Variable Interest Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities

At September 30, 2019, the Company had investments in: (i) four properties leased to VIE tenants, (ii) five unconsolidated VIE joint ventures, (iii) marketable debt securities of one VIE, and (iv) one loan to a VIE borrower. The Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary of and therefore does not consolidate these VIEs because it does not have the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact their economic performance. Except for the Company’s equity interest in the unconsolidated joint ventures (CCRC OpCo, the development investment, Waldwick JV and the LLC investment discussed below), it has no formal involvement in these VIEs beyond its investments.

VIE Tenants. The Company leases four properties to a total of two tenants that have also been identified as VIEs (“VIE tenants”). These VIE tenants are “thinly capitalized” entities that rely on the operating cash flows generated from the senior housing facilities to pay operating expenses, including the rent obligations under their leases.

CCRC OpCo. The Company holds a 49% ownership interest in CCRC OpCo, a joint venture entity formed in August 2014 that operates senior housing properties in a RIDEA structure and has been identified as a VIE. The equity members of CCRC OpCo “lack power” because they share certain operating rights with Brookdale, as manager of the CCRCs. The assets of CCRC OpCo primarily consist of the CCRCs that it owns and leases, resident fees receivable, notes receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of operating lease obligations to CCRC PropCo, debt service payments, capital expenditures, accounts payable, and expense accruals. Assets generated by the CCRC operations (primarily rents from CCRC residents) of CCRC OpCo may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily from debt service payments, capital expenditures, and rental costs and operating expenses incurred to manage such facilities).

Waldwick Development JV. The Company holds an 85% ownership interest in a development joint venture (the “Waldwick JV”), which has been identified as a VIE as power is shared with a member that does not have a substantive equity investment at risk. The assets of the joint venture primarily consist of an in-progress senior housing facility development project that it owns and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of accounts payable and expense accruals associated with the cost of its development obligations. Any assets generated by the joint venture may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily development expenses and debt service payments).

LLC Investment. The Company holds a limited partner ownership interest in an unconsolidated LLC that has been identified as a VIE. The Company’s involvement in the entity is limited to its equity investment as a limited partner and it does not have any substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partner. The assets and liabilities of the entity primarily consist of those associated with its senior housing real estate and development activities. Any assets generated by the entity may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily development expenses and debt service payments).

Development Investments. The Company holds investments (consisting of mezzanine debt and/or preferred equity) in two senior housing development joint ventures. The joint ventures are also capitalized by senior loans from a third party and equity from the third party managing-member, but are considered to be “thinly capitalized” as there is insufficient equity investment at risk.

Debt Securities Investment. The Company holds commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) issued by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (commonly referred to as Freddie MAC) through a special purpose entity that has been identified as a VIE because it is “thinly capitalized.” The CMBS issued by the VIE are backed by mortgage debt obligations on real estate assets.

Seller Financing Loan. The Company provided seller financing of $10 million related to its sale of seven senior housing triple-net facilities. The financing was provided in the form of a secured five year mezzanine loan to a “thinly capitalized” borrower created to acquire the facilities.

The classification of the related assets and liabilities and the maximum loss exposure as a result of the Company’s involvement with these VIEs at September 30, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):



VIE Type	Asset/Liability Type	Maximum Loss Exposure and Carrying Amount⁽¹⁾
VIE tenants - operating leases⁽²⁾	Lease intangibles, net and straight-line rent receivables	7,984
CCRC OpCo	Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	167,612
Unconsolidated development joint ventures	Loans receivable, net and Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	24,015
Loan - seller financing	Loans receivable, net	10,000
CMBS and LLC investment	Marketable debt and LLC investment	34,677

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(1)	The Company’s maximum loss exposure represents the aggregate carrying amount of such investments (including accrued interest).


(2)	The Company’s maximum loss exposure may be mitigated by re-leasing the underlying properties to new tenants upon an event of default.

At September 30, 2019, the Company had not provided, and is not required to provide, financial support through a liquidity arrangement or otherwise, to its unconsolidated VIEs, including circumstances in which it could be exposed to further losses (e.g., cash shortfalls).

