XML 22 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.1
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 
a.
Principles of Consolidation -
The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, which are wholly-owned or controlled by us. Entities which we do not control through our voting interest and entities which are variable interest entities, but where we are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, our share of the earnings or losses of these unconsolidated joint ventures is included in our consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss (see Note 13 - Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture for further information). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
 
We consolidate a variable interest entity (the “VIE”) in which we are considered the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the entity that has (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. As of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any interests in VIEs.
 
We assess the accounting treatment for joint venture investments, which includes a review of the joint venture or limited liability company agreement to determine which party has what rights and whether those rights are protective or participating. For potential VIEs, we review such agreements in order to determine which party has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the
entity’s
economic performance. In situations where we and our partner equally share authority, we do not consolidate the joint venture as we consider these to be substantive participation rights that result in shared power of the activities that most significantly impact the performance of the joint venture. Our joint venture agreements may contain certain protective rights such as requiring partner approval to sell, finance or refinance the property and the payment of capital expenditures and operating expenditures outside of the approved budget or operating plan.
 
 
b.
Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture -
We account for our investment in an unconsolidated joint venture, The Berkley, under the equity method of accounting (see Note 13 - Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture for further information). We also assess our investment in the unconsolidated joint venture for recoverability, and if it is determined that a loss in value of the investment is other than temporary, we write down the investment to its fair value. We evaluate our equity investment for impairment based on the joint ventures’ projected cash flows. We do not believe that the value of our equity investment was impaired at either December 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.
 
 
c.
Use of Estimates
- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 
d.
Reportable Segments
- We operate in one reportable segment, commercial real estate.
 
 
e.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
- Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. We hold substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents in banks. Such cash balances at times exceed federally insured limits. 
 
 
f.
Real Estate
- Real estate assets are stated at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. All costs related to the improvement or replacement of real estate properties are capitalized. Additions, renovations and improvements that enhance and/or extend the useful life of a property are also capitalized. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance, repairs and improvements that do not materially prolong the normal useful life of an asset are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, as described in the table below:
 
Category
 
Terms
 
 
 
Buildings and improvements
 
10 - 39 years
Tenant improvements
 
Shorter of remaining term of the lease or useful life
Furniture and fixtures
 
5 - 8 years
Tax abatement
 
15 - 25 years
 
 
g.
Real Estate Under Development
- We capitalize certain costs related to the development and redevelopment of real estate including initial project acquisition costs, pre-construction costs and construction costs for each specific property. Additionally, we capitalize operating costs, interest, real estate taxes, insurance and compensation and related costs of personnel directly involved with the specific project related to real estate under development. Capitalization of these costs begin when the activities and related expenditures commence, and ceases when the property is held available for occupancy upon substantial completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year from the completion of major construction activity at which time the project is placed in service and depreciation commences. Revenue earned under short-term license agreements at properties under development is offset against these capitalized costs.
 
 
h.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
- We periodically review long-lived assets for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. We consider relevant cash flow, management’s strategic plans and significant decreases in the market value of the asset and other available information in assessing whether the carrying value of the assets can be recovered. When such events occur, we compare the carrying amount of the asset to the undiscounted expected future cash flows, excluding interest charges, from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If this comparison indicates an impairment, the carrying amount would then be compared to the estimated fair value of the long-lived asset. An impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its estimated fair value. No provision for impairment was recorded during any of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
 
 
i.
Fair Value Measurements
- We determine fair value in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820,
“Fair value Measurements”, for financial assets and liabilities. This standard defines fair value, provides guidance for measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures.
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity.
 
Assets and liabilities disclosed at fair value are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels, which are defined by ASC 820-10-35, are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair valuation of these assets and liabilities. Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment and we evaluate our hierarchy disclosures each quarter.
 
