Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary. Investments in joint ventures and limited partnerships in which the Company does not have a controlling interest are accounted for by the equity method. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is an entity in which a controlling financial interest may be achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests. A VIE is required to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is the entity that possesses the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that are significant to the entity. The Company consolidates VIEs when it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, including real estate joint ventures determined to be VIEs.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions including investment in real estate, real estate impairment assessments, investments, other-than-temporary impairment assessments, retained interest investments, accruals and deferred income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Investment in Real Estate

The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with development and construction of identified real estate projects. The Company also capitalizes those indirect costs that relate to the projects under development or construction. These indirect costs include construction and development administration, legal fees, capitalized interest, and project administration to the extent that such costs are related to a specific project. Interest is capitalized (up to total interest expense) based on the amount of underlying borrowings and real estate taxes are capitalized on real estate projects under development.

Real estate development costs also include land and common development costs (such as roads, utilities and amenities), capitalized property taxes, capitalized interest and certain indirect costs. A portion of real estate inventory costs and estimates for costs to complete are allocated to each unit based on the relative sales value of each unit as compared to the estimated sales value of the total project. These estimates are reevaluated at least annually and more frequently if warranted by market conditions, changes in the project’s scope or other factors, with any adjustments being allocated prospectively to the remaining units available for sale.

The capitalization period relating to direct and indirect project costs is the period in which activities necessary to ready a property for its intended use are in progress. The period begins when such activities commence, typically when the Company begins the entitlement processes for land already owned, and ends when the asset is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. Determination of when construction of a project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use requires judgment. The Company determines when the capitalization period begins and ends through communication with project and other managers responsible for the tracking and oversight of individual projects. In the event that the activities to ready the asset for its intended use are suspended, the capitalization period will cease until such activities are resumed. If the Company determines not to complete a project, any previously capitalized costs are expensed in the period in which the determination is made and recovery is not deemed reasonable.

Investment in real estate is carried at cost, net of depreciation and timber depletion, unless circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that an impairment exists due to the inability to recover an asset’s carrying value, an impairment charge is recorded to the extent that the carrying value exceeds estimated fair value. If such assets were held for sale, the provision for loss would be recorded to the extent that the carrying value exceeds estimated fair value less costs to sell.

Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the assets, as follows:



			Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Land			N/A
Land improvements			15 - 20
Buildings			20-40
Building improvements			5-25
Timber			N/A

Building improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the minimum lease term or the estimated economic life of the assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, bank demand accounts, money market instruments and short term commercial paper having original maturities at acquisition date, of ninety days or less.

Investments

Investments and restricted investments consist of available-for-sale securities recorded at fair value, which is established through external pricing services that use quoted market prices and pricing data from recently executed market transactions. Unrealized gains and temporary losses on investments, net of tax, are recorded in other comprehensive (loss) income. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined using the specific identification method. The amortized cost of debt securities are adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity computed under the effective interest method. Such amortization and accretion is included in investment income, net.

The Company evaluates investments classified as available-for-sale with an unrealized loss to determine if they are other-than- temporarily impaired. This evaluation is based on various factors, including the financial condition, business prospects, industry and creditworthiness of the issuer, severity and length of time the securities were in a loss position, the Company’s ability and intent to hold investments until the unrealized loss is recovered or until maturity and the amount of the unrealized loss. If a decline in fair value is considered other-than-temporary, the decline is then bifurcated into its credit and non-credit related components. The amount of the credit-related component is recognized in earnings, and the amount of the non-credit related component is recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income, unless the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security prior to its anticipated recovery.

Restricted Investments

The Company’s restricted investments are related to the Company’s deferred compensation plan. As part of the Pension Plan termination in 2014, the Company directed the Pension Plan to transfer the Pension Plan’s surplus assets into a suspense account in the Company’s 401(k) Plan. The Company has retained the risks and rewards of ownership of these assets; therefore, the assets held in the suspense account are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets until they are allocated to current or future 401(k) plan participants for up to the next four years.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received by selling an asset or paying to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established as a basis for considering such assumptions and for inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

Level 1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2. Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, such as internally-developed valuation models which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and temporary losses on available-for-sale securities and restricted investments.

