Equity-Method Investment And Other Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Equity Method Investments And Other Assets [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments And Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

EQUITY-METHOD INVESTMENT AND OTHER ASSETS

Our equity-method investment in OpCo and other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Equity-method investment in OpCo	$	9,194	$	9,424
Debt issuance costs	12,452		11,491
Accounts receivable and other assets	2,929		3,818
Reserves for replacement, insurance and tax escrows	4,571		4,324
Lease escrow deposits	21,275		21,648
	$	50,421	$	50,705

Upon the acquisition of our equity method investment in OpCo in 2012, our purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired based upon their estimated relative fair values. Accounting guidance for equity method investments requires that we account for the difference between the cost basis of our investment in OpCo and our pro rata share of the amount of underlying equity in the net assets of OpCo as though OpCo were a consolidated subsidiary. Accordingly, the excess of the original purchase price over the fair value of identified tangible assets at acquisition of $8,986,000 is treated as implied goodwill and is subject to periodic review for impairment in conjunction with our equity method investment. When we acquired additional Bickford properties in June 2013, an assignment was entered into whereby the operations of the 17 facilities were conveyed by an affiliate of Bickford to OpCo. The transaction mandated the effective cut-off of operating revenues and expenses and the settlement of operating assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date. Specified remaining net tangible assets were assigned to OpCo at the transferor's carryover basis resulting in an adjustment, through NHI's capital in excess of par value to our equity method investment in OpCo, of $817,000. We monitor and periodically review our equity method investment in OpCo for impairment to determine whether a decline, if any, in the value of the investment is other-than temporary. We noted no decline in value as of March 31, 2015.

OpCo is intended to be self-financing, and aside from initial investments therein, no direct support has been provided by NHI to OpCo since its inception on September 30, 2012. While PropCo's rental revenues associated with the related properties are sourced from OpCo, a decision to furnish additional direct support would be at our discretion and not obligatory. As a result, we believe our maximum exposure to loss at March 31, 2015, due to our investment in OpCo, would be limited to our equity interest. We have concluded that OpCo meets the accounting criteria to be considered a VIE. However, because we do not control the entity, nor do we have any role in the day-to-day management, we are not the primary beneficiary of the entity, and we account for our investment using the equity method. There have been no distributions declared from OpCo since it's inception.

At March 31, 2015, we held lease escrow deposits of $21,275,000 in regard to our lease with Holiday which remains for the term of the 17-year lease commencing in December 2013 and is payable to Holiday at the end of the lease term.

Reserves for replacement, insurance and tax escrows include amounts required to be held on deposit in accordance with regulatory agreements governing our Fannie Mae and HUD mortgages.

Debt issuance costs are being amortized over the expected term of the debt instruments to which they are related.