See Notes 5, 6, and 7 for additional descriptions of the nature, purpose, and operating activities of the Company’s unconsolidated VIEs and interests therein.

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

The Company’s consolidated total assets and total liabilities at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include certain assets of VIEs that can only be used to settle the liabilities of the related VIE. The VIE creditors do not have recourse to the Company. Total assets and total liabilities include VIE assets and liabilities as follows (in thousands):



	September 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Assets
Buildings and improvements	$	2,799,041		$	1,949,582
Development costs and construction in progress	54,154			39,584
Land	426,027			151,746
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(474,996		)	(398,143		)
Net real estate	2,804,226			1,742,769
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	—			1,550
Accounts receivable, net	6,151			7,904
Cash and cash equivalents	53,745			23,772
Restricted cash	8,976			3,399
Intangible assets, net	146,319			111,333
Right-of-use asset, net	92,933			—
Other assets, net	47,597			43,149
Total assets	$	3,159,947		$	1,933,876
Liabilities
Mortgage debt	216,340			44,598
Intangible liabilities, net	18,212			19,128
Lease liability	90,487			—
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	78,815			66,736
Deferred revenue	28,084			24,215
Total liabilities	$	431,938		$	154,677

Ventures V, LLC. The Company holds a 51% ownership interest in and is the managing member of a joint venture entity formed in October 2015 that owns and leases MOBs (“Ventures V”). The Company classifies Ventures V as a VIE due to the non-managing member lacking substantive participation rights in the management of Ventures V or kick-out rights over the managing member. The Company consolidates Ventures V as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. The assets of Ventures V primarily consist of leased properties (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of capital expenditures for the properties. Assets generated by Ventures V may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily from capital expenditures).

Watertown JV. The Company holds a 95% ownership interest in and is the managing member of joint venture entities formed in November 2017 that own and operate a senior housing property in a RIDEA structure (“Watertown JV”). Watertown PropCo is a VIE as the Company and the non-managing member share in control of the entity, but substantially all of the entity's activities are performed on behalf of the Company. Watertown OpCo is a VIE as the non-managing member, through its equity interest, lacks substantive participation rights in the management of Watertown OpCo or kick-out rights over the managing member. The Company consolidates Watertown PropCo and Watertown OpCo as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact these VIEs’ economic performance. The assets of Watertown PropCo primarily consist of a leased property (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of notes payable to a non-VIE consolidated subsidiary of the Company. The assets of Watertown OpCo primarily consist of leasehold interests in a senior housing facility (operating lease), resident fees receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of lease payments to Watertown PropCo and operating expenses of its senior housing facilities (accounts payable and accrued expenses). Assets generated by the senior housing operations (primarily from senior housing resident rents) of the Watertown structure may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily from the rental costs, operating expenses incurred to manage such facilities, and debt costs).

Life Science JVs. The Company holds a 99% ownership interest in multiple joint venture entities that own and lease life science assets (the “Life Science JVs”). The Life Science JVs are VIEs as the members share in control of the entities, but substantially all of the activities are performed on behalf of the Company. The Company consolidates the Life Science JVs as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact these VIEs’ economic performance. The assets of the Life Science JVs primarily consist of leased properties (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; their obligations primarily consist of debt service payments and capital expenditures for the properties. Assets generated by the Life Science JVs may only be used to settle their contractual obligations (primarily from capital expenditures).

MSREI MOB JV. The Company holds a 51% ownership interest in, and is the managing member of, a joint venture entity formed in August 2018 that owns and leases MOBs (the “MSREI JV” - see Note 4). The MSREI JV is a VIE due to the non-managing member lacking substantive participation rights in the management of the joint venture or kick-out rights over the managing member. The Company consolidates the MSREI JV as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. The assets of the MSREI JV primarily consist of leased properties (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of capital expenditures for the properties. Assets generated by the MSREI JV may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily from capital expenditures).