Receivables

The Company’s receivables include primarily the PCR Note, Pier Park CDD notes, homebuilder notes and claim settlement receivable. The Company evaluates the carrying value of receivables at each reporting date. Receivable balances are adjusted to net realizable value based upon a review of entity specific facts or when terms are modified. Judgments are made with respect to the collectability of accounts based on historical experience and current economic trends. Actual losses could differ from those estimates. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 there were no collectability issues.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include the Company’s investments in operating and development property and property and equipment. The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment quarterly to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. As part of the Company’s review for impairment of its long-lived assets, the Company reviews the long-lived asset’s carrying value, current period actual financial results as compared to prior period and forecasted results contained in the Company’s business plan and any other events or changes in circumstances to identify whether an indicator of potential impairment may exist. Some of the events or changes in circumstances that are considered by the Company as indicators of potential impairment include:


•	a prolonged decrease in the fair value or demand for the Company’s properties;


•	a change in the expected use or development plans for the Company’s properties;


•	a material change in strategy that would affect the fair value of the Company’s properties;


•	continuing operating or cash flow loss for an operating property;


•	an accumulation of costs in excess of the projected costs for development or operating property; and


•	any other adverse change that may affect the fair value of the property.

The Company uses varying methods to determine if an impairment exists, such as (i) considering indicators of potential impairment, (ii) analyzing expected future cash flows and comparing the expected future undiscounted cash flows of the property to its carrying value or (iii) determining market resale values.

For projects under development, an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows is performed using estimated future expenditures necessary to develop and maintain the existing project and using management’s best estimates about future sales prices and holding periods. The projection of undiscounted cash flows requires that management develop various assumptions including:


•	the projected pace of sales of homesites based on estimated market conditions and the Company’s development plans;


•	estimated pricing and projected price appreciation over time;


•	the amount and trajectory of price appreciation over the estimated selling period;


•	the length of the estimated development and selling periods, which can differ depending on the size of the development and the number of phases to be developed;


•	the amount of remaining development costs, including the extent of infrastructure or amenities included in such development costs;


•	holding costs to be incurred over the selling period;


•	for bulk land sales of undeveloped and developed parcels future pricing is based upon estimated developed lot pricing less estimated development costs and estimated developer profit;


•	for commercial development property, future pricing is based on sales of comparable property in similar markets; and


•	whether liquidity is available to fund continued development.

For operating properties, an estimate of undiscounted cash flows also requires management to make assumptions about the use and disposition of such properties. These assumptions include:


•	for investments in inns and rental condominium units, average occupancy and room rates, revenue from food and beverage and other amenity operations, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and eventual disposition of such properties as private residence vacation units or condominiums, based on current prices for similar units appreciated to the expected sale date;


•	for investments in commercial or retail property, future occupancy and rental rates and the amount of proceeds to be realized upon eventual disposition of such property at a terminal capitalization rate; and,


•	for investments in a beach club, golf courses, memberships, future rounds and greens fees, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and the amount of proceeds to be realized upon eventual disposition of such properties at a multiple of terminal year cash flows.

Homesites substantially completed and ready for sale are measured at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. Management identifies homesites as being substantially completed and ready for sale when the properties are being actively marketed with intent to sell such properties in the near term and under current market conditions. Other homesites for which management does not intend to sell in the near term under current market conditions are evaluated for impairment based on management’s best estimate of the long-term use and eventual disposition of such property.

Other properties that management does not intend to sell in the near term under current market conditions and has the ability to hold are evaluated for impairment based on management’s best estimate of the long-term use and eventual disposition of the property. The results of impairment analyses for development and operating properties are particularly dependent on the estimated holding and selling period for each asset group.

If a property is considered impaired, the impairment charge is determined by the amount the property’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. The Company uses varying methods to determine fair value, such as (i) analyzing expected future cash flows, (ii) determining resale values in a given market (iii) applying a capitalization rate to net operating income using prevailing rates in a given market or (iv) applying a multiplier to revenue using prevailing rates in a given market. The fair value of a property may be derived either from discounting projected cash flows at an appropriate discount rate, through appraisals of the underlying property, or a combination thereof.

