Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entity

CBL conducts substantially all its business through CBL & Associates Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), which is a variable interest entity ("VIE"). The Operating Partnership consolidates the financial statements of all entities in which it has a controlling financial interest or where it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited; however, they have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring matters) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for these interim periods have been included. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The results for the interim period ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be obtained for the full fiscal year.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Guidance Adopted



Description	Date Adopted & Application Method	Financial Statement Effect and Other Information
ASU 2016-02, Leases, and related subsequent amendments	January 1, 2019 - Modified Retrospective (elected optional transition method to apply at adoption date and record cumulative-effect adjustment as of January 1, 2019)	The objective of the leasing guidance is to increase transparency and comparability by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Putting nearly all leases on the balance sheet is the biggest change for lessees, as lessees will now be required to recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and corresponding lease liability for leases with terms greater than 12 months. Under the FASB model, lessees will classify a lease as either a finance lease or an operating lease, while a lessor will classify a lease as either a sales-type, direct financing, or operating lease. A lessee should classify a lease based on whether the arrangement is effectively a purchase of the underlying asset. Leases that transfer control of the underlying asset to a lessee are classified as finance leases for lessees and sales-type leases for lessors, whereas leases where the lessee obtains control of only the use of the underlying asset, but not the underlying asset itself, will be classified as operating leases for both lessees and lessors. A lease may meet the lessee finance lease criteria even when control of the underlying asset is not transferred to the lessee, and in these cases the lease would be classified as an operating lease for the lessee and a direct finance lease by the lessor. The guidance to be applied by lessors is substantially similar to existing GAAP. In order to align lessor accounting with the principles in the revenue recognition guidance in ASC 606, a lessor is precluded from recognizing selling profit or sales revenue at lease commencement for a lease that does not transfer control of the underlying asset to the lessee. As a lessee, the guidance impacted the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements through the recognition of right-of-use ("ROU") assets and corresponding lease liabilities for operating leases as of January 1, 2019. As a lessor, the guidance impacted the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements in regard to the narrowed definition of initial direct costs that can be capitalized, the change in the presentation of rental revenues as one line item and the change in reporting uncollectable operating lease receivables as a reduction of rental revenues instead of property operating expense. The adoption did not result in a cumulative catch-up adjustment to opening equity. See Note 4 for further details.

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Effective



Description	Expected Adoption Date & Application Method	Financial Statement Effect and Other Information
ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	January 1, 2020 - Modified Retrospective	The guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment model, which reflects credit events, with a current expected credit loss model, which recognizes an allowance for credit losses based on an entity's estimate of contractual cash flows not expected to be collected. The Company has determined that its guarantees, mortgage and other notes receivable and receivables within the scope of ASC 606 fall under the scope of this standard. After evaluating the impact that this update will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, the Company does not believe it will have a material impact upon adoption.

ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement	January 1, 2020 - Prospective	The guidance eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, but public companies will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

ASU 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract	January 1, 2020 - Prospective	The guidance addresses diversity in practice in accounting for the costs of implementation activities in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. Under the guidance, the Company is to follow Subtopic 350-40 on internal-use software to determine which implementation costs to capitalize and which to expense. The guidance also requires an entity to expense capitalized implementation costs over the term of the hosting arrangement and include that expense in the same line item as the fees associated with the service element of the arrangement. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

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 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 and under current market conditions. 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.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is currently involved in certain other litigation that arises in the ordinary course of business, most of which is expected to be covered by liability insurance. Management makes assumptions and estimates concerning the likelihood and amount of any potential loss relating to these matters using the latest information available. The Company records a liability for litigation if an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. If an unfavorable outcome is probable and a reasonable estimate of the loss is a range, the Company accrues the best estimate within the range. If no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the Company accrues the minimum amount within the range. If an unfavorable outcome is probable but the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the litigation and indicates that an estimate of the loss or range of loss cannot be made. If an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and the estimated loss is material, the Company discloses the nature and estimate of the possible loss of the litigation. Based on current expectations, such matters, both individually and in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations, business or financial condition of the Company.