Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Our condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our subsidiaries, certain partially owned real estate joint ventures or partnerships and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) which meet the guidelines for consolidation. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report are unaudited; however, amounts presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 are derived from our audited financial statements at that date. In our opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consisted of normal recurring items. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by Form 10-Q and certain information included in our annual financial statements and notes thereto has been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Such statements require 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. Actual results could differ from these estimates. We have evaluated subsequent events for recognition or disclosure in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Rentals, net

Rental revenue is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, which generally begins the date the tenant takes control of the space. Revenue from tenant reimbursements of taxes, maintenance expenses and insurance is subject to our interpretation of lease provisions and is recognized in the period the related expense is recognized. Both of these revenues have been recognized under Accounting Standards Codification No. 840, “Leases.” Revenue based on a percentage of tenants’ sales is recognized only after the tenant exceeds their sales breakpoint. In circumstances where we provide a tenant improvement allowance for improvements that are owned by the tenant, we recognize the allowance as a reduction of rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Other

Other revenue consists of both customer contract revenue and income from contractual agreements with third parties, tenants or partially owned real estate joint ventures or partnerships, which do not meet the definition of a lease or a customer contract. Revenues which do not meet the definition of a lease or customer contract are recognized as the related services are performed under the respective agreements.

We have identified primarily three types of customer contract revenue; (1) management contracts with partially-owned real estate joint ventures or partnerships or third parties, (2) licensing and occupancy agreements and (3) certain non-tenant contracts. At contract inception, we assess the services provided in these contracts and identify any performance obligations that are distinct. To identify the performance obligation, we consider all services whether explicitly stated or implied by customary business practices. We have identified the following substantive services, which may or may not be included in each contract type, that represent performance obligations:



Contract Type	Performance Obligation Description	Elements of Performance Obligations	Payment Timing
Management Agreements	• Management and asset management services • Construction and development services • Marketing fees	• Over time • Right to invoice • Long-term contracts	Typically monthly or quarterly
	• Leasing and legal preparation services • Sales commissions	• Point in time • Long-term contracts
Licensing and Occupancy Agreements	• Rent of non-specific space	• Over time • Right to invoice • Short-term contracts	Typically monthly
	• Set-up services	• Point in time • Right to invoice
Non-tenant Contracts	• Placement of miscellaneous items at our centers that do not qualify as a lease, i.e. advertisements, trash bins, etc.	• Point in time • Long-term contracts	Typically monthly
	• Set-up services	• Point in time • Right to invoice

We also assess collectability of the customer contract revenue prior to recognition. None of these customer contracts include a significant financing component. Customer contract revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2018 does not include any amounts that were from obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in prior periods, or was a contract liability at January 1, 2018.

Accrued Rent, Accrued Contract Receivables and Accounts Receivable, net

Receivables include base rents, tenant reimbursements, amounts billed and currently due from customer contracts and receivables attributable to straight-line rental commitments. Accrued contract receivables includes amounts due from customers for contracts that do not qualify as a lease in which we earned the right to the consideration through the satisfaction of the performance obligation, but before the customer pays consideration or before payment is due. An allowance for the uncollectible portion of accrued rents and accounts receivable is determined based upon an analysis of balances outstanding, historical bad debt levels, tenant creditworthiness and current economic trends. Additionally, estimates of the expected recovery of pre-petition and post-petition claims with respect to tenants in bankruptcy are considered in assessing the collectability of the related receivables. Management’s estimate of the collectability of accrued rents and accounts receivable is based on the best information available to management at the time of evaluation.

Sales of Real Estate

Sales of real estate include the sale of tracts of land within a shopping center development, property adjacent to shopping centers, operating properties, newly developed properties, investments in real estate joint ventures and partnerships and partial sales to real estate joint ventures and partnerships in which we participate.

These sales primarily fall under two types of contracts (1) sales of nonfinancial assets and (2) sales of investments in real estate joint ventures and partnerships. We review the sale contract to determine appropriate accounting guidance. Profits on sales of real estate are primarily not recognized until (a) a contract exists including: each party’s rights are identifiable along with the payment terms, the contract has commercial substance and the collection of consideration is probable; and (b) the performance obligation to transfer control of the asset has occurred; including transfer to the buyer of the usual risks and rewards of ownership.

We recognize gains on the sale of real estate to joint ventures and partnerships in which we participate to the extent we receive cash from the joint venture or partnership, if it meets the sales criteria in accordance with GAAP.

Impairment

Our property is reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the property, including any capitalized costs and any identifiable intangible assets, may not be recoverable.