Consolidated Lessee. The Company leases two senior housing properties to a lessee entity under a cash flow lease through which the Company receives monthly rent equal to the residual cash flows of the property. The lessee entity is classified as a VIE as it is a "thinly capitalized" entity. The Company consolidates the lessee entity as it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the lessee entity. The lessee entity’s assets primarily consist of leasehold interests in a senior housing facility (operating leases), resident fees receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; its obligations primarily consist of lease payments to the Company and operating expenses of the senior housing facility (accounts payable and accrued expenses). Assets generated by the senior housing operations (primarily from senior housing resident rents) may only be used to settle its contractual obligations (primarily from the rental costs, operating expenses incurred to manage such facilities, and debt costs).

DownREITs. The Company holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the managing member of seven limited liability companies (“DownREITs”). The Company classifies the DownREITs as VIEs due to the non-managing members lacking substantive participation rights in the management of the DownREITs or kick-out rights over the managing member. The Company consolidates the DownREITs as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact these VIEs’ economic performance. The assets of the DownREITs primarily consist of leased properties (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; their obligations primarily consist of debt service payments and capital expenditures for the properties. Assets generated by the DownREITs (primarily from resident rents) may only be used to settle their contractual obligations (primarily from debt service and capital expenditures).

Other Consolidated Real Estate Partnerships. The Company holds a controlling ownership interest in and is the general partner (or managing member) of multiple partnerships that own and lease real estate assets (the “Partnerships”). The Company classifies the Partnerships as VIEs due to the limited partners (non-managing members) lacking substantive participation rights in the management of the Partnerships or kick-out rights over the general partner (managing member). The Company consolidates the Partnerships as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact these VIEs’ economic performance. The assets of the Partnerships primarily consist of leased properties (net real estate), rents receivable, and cash and cash equivalents; their obligations primarily consist of debt service payments and capital expenditures for the properties. Assets generated by the Partnerships (primarily from resident rents) may only be used to settle their contractual obligations (primarily from debt service and capital expenditures).

Other consolidated VIEs. The Company made a loan to an entity that entered into a tax credit structure (“Tax Credit Subsidiary”) and a loan to an entity that made an investment in a development joint venture (“Development JV”) both of which are considered VIEs. The Company consolidates the Tax Credit Subsidiary and Development JV as the primary beneficiary because it has the ability to control the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance. The assets and liabilities of the Tax Credit Subsidiary and Development JV substantially consist of a development in progress, notes receivable, prepaid expenses, notes payable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities generated from their operating activities. Any assets generated by the operating activities of the Tax Credit Subsidiary and Development JV may only be used to settle their contractual obligations.

U.K. Bridge Loan. In 2016, the Company provided a £105 million ($131 million at closing) bridge loan to MMCG to fund the acquisition of a portfolio of seven care homes in the U.K. MMCG created a special purpose entity to acquire the portfolio and funded it entirely using the Company’s bridge loan. As such, the special purpose entity had historically been identified as a VIE because it was “thinly capitalized.” The Company retained a three year call option to acquire all the shares of the special purpose entity, which it could only exercise upon the occurrence of certain events. During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company concluded that the conditions required to exercise the call option had been met and initiated the call option process to acquire the special purpose entity. In conjunction with initiating the process to legally exercise its call option and the satisfaction of required contingencies, the Company concluded that it was the primary beneficiary of the special purpose entity and therefore, should consolidate the entity. As such, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company derecognized the previously outstanding loan receivable, recognized the special purpose entity’s assets and liabilities at their respective fair values, and recognized a £29 million ($41 million) loss on consolidation, net of a tax benefit of £2 million ($3 million), to account for the difference between the carrying value of the loan receivable and the fair value of net assets and liabilities assumed. The loss on consolidation was recognized within other income (expense), net and the tax benefit was recognized within income tax benefit (expense). The fair value of net assets and liabilities consolidated during the first quarter of 2018 consisted of £81 million ($114 million) of net real estate, £4 million ($5 million) of intangible assets, and £9 million ($13 million) of net deferred tax liabilities.

In June 2018, the Company completed the exercise of the above-mentioned call option and formally acquired full ownership of the special purpose entity. As such, the Company reconsidered whether the special purpose entity was a VIE and concluded that it was no longer “thinly capitalized” as the previously outstanding bridge loan converted to equity at risk and, therefore, was no longer a VIE. The real estate assets held by the special purpose entity were contributed to the U.K. JV formed by the Company in June 2018 (see Note 4).