Note 6 - Impairments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Notes to Financial Statements

Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block]

6.    Impairments:

Management assesses on a continuous basis whether there are any indicators, including property operating performance, changes in anticipated holding period, general market conditions and delays of or change in plans for development, that the value of the Company’s assets (including any related amortizable intangible assets or liabilities) may be impaired. To the extent impairment has occurred, the carrying value of the asset would be adjusted to an amount to reflect the estimated fair value of the asset.

The Company has a capital recycling program which provides for the disposition of certain properties, typically of lesser quality assets in less desirable locations. The Company adjusted the anticipated hold period for these properties and as a result the Company recognized impairment charges on certain operating properties (see Footnote 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for fair value disclosure).

The Company’s efforts to market certain assets and management’s assessment as to the likelihood and timing of such potential transactions and/or the property hold period resulted in the Company recognizing impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 as follows (in millions):

	2020		2019		2018
Properties marketed for sale (1)	$	5.5	$	12.5	$	59.5
Properties disposed/deeded in lieu/foreclosed (2)		1.1		36.2		19.7
Total net impairment charges	$	6.6	$	48.7	$	79.2

(1) These impairment charges relate to adjustments to property carrying values for properties which the Company has marketed for sale as part of its capital recycling program and as such has adjusted the anticipated hold periods for such properties. During December 2018, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $41.0 million related to a development project located in Jacksonville, FL, which the Company had no longer intended to develop. The Company has sold portions of the property and is marketing the remainder of the property as is for sale.

(2) Amounts relate to dispositions/deeds in lieu/foreclosures during the respective years shown.

In addition to the impairment charges above, the Company recognized impairment charges during 2020, 2019 and 2018 of $0.8 million, $5.6 million and $6.9 million, respectively, relating to certain properties held by various unconsolidated joint ventures in which the Company holds noncontrolling interests. These impairment charges are included in Equity in income of joint ventures, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income (see Footnote 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the retail sector in which the Company operates, and if the effects of the pandemic are prolonged, it could have a significant adverse impact to the underlying industries of many of the Company’s tenants. Management cannot, at this point, estimate ultimate losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company will continue to monitor the economic, financial, and social conditions resulting from this pandemic and assess its asset portfolio for any impairment indicators.