If such an event occurs, a comparison is made of the current and projected operating cash flows of each such property into the foreseeable future, with consideration of applicable holding periods, on an undiscounted basis to the carrying amount of such property. If we determine the carrying amount is not recoverable, our basis in the property is reduced to its estimated fair value to reflect impairment in the value of the asset. Fair values are determined by management utilizing cash flow models, market capitalization rates and market discount rates, or by obtaining third-party broker or appraisal estimates in accordance with our fair value measurements accounting policy.

We review economic considerations at each reporting period, including the effects of tenant bankruptcies, the suspension of tenant expansion plans for new development projects, declines in real estate values, and any changes to plans related to our new development properties including land held for development, to identify properties where we believe market values may be deteriorating. Determining whether a property is impaired and, if impaired, the amount of write-down to fair value requires a significant amount of judgment by management and is based on the best information available to management at the time of evaluation. If market conditions deteriorate or management’s plans for certain properties change, additional write-downs could be required in the future.

Our investment in partially owned real estate joint ventures and partnerships is reviewed for impairment each reporting period. The ultimate realization is dependent on a number of factors, including the performance of each investment and market conditions. We will record an impairment charge if we determine that a decline in the estimated fair value of an investment below its carrying amount is other than temporary. There is no certainty that impairments will not occur in the future if market conditions decline or if management’s plans for these investments change.

Our investments in tax increment revenue bonds are reviewed for impairment, including the evaluation of changes in events or circumstances that may indicate that the carrying amount of the investment may not be recoverable. Realization is dependent on a number of factors, including investment performance, market conditions and payment structure. We will record an impairment charge if we determine that a decline in the value of the investment below its carrying amount is other than temporary, recovery of its cost basis is uncertain, and/or it is uncertain if the investment will be held to maturity.

Accrued contract receivables are reviewed for impairment based on changes in events or circumstances effecting our customers that may indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment charge will be recorded if we determine that the decline in the asset value is other than temporary or recovery of the cost basis is uncertain. Factors to be considered include current economic trends such as bankruptcy and market conditions affecting our investments in partially owned real estate joint ventures and partnerships.

Restricted Deposits And Mortgage Escrows

Restricted Deposits and Mortgage Escrows

Restricted deposits and mortgage escrows consist of escrow deposits held by lenders primarily for property taxes, insurance and replacement reserves and restricted deposits that are held for a specific use or in a qualified escrow account for the purposes of completing like-kind exchange transactions.

Retrospective Application of Accounting Standard Update

The retrospective application of adopting Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2017-07, "Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pensions Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost" on prior year's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was made to conform to the current year presentation (see Note 2 for additional information).

Newly Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." This ASU's core objective is for an entity to recognize revenue based on the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for goods or services. Additionally, this ASU requires entities to use a single model in accounting for revenues derived from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 replaces prior guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from sales of real estate, except for revenue from sales that are part of a sale-leaseback transaction. The provisions of ASU No. 2014-09, as amended in subsequently issued amendments, were effective for us on January 1, 2018. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2018 and applied it on a modified retrospective approach upon adoption.

The adoption resulted in the identification of primarily three types of customer contracts: (1) management contracts with partially owned real estate joint ventures or partnerships or third parties, (2) licensing and occupancy agreements and (3) certain non-tenant contracts. We will continue to recognize these fees as we currently do with the exception of the timing associated with the performance obligation in our management contracts related to leasing and lease preparation related services. Upon adoption, we recognized the cumulative effect for these fees which has increased retained earnings and accrued rent, accrued contract receivables and accounts receivable, net each by $.3 million. In addition, we evaluated controls around the implementation of this ASU and have concluded there was no significant impact on our control structure. We have included our customer contract revenues under the caption Other revenues in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and have expanded our disclosures related to this ASU in Note 1.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." This ASU will require equity investments, excluding those investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee, to be measured at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net income; will simplify the impairment assessment of those investments; will eliminate the disclosure of the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost and change the fair value calculation for those investments; will change the disclosure in other comprehensive income for financial liabilities that are measured at fair value in accordance with the fair value options for financial instruments; and will clarify that a deferred asset related to available-for-sale securities should be included in an entity's evaluation for a valuation allowance. The provisions of ASU No. 2016-01 were effective for us as of January 1, 2018 and are required to be applied on a modified retrospective approach. Upon adoption, we recognized the cumulative effect for the fair value of equity investments which has increased retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive loss each by $1.5 million and includes the effects of ASU No. 2018-02, "Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income."

