Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

11.

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting guidance regarding the fair value option for financial assets and financial liabilities, entities are permitted to choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, with the change in unrealized gains and losses reported in earnings. We did not elect the fair value option for any of our financial assets and financial liabilities.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. We do not invest our cash in auction rate securities. The carrying value and fair value of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 assuming election of fair value for our financial assets and financial liabilities were as follows (in thousands):


	At September 30, 2019					At December 31, 2018
	Carrying		Fair			Carrying		Fair
	Value		Value			Value		Value
Mortgage loans receivable	$	253,186	$	310,842	⁽¹⁾	$	242,939	$	295,492	⁽¹⁾
Bank borrowings		165,400		165,400	⁽²⁾		112,000		112,000	⁽²⁾
Senior unsecured notes, net of debt issue costs		518,469		537,739	⁽³⁾		533,029		508,613	⁽³⁾

(1)

Our investment in mortgage loans receivable is classified as Level 3. The fair value is determined using a widely accepted valuation technique, discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows. The discount rate is determined using our assumption on market conditions adjusted for market and credit risk and current returns on our investments. The discount rate used to value our future cash inflows of the mortgage loans receivable at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was 9.0%.

(2)	Our bank borrowings bear interest at a variable interest rate. The estimated fair value of our bank borrowings approximated their carrying values at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 based upon prevailing market interest rates for similar debt arrangements.

(3)

Our obligation under our senior unsecured notes is classified as Level 3 and thus the fair value is determined using a widely accepted valuation technique, discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows. The discount rate is measured based upon management’s estimates of rates currently prevailing for comparable loans available to us, and instruments of comparable maturities. At September 30, 2019, the discount rate used to value our future cash outflow of our senior unsecured notes was 3.50% for those maturing before year 2026 and 3.70% for those maturing at or beyond year 2026. At December 31, 2018, the discount rate used to value our future cash outflow of our senior unsecured notes was 5.15% for those maturing before year 2026 and 5.40% for those maturing at or beyond year 2026.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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