inputs

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.