Dispositions and Impairments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Dispositions and Impairments

NOTE 5–DISPOSITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS

2020 Activity

We recognized $262.2 million of gains on sale of real estate in 2020 as described below.

In March 2020, we formed the Ventas Life Science and Healthcare Real Estate Fund, L.P. (the “Ventas Fund”), a perpetual life vehicle that focuses on investments in research and innovation centers, medical office buildings and senior housing communities in North America. To seed the Ventas Fund, we contributed six (two of which are on the same campus) stabilized research and innovation and medical office properties. We received cash consideration of $620 million and a 21% interest in the Ventas Fund. We recognized a gain on the transactions of $225.1 million.

In October 2020, we formed a joint venture (the “R&I Development JV”) with GIC. To seed the R&I Development JV, we contributed our controlling ownership interest in four in-progress university-based research and innovation development projects (the “Initial R&I JV Projects”). At closing, GIC reimbursed Ventas for its share of costs incurred to date and we recognized a gain of $13.7 million. We own an over 50% interest and GIC owns a 45% interest in the Initial R&I JV Projects. The R&I Development JV may be expanded in the future to include other pre-identified R&I development projects.

See “Note 7 - Investments in Unconsolidated Entities” for additional details on the Ventas Fund and the JV.

Also during 2020, we sold four MOBs, four senior housing communities, 22 triple-net leased properties and one land parcel for aggregate consideration of $249.6 million, and we recognized a gain on the sale of these assets of $23.4 million.

2019 Activity

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we sold ten triple-net leased properties, eight MOBs, six senior housing assets and our leasehold interest in one vacant land parcel for aggregate consideration of $147.5 million, and we recognized a gain on the sale of these assets of $26.0 million.

2018 Activity

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we sold seven senior housing communities included in our senior living operations reportable business segment, five triple-net leased properties, 11 MOBs and two vacant land parcels for aggregate consideration of $348.6 million. We recognized a gain on the sale of these assets of $46.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Assets Held for Sale

The table below summarizes our real estate assets classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, including the amounts reported within other assets and accounts payable and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

	December 31, 2020					December 31, 2019
	Number of Properties Held for Sale	Assets Held for Sale		Liabilities Held for Sale		Number of Properties Held for Sale	Assets Held for Sale		Liabilities Held for Sale
	(Dollars in thousands)
Triple-net leased properties	1	$	4,960	$	2,690	8	$	62,098	$	1,623
Office operations (1)	—	15		101		1	5,177		499
Senior living operations	1	4,633		455		5	18,252		3,102
Total	2	$	9,608	$	3,246	14	$	85,527	$	5,224

(1)Balances relate to anticipated post-closing settlements of working capital.

In September 2020, one senior housing community no longer met the criteria as being classified as held for sale. As a result, we adjusted the carrying amount of the asset by recognizing depreciation expense of $0.1 million and classified the asset within net real estate investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets for all periods presented.

Real Estate Impairment

We recognized impairments of $153.8 million, $133.6 million and $29.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which are recorded primarily as a component of depreciation and amortization in our Consolidated Statements of Income. A significant portion of our 2020 charges resulted from the impact of COVID-19 and others were primarily the result of a change in our intent to hold the impaired assets (See “Note 1 – Description of Business - COVID-19 Update”). In most cases, we recognized an impairment in the periods in which our change in intent was made.

There were no impairments recorded as a result of natural disasters for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019; however, we recognized impairments of $52.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of natural disasters which are recorded as a component of other in our Consolidated Statements of Income.