The Company classifies the assets and liabilities of a long-lived asset as held-for-sale when management approves and commits to a formal plan of sale and it is probable that a sale will be completed. The carrying value of the assets held-for-sale are then recorded at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less estimated costs to sell.

Timber Inventory

The Company estimates its standing timber inventory on an annual basis utilizing a process referred to as a “timber cruise.” Specifically, the Company conducts field measurements of the number of trees, tree height and tree diameter on a sample area equal to approximately 20% of our timber holdings each year. Inventory data is used to calculate volumes and products along with growth projections to maintain accurate data. Industry practices are used for modeling including growth projections, volume and product classifications. A depletion rate is established annually by dividing merchantable inventory cost by standing merchantable inventory volume.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Major improvements are capitalized while maintenance and repairs are expensed in the period the cost is incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of various assets, as follows:



			Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Railroad and equipment			15-30
Furniture and fixtures			5-10
Machinery and equipment			3-10
Office equipment			5-10
Autos and trucks			5

Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes includes the current tax owed on the current period earnings, as well as a deferred provision, which reflects the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Changes in existing tax laws and rates, their related interpretations, as well as the uncertainty generated by the prospect of tax legislation in the future may affect the amounts of deferred tax liabilities or the realizability of deferred tax assets.

For tax positions the Company has taken or expects to take in a tax return, the Company applies a more likely than not assessment (i.e., there is a greater than 50 percent chance) about whether the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate tax authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. Amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions are periodically assessed, including the evaluation of new facts and circumstances, to ensure sustainability of the position. The Company records interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in interest expense and penalties in other income (expense), net.

Concentration of Risks and Uncertainties

The Company’s real estate investments are concentrated in Northwest Florida in a number of specific development projects. Uncertain economic conditions could have an adverse impact on the Company’s real estate values and could cause the Company to sell assets at depressed values in order to pay ongoing obligations.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, investments, other receivables, investments held by special purpose entity or entities (“SPE”), and investments in retained interests. The Company deposits and invests cash with regional financial institutions and as of December 31, 2017 these balances exceed the amount of FDIC insurance provided on such deposits by $18.6 million.

Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income by the average number of common shares outstanding for the period.

Revenue and Revenue Recognition

Revenue consists primarily of real estate sales, resorts and leisure operations, leasing operations, and timber sales. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities (e.g., sales tax) are excluded from revenue, costs and expenses.

Real Estate Revenue

Revenue from real estate sales, including sales of homesites, commercial properties and rural or timberland, is recognized when a sale is closed and title transfers to the buyer, the buyer’s initial investment is adequate, any receivables are probable of collection, the usual risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer and the Company does not have significant continuing involvement with the real estate sold.

The buyer’s minimum initial investment requirement is typically the receipt of cash for approximately twenty to twenty-five percent of the sales value depending on the type and use of the property purchased. If the minimum initial investment requirement is not met, revenue may be deferred, depending on the circumstances.

As part of the purchase price consideration for a homesite from sales to homebuilders, the Company may receive a percentage of the sale price of the completed home if the home price or gross profit of the home exceeds a negotiated threshold. These lot residuals are recognized in revenue when consideration is received by the Company in periods subsequent to the initial recognition of revenue for the sale of the homesite. Effective January 1, 2018, with the adoption of ASU 2014-09, estimated lot residuals, marketing fees and tap and impact fees will be recognized as revenue at the time of sale to homebuilders, subject to constraints, and any change in circumstances from the estimated amounts will be updated at each reporting period.

Resorts and Leisure Revenue

Resorts and leisure revenue includes service and rental fees associated with the WaterColor Inn and the Company’s vacation rental programs in WaterColor, WaterSound Beach and surrounding communities. In addition, other resorts and leisure revenue includes club memberships, membership reservations, daily play at golf courses, merchandise sales, food and beverage sales, marina boat slip rentals, fuel sales, and management services of The Pearl Hotel. The revenue is generally recognized as services are provided. Vacation rental revenue includes the entire rental fee collected from the customer, including the homeowner’s portion. A percentage of the fee is remitted to the homeowner and presented in cost of resorts and leisure revenue. The Company is the principal in its vacation rental management business and has determined that it is the primary obligor to the guest, as it has sole discretion in establishing prices and provides the majority of the services to the guest. As discussed further in Note 7. Sale of Vacation Rental Management, the Company sold its short term vacation rental management business during December 2017. Club membership revenue is recognized when billed to the member and the non-refundable initiation fee is deferred and recognized ratably over the estimated membership period. Revenue generated from the Company’s management services of The Pearl Hotel includes a management fee, fifty percent of certain resort fees and a percentage of The Pearl Hotel’s gross operating profit.

