Recently Issued Accounting Literature

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recently Issued Accounting Literature

Recently Issued Accounting Literature

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an update (“ASU 2016-02”) establishing ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), as amended by subsequent ASUs on the topic, which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to apply a two-method approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase. Lessees are required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months. Lease liabilities equal the present value of future lease payments. Right-of-use assets equal the lease liabilities adjusted for accrued rent expense, initial direct costs, lease incentives and prepaid lease payments. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to the previously existing guidance for operating leases. Lessees will recognize expense based on the effective interest method for finance leases or on a straight-line basis for operating leases. The accounting applied by the lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under ASC Topic 840, Leases (“ASC 840”). We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. In transitioning to ASC 842, we elected to use the practical expedient package available to us and did not elect to use hindsight. These elections have been applied consistently to all of our leases. On January 1, 2019, for our Flushing property ground lease, which is classified as an operating lease, we recorded a right-of-use asset of $5,058,000 (included in “other assets”) and a lease liability of $5,428,000 (included in “other liabilities”) (see Note 12 - Leases). Under ASC 842, we must assess on an individual lease basis whether it is probable that we will collect the future lease payments. We consider the tenant’s payment history and current credit status when assessing collectability. When collectability is not deemed probable we write-off the tenant’s receivables, including straight-line rent receivable, and limit lease income to cash received. Changes to the collectability of our operating leases are recorded as adjustments to “rental revenues” on our consolidated statements of income.

In August 2018, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2018-13”) Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement to ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying, and/or adding certain disclosures. ASU 2018-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We elected to early adopt ASU 2018-13 effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In October 2018, the FASB issued an update (“ASU 2018-16”) Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes to ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASU 2018-16 expands the list of U.S. benchmark interest rates permitted in the application of hedge accounting by adding the OIS rate based on SOFR as an eligible benchmark interest rate. ASU 2018-16 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We adopted this update effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of this update did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.