Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2016 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The COPT consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPT, the Operating Partnership, their subsidiaries and other entities in which COPT has a majority voting interest and control. The COPLP consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPLP, its subsidiaries and other entities in which COPLP has a majority voting interest and control. We also consolidate certain entities when control of such entities can be achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of such entities. We eliminate all intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation.
We use the equity method of accounting when we own an interest in an entity and can exert significant influence over but cannot control the entity’s operations. We discontinue equity method accounting if our investment in an entity (and net advances) is reduced to zero unless we have guaranteed obligations of the entity or are otherwise committed to provide further financial support for the entity.
We use the cost method of accounting when we own an interest in an entity and cannot exert significant influence over its operations.
These interim financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly present our financial position and results of operations. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accounting policies described in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) effective January 1, 2016 regarding the presentation of extraordinary and unusual items in statements of operations. This guidance eliminates the concept of extraordinary items. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements for items that are either unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence remain and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence. Our adoption of this guidance did not affect on our reported consolidated financial statements.
We adopted guidance issued by the FASB effective January 1, 2016 modifying the analysis that must be performed by us in determining whether we should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The guidance did not amend the existing disclosure requirements for VIEs or voting interest model entities. The guidance, however, modified the requirements to qualify under the voting interest model. Under the revised guidance, COPLP is considered a variable interest entity of COPT. As COPLP was already consolidated in the balance sheets of COPT, the identification of COPLP as a variable interest entity had no impact on the consolidated financial statements. There were no other legal entities qualifying under the scope of the revised guidance that were consolidated as a result of the adoption. In addition, there were no voting interest entities under prior existing guidance determined to be variable interest entities under the revised guidance.
We adopted effective January 1, 2016 guidance that eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments following a business combination. The guidance requires that the cumulative impact of a measurement period adjustment (including the impact on prior periods) be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. The prior period impact of the adjustment should be either presented separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclosed in the notes. Our adoption of this guidance did not affect our reported consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, this guidance requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We are required to adopt this guidance for our annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018 using one of two methods: retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at the time of adoption, or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this guidance recognized at the date of initial application. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that sets forth principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. This guidance requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. The resulting classification determines whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The guidance requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify certain aspects of the accounting for employee based share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the consolidated statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.
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