Level 1
- Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
 
Level 2
- Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
 
Level 3
- Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants. These valuations require significant judgment.
 
 
j.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
- Cash and cash equivalents include securities with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.
 
 
k.
Restricted Cash -
Restricted cash represents amounts required to be restricted under our loan agreements and secured line of credit (see Note 10 - Loans Payable and Secured Line of Credit for further information), tenant related security deposits and deposits on property acquisitions.
 
 
l.
Revenue Recognition
- Leases with tenants are accounted for as operating leases. Minimum rents are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective lease, beginning when the tenant takes possession of the space. The excess of rents recognized over amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying leases are included in deferred rents receivable. In addition, leases typically provide for the reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance and other property operating expenses. These reimbursements are recognized as revenue in the period the expenses are incurred. We make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable related to tenant revenues. An allowance for doubtful accounts has been provided against certain tenant accounts receivable that are estimated to be uncollectible. Once the amount is ultimately deemed to be uncollectible, it is written off.
 
 
m.
Stock-Based Compensation
– We have granted stock-based compensation, which is described below in Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation. We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” which establishes accounting for stock-based awards exchanged for employee services. Under the provisions of ASC 718-10-35, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award on that date, and is expensed at the grant date (for the portion that vests immediately) or ratably over the respective vesting periods.
 
 
n.
Income Taxes
- We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method as required by the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes”. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for which we do not consider realization of such assets to be more likely than not.
 
ASC 740-10-65 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under ASC 740-10-65, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. ASC 740-10-65 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures. As of both December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had determined that no liabilities are required in connection with unrecognized tax positions. As of December 31, 2018, our tax returns for the prior three years are subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service.
 
On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law P.L. 115-97, commonly referred to as the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”). The TCJA modifies several provisions of the Internal Revenue Code related to corporations, including a permanent corporate income tax rate reduction from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. See Note 5 – Income Taxes for additional detail on our accounting for income taxes, including additional discussion on the enactment of the TCJA and the resulting impact on our 2017 financial statements.
 
We are subject to certain federal, state and local income and franchise taxes.
 
 
o.
Earnings (loss) Per Share
- We present both basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share. Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower per share amount. Shares issuable under restricted stock units that have vested but not yet settled were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because the awards would have been antidilutive for the periods presented.
 
 
p.
Deferred Finance Costs
 – Capitalized and deferred finance costs represent commitment fees, legal, title and other third party costs associated with obtaining commitments for mortgage financing which result in a closing of such financing. These costs are being offset against loans payable in the consolidated balance sheets for mortgage financings and had a balance of $5.1 million at December 31, 2018. Costs for our secured line of credit are included in prepaid expenses and other assets, net and had a balance of $0.1 million at December 31, 2018. These costs are amortized over the terms of the related financing arrangements. Unamortized deferred finance costs are expensed when the associated debt is refinanced or repaid before maturity. Costs incurred in seeking financing transactions which do not close are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.
 
 
q.
Deferred Lease Costs
– Deferred lease costs consist of fees and direct costs incurred to initiate and renew operating leases and are amortized to depreciation and amortization on a straight-line basis over the related lease term.
 
 
r.
Underwriting Commissions and Costs
– Underwriting commissions and costs incurred in connection with our stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital in stockholders’ equity.
 
 
s.
Reclassifications -
Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, including but not limited to, the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09 as described below.
 
 
t.
Change in Estimate
- Management periodically reviews the assumptions used in determining the accrued postretirement benefit obligation (see Note 8 – Pension and Profit Sharing Plans). In 2016, management changed the base mortality table used in determining the accrued postretirement benefit obligation to the newer RP-2016 table. The accrued postretirement benefit obligation increased by approximately $0.8 million at December 31, 2016 mainly due to the effect of this change in estimate.
 
Accounting Standards Updates
 
In August 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC“) adopted a final rule that eliminated or amended disclosure requirements that were redundant or outdated in light of changes in its requirements, generally accepted accounting principles, or changes in the business environment. The SEC also referred certain disclosure requirements to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) for potential incorporation into generally accepted accounting principles. The rule is effective for filings after November 5, 2018. We assessed the impact of this rule and determined that the changes resulted in clarification or expansion of existing requirements and it did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. This amendment removed, modified and added the disclosure requirements under Topic 820. The changes are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for the removed or modified disclosures with adoption of the additional disclosures upon the effective date. We have not yet adopted this new guidance and do not expect a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows when the new standard is implemented.
 
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. This amendment provides additional guidance related to share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods or services from nonemployees. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including the interim periods within that fiscal year. We have not yet adopted this new guidance and do not expect a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows when the new standard is implemented.
 
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities”. The amendments in the new standard will permit more flexibility in hedging interest rate risk for both variable rate and fixed rate financial instruments. The standard will also enhance the presentation of hedge results in the financial statements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. We have not yet adopted the guidance, and do not expect a material impact on our consolidated financial statements when the new standard is implemented.
  