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, "Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets." The ASU clarifies that a financial asset is within the scope of Subtopic 610-20 if it meets the definition, as amended, of an in substance nonfinancial asset. If substantially all of the fair value of assets that are promised to a counterparty in a contract is concentrated in nonfinancial assets, then all of the financial assets promised to the counterparty are in substance nonfinancial assets within the scope of Subtopic 610-20, including a parent transferring control of a nonfinancial asset through a transfer of ownership interests of a consolidated subsidiary. The provisions of ASU No. 2017-05 were effective for us as of January 1, 2018 and depending on the contract type may be recorded on a retrospective or modified retrospective approach. As a result of our contract analysis under ASU 2014-09, the majority of our contracts relate to property sales to be accounted for under this ASU and could result in future gains being recognized sooner. Upon adoption, we applied the modified retrospective approach for all contract types and for contracts considered not completed. We recognized the cumulative effect for in substance nonfinancial assets in which gains would have been realized and have increased each of retained earnings and other assets by $3.6 million at January 1, 2018.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pensions Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The ASU requires the service cost component to be reported as compensation costs arising from services rendered by pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside income from operations. Additionally, only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The provisions of ASU No. 2017-07 were effective for us as of January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis for the presentation within the income statement and prospectively for the capitalization of costs. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. We have elected to use the practical expedient in determining estimates for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, net periodic benefit cost, excluding the service cost component, of $.1 million and $.2 million, respectively, was included in Interest and Other Income/Expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the year ended December 31, 2017, net periodic benefit cost, excluding the service cost component, was $.4 million.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities." The ASU amends current hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements. Items focused on include: alignment of an entity’s risk management activities and its financial reporting for hedging relationships, the use of hedge accounting for risk components in hedging relationships involving nonfinancial risk and interest rate risk, updates for designating fair value hedges of interest rate risk and measuring the related change in fair value of the hedged item, alignment of the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item, and permits an entity to exclude certain amounts related to currency swaps. Lastly, the ASU also provides additional relief on effectiveness testing methods and disclosures. The provisions of ASU No. 2017-12 are effective for us as of January 1, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. We have adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2018, which required the modified retrospective transition method upon adoption. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, "Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." ASU No. 2018-02 allows for the reclassification of the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to retained earnings. The provisions of ASU No. 2018-02 are effective for us as of January 1, 2019, may be applied either at the beginning of the period of adoption or retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. We adopted this ASU along with the adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 on January 1, 2018.

Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases." This ASU was further updated by ASU 2018-01, "Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition for Topic 842" and ASU 2018-11, "Targeted Improvements for Topic 842." The ASUs set out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. The ASUs require lessees to adopt a right-of-use asset approach that will bring substantially all leases onto the balance sheet, with the exception of short-term leases. The subsequent accounting for this right-of-use asset will be based on a dual-model approach, under which the lease will be classified as either a finance or an operating lease. The lessor accounting model under these ASUs is similar to current guidance, but certain underlying principles in the lessor model have been aligned with the new revenue recognition standard. A practical expedient was added for lessors to elect by class of underlying assets, to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component if certain criteria are met. The provisions of these ASUs are effective for us as of January 1, 2019, are required to be applied on a modified retrospective approach or to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted.

We are in the process of evaluating the impact to our 5,100 lessor leases and other lessee leases, if any, that the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements. Within our lessor leases, we are entitled to receive tenant reimbursements for operating expenses such as real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance (“CAM”). Currently upon adoption of these ASUs, CAM reimbursement revenue, a non-lease component, may be accounted for in accordance with Topic 606 (ASU No. 2014-09 as discussed above) if certain criteria has not been met or the non-lease component is predominate to the combined components within a contract. We have currently identified some areas we believe may be impacted by these ASUs. These include:

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We have ground lease agreements in which we are the lessee for land underneath all or a portion of 12 centers and three administrative office leases that we account for as operating leases. Rental expense associated with these operating leases for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively. We have one capital lease in which we are the lessee of two centers with a $21 million lease obligation. We have also identified several contracts related to office equipment and IT services which are being analyzed. We will record, if applicable, any rights and obligations under these leases as an asset and a liability at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets.

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Determination of costs to be capitalized associated with leases. This ASU will limit the capitalization associated with certain costs, primarily certain internally-generated leasing and legal costs, of which we capitalized internal costs of $4.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, and $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. We believe we will be able to continue to capitalize internal leasing commissions that are a direct result of obtaining a lease.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments." This ASU amends prior guidance on the impairment of financial instruments, and adds an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses with the recognition of an allowance based on an estimate of expected credit losses. The provisions of ASU No. 2016-13 are effective for us as of January 1, 2020, and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently assessing the impact, if any, that the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, "Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting." This ASU amends prior employee share-based payment guidance to include nonemployee share-based payment transactions for acquiring services or property. This ASU now aligns the determination of the measurement date, the accounting for performance conditions, and the accounting for share-based payments after vesting in addition to other items. The provisions of ASU No. 2018-07 are effective for us as of January 1, 2019 using a modified transition method upon adoption, and early adoption is permitted. Although we are still assessing the impact of this ASU's adoption, we do not believe this ASU will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.