Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Management is required to make estimates and assumptions in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the 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. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of HCP, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures or variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that it controls through voting rights or other means. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. The accompanying unaudited interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2011 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Certain amounts in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified for prior periods to conform to the current period presentation. Assets sold or held for sale and associated liabilities have been reclassified on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the related operating results reclassified from continuing to discontinued operations on the condensed consolidated income statements (see Note 5). Facility-level revenues from 21 senior housing communities that are in a RIDEA structure are presented in resident fees and services on the condensed consolidated income statements; all facility-level resident fee and service revenue previously reported in rental and related revenues has been reclassified to resident fees and services (see Note 12 for additional information regarding the 21 RIDEA facilities).

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are translated into U.S. dollars use exchange rates in effect at the end of the period, and revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies that are translated into U.S. dollars use average rates of exchange in effect during the related period. Gains or losses resulting from translation are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. The effects of transaction gains or losses are included in other income (expense), net in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-01, Continuing Care Retirement Communities—Refundable Advance Fees (“ASU 2012-01”). This update clarifies the situations in which recognition of deferred revenue for refundable advance fees is appropriate. ASU 2012-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2012-01 on January 1, 2013 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (“ASU 2012-02”). The amendments in this update provide an entity with the option to make a qualitative assessment about the likelihood that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired to determine whether it should perform a quantitative impairment test. ASC 2012-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after September 15, 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2012-02 on January 1, 2013 to have an impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”). The amendments in this update result in additional fair value measurement and disclosure requirements within U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments update the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 on January 1, 2012 did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.