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope of Modification Accounting.” The guidance clarifies the changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award that require an entity to apply modification accounting in ASC 718. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, “Other Income-Gains and Losses from the De-recognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20),” to add guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets, including partial sales of real estate, eliminate rules specifically addressing sales of real estate, remove exceptions to the financial asset derecognition model, and clarifies the accounting for contributions of non-financial assets to joint ventures. Historically, GAAP contained several different accounting models to evaluate whether the transfer of certain assets qualified for sale treatment. Under the new standard, we will recognize the sale, and associated gain or loss from the disposition, provided that the earnings process is complete. Subsequent to the adoption of the new standard, a gain or loss is recognized when the criteria for an asset to be derecognized are met, which include when (i) a contract exists and (ii) the buyer obtained control of the nonfinancial asset when sold. As a result, we may recognize a gain on a real estate disposition transaction that previously did not qualify as a sale or for full profit recognition due to the timing of the transfer of control or certain forms of continuing involvement. ASU 2017-05 reduces the number of potential accounting models that might apply and clarifies which model does apply in various circumstances. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business.” The guidance clarifies the definition of a business and provides guidance to assist with determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. The main provision is that an acquiree is not a business if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of assets. Upon the adoption of ASU No. 2017-01, we evaluated each acquisition of real estate or in-substance real estate to determine if the integrated set of assets and activities acquired meet the definition of a business and need to be accounted as a business combination. Generally, we expect that acquisitions of real estate or in-substance real estate will not meet the revised definition of a business because substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets (i.e. land, buildings, and related intangible assets) or because the acquisition does not include a substantive process in the form of an acquired workforce or an acquired contract that cannot be replaced without significant cost, effort or delay. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” The guidance requires entities to show the changes on the total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. As a result, entities will no longer present transfers between these items on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2018, resulted in a restatement of our statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017, for comparative purposes. This resulted in an increase of approximately $2.9 million in net cash used in operating activities from $4.6
million to $7.5 million and a decrease of approximately $8.1 million in net cash used in investing activities from $9.7 million to
$1.6 million.
 
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (A Consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).” ASU 2016-15 provides final guidance on eight cash flow issues, including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, distributions received from equity method investees, separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle, and others. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2018, did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
In March 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  ASU 2016-09 changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payment awards to employees, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows.  ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods.  If an entity early adopts in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period and the entity must adopt all of the amendments from ASU 2016-09 in the same period.  We elected to early adopt ASU 2016-09 as of January 1, 2016 and the adoption has resulted in an adjustment of a reduction in real estate, net of $0.5 million, a reduction in liability related to stock-based compensation of $5.1 million, an increase in additional paid-in capital of $4.4 million and an increase in retained earnings of $0.2 million.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases.” ASU 2016-02 outlines a new model for accounting by lessees, whereby their rights and obligations under substantially all leases, existing and new, would be capitalized and recorded on the balance sheet. For lessors, however, the accounting remains largely unchanged from the current model, with the distinction between operating and direct financing leases retained, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard discussed above. We have no sales-type leases. As lessee, we are party to an office lease with future payment obligations aggregating approximately $2.9 million at December 31, 2018 (see Note 9 - Commitments) for which we expect to record right of use assets and corresponding lease liabilities of approximately $2.4 million upon adoption of ASU 2016-02. ASU 2016-02 will also require extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures and is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permitted. The new leases standard is effective for us on January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842) – Targeted Improvements,” which provides an optional transition method of applying the new leases standard at the adoption date by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We will elect this optional transition method. Also, we will elect the ‘package of practical expedients’ which allows us not to reassess our previous conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We are currently evaluating the effects ASU 2016-02 will have on our related disclosures and internal controls. We will finalize the calculation of the right-of-use asset and lease liability and completing the design of internal controls surrounding compliance with the new standard post-implementation. Based on our evaluation to date, we do not expect the impact of adopting this new standard to be material on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 establishing ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”). ASU 2014-09, as amended by subsequent ASUs on the topic, establishes a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition guidance. This standard requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services and also requires certain additional disclosures. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method approach, however, there was no cumulative-effect required to be recognized in our accumulated deficit at the date of adoption. Our revenue contracts are primarily leases that are not within the scope of this standard. As a result, the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.