Leasing Revenue

Leasing revenue consists of long term rental revenue from retail, office and commercial operations, cell towers, and other assets, which is recognized as earned, using the straight-line method over the life of each lease. Leasing revenue includes properties located in the Company’s Beckrich Office Park, consolidated Pier Park North JV and Windmark JV, as well as the Company’s industrial park, VentureCrossings, and other properties. Certain leases provide for tenant occupancy during periods for which no rent is due or where minimum rent payments change during the lease term. Accordingly, a receivable or liability is recorded representing the difference between the straight-line rent and the rent that is contractually due from the tenant.

Forestry Product Revenue

Revenue from the sale of the Company’s forestry products is primarily derived from either pay-as-cut sales contracts or timber bid sales. Under a pay-as-cut sales contract, the risk of loss and title to the specified timber transfers to the buyer when cut by the buyer, and the buyer or some other third party is responsible for all logging and hauling costs, if any.

Timber bid sales are agreements in which the buyer agrees to purchase and harvest specified timber (i.e., mature pulpwood and/or sawlogs) on a tract of land over the term of the contract. Unlike a pay-as-cut sales contract, risk of loss and title to the trees transfer to the buyer when the contract is signed. The buyer pays the full purchase price when the contract is signed and the Company does not have any additional performance obligations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 that 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. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Consolidation

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17 that amends the evaluation of whether a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by changing how a reporting entity that is a single decision maker of a VIE treats indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity. The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Business Combinations

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01 that clarifies the definition of a business for entities that must determine whether a business has been acquired or sold. This guidance is intended to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The Company adopted the new guidance as of April 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 that establishes the principles used to recognize revenue for all entities. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 that further clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10 that clarifies guidance on identifying performance obligations and to improve the operability and understandability of licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11 that rescinds SEC guidance pursuant to announcements at the March 3, 2016 Emerging Issues Task Force Meeting. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12 that provides narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients to Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20 that includes technical corrections and improvements to ASU 2014-09. The new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has elected to implement ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective application, with the cumulative effect recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings at January 1, 2018. The Company has evaluated the impact of adopting this guidance and as a result of this evaluation estimate an adjustment to increase retained earnings by $1.6 million, related to the recognition of lot residuals, marketing fees, and tap and impact fee credits. The Company also expects an impact to revenue-related disclosures as a result of adopting this guidance.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 that amends existing guidance to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The new guidance will require equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in results of operations. Additionally, certain disclosure requirements and other aspects of accounting for financial instruments will change as a result of the new guidance, which is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2016-01 will be effective for the Company January 1, 2018 and implemented using a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the date of adoption. The Company has evaluated the impact of the adoption of this guidance, and as a result of this evaluation, determined the change in the fair value of its equity investments after January 1, 2018, will be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations rather than the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), and estimate a cumulative-effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $0.9 million.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 that amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize both finance and operating leases with terms of more than 12 months on the balance sheet. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from existing guidance. This amendment also requires certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01 which provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under the new lease standard, existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases. The new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 that requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected and requires that credit losses from available-for-sale debt securities be presented as an allowance for credit loss. This new guidance will be effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 that amends the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments, to reduce the diversity in how these cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted, including adoption in an interim period. As this guidance only affects the classification within the statement of cash flows, it is not currently expected to have an impact on the Company’s cash flows.

Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18 that requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. ASU 2016-18 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s cash flows.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02 that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. The ASU also requires additional disclosures that include a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income, whether the Company elected to reclassify the effects from the Tax Act and information about other tax effects related to the Tax Act that are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, if any. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the Tax Act is recognized. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.