Fair Value Measurements

The Company has categorized its financial assets and financial liabilities that are recorded at fair value into a hierarchy in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure, ("ASC 820") based on whether the inputs to valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. The fair value hierarchy contains three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value as follows:

Level 1 – Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities as of the measurement date.

Level 2 – Inputs, other than those included in Level 1, represent observable measurements for similar instruments in active markets, or identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and observable measurements or market data for instruments with substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 – Inputs represent unobservable measurements, supported by little, if any, market activity, and require considerable assumptions that are significant to the fair value of the asset or liability. Market valuations must often be determined using discounted cash flow methodologies, pricing models or similar techniques based on the Company’s assumptions and best judgment.

The asset or liability's fair value within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Under ASC 820, fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability in an orderly transaction at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and consider assumptions such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions and risk of nonperformance.

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis

The following tables set forth information regarding the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:



			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	Fair Value at September 30, 2015		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	962	$	—	$	962	$	—



			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
	Fair Value at December 31, 2014		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Available-for-sale securities	$	20,512	$	20,512	$	—	$	—

Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	2,226	$	—	$	2,226	$	—

The Company recognizes transfers in and out of every level at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2, or 3 for any periods presented.

Intangible lease assets and other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets include marketable securities consisting of corporate equity securities that are classified as available-for-sale. Net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities that are deemed to be temporary in nature are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI ") in redeemable noncontrolling interests, shareholders’ equity and partners' capital, and noncontrolling interests. If a decline in the value of an investment is deemed to be other than temporary, the investment is written down to fair value and an impairment loss is recognized in the current period to the extent of the decline in value. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not record any write-downs related to other-than-temporary impairments.

The Company sold all of its marketable securities during the nine month period ended September 30, 2015 and recognized a realized gain of $16,560, for the difference between the net proceeds of $20,755 less the adjusted cost of $4,195. The Company did not recognize any realized gains or losses related to sales of marketable securities during the nine month period ended September 30, 2014. The fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities was based on quoted market prices and was classified under Level 1.

The following is a summary of the available-for-sale securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2014:



			Gross Unrealized
	Adjusted Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
December 31, 2014:
Common stocks	$	4,195	$	16,321	$	—	$	20,516

The Company uses interest rate swaps to mitigate the effect of interest rate movements on its variable-rate debt. The Company had four interest rate swaps as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, that qualified as hedging instruments and were designated as cash flow hedges. The interest rate swaps are reflected in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The swaps have met the effectiveness test criteria since inception and changes in their fair values are, thus, reported in other comprehensive income (loss) ("OCI/L") and are reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged items affect earnings. The fair values of the Company’s interest rate hedges, classified under Level 2, are determined based on prevailing market data for contracts with matching durations, current and anticipated LIBOR information, consideration of the Company’s credit standing, credit risk of the counterparties and reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions. See Note 6 for further information regarding the Company’s interest rate hedging instruments.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Based on the interest rates for similar financial instruments, the carrying value of mortgage and other notes receivable is a reasonable estimate of fair value based on Level 2 inputs. The estimated fair value of mortgage and other indebtedness was $5,091,015 and $4,947,026 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The fair value was calculated using Level 2 inputs by discounting future cash flows for mortgage and other indebtedness using estimated market rates at which similar loans would be made currently. The carrying amount of mortgage and other indebtedness was $4,821,475 and $4,700,460 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company measures the fair value of certain long-lived assets on a nonrecurring basis, through quarterly impairment testing or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company considers both quantitative and qualitative factors in its impairment analysis of long-lived assets. Significant quantitative factors include historical and forecasted information for each property such as net operating income ("NOI"), occupancy statistics and sales levels. Significant qualitative factors used include market conditions, age and condition of the property and tenant mix. Due to the significant unobservable estimates and assumptions used in the valuation of long-lived assets that experience impairment, the Company classifies such long-lived assets under Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Long-lived Assets Measured at Fair Value in 2015

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment of real estate of $2,620 in the second quarter of 2015 when it adjusted the book value of Madison Square, located in Huntsville, AL, to its estimated fair value of $5,000 based on its sale in April 2015. See Note 4 for further information on this sale.

Other Impairment Loss in 2015

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded an impairment of real estate of $161 related to the sale of a building at a formerly owned mall for total net proceeds after sales costs of $750, which was less than its total carrying amount of $911. We also recognized $884 of impairment related to the sale of two outparcels in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.