Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
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, 2016 included in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly state 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 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Reclassification

We reclassified certain amounts from prior periods to conform to the current period presentation of our consolidated financial statements with no effect on previously reported net income or equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) effective January 1, 2017 intended to simplify various aspects related to the accounting and presentation for employee 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. In connection with our adoption of this policy, we made an entity-wide accounting policy election to continue to account for potential future award forfeitures by estimating the number of awards that are expected to vest. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

We adopted guidance issued by the FASB prospectively effective January 1, 2017 that clarifies the definition of a business used by entities in determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill and consolidation. Under the new guidance it is expected that the majority of our future operating property acquisitions will be accounted for as asset acquisitions, whereas under the previous guidance our recent acquisitions were accounted for as business combinations; we believe that the primary effect of this change will be that transaction costs associated with future acquisitions will be capitalized rather than expensed as incurred. This guidance had no effect on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

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. This guidance also requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Also in connection with this guidance, in February 2017, the FASB issued additional guidance that clarifies the scope of asset derecognition guidance and accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. While we are still completing our assessment of the impact of the guidance, below is a summary of the anticipated primary effects on our accounting and reporting.

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Construction contract revenue: We reviewed our historical construction management arrangements and related contracts. Based on this review, we believe that we will account for these arrangements using the percentage of completion method, which is the method we have used in most cases historically. We do not currently believe that the resulting effect of the change will be material.
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Sales of real estate: The new guidance requires recognition of a sale of real estate and resulting gain or loss when control transfers and the buyer has the ability to direct use of, or obtain substantially all of the remaining benefit from, the asset (which generally will occur on the closing date); the factor of continuing involvement is no longer a specific consideration for the timing of recognition. The new guidance eliminates the need to consider adequacy of buyer investment, which was replaced by additional judgments regarding collectability and intent and/or ability to pay. The new guidance also requires an entity to derecognize nonfinancial assets and in substance non financial assets once it transfers control of such assets. When an entity transfers its controlling interest in a nonfinancial asset, but retains a noncontrolling ownership interest, the entity is required to measure any non-controlling interest it receives or retains at fair value and recognize a full gain or loss on the transaction; as a result, sales and partial sales of real estate assets will now be subject to the same derecognition model as all other nonfinancial assets. Since all but one of our sale transactions previously met the criteria for immediate gain recognition under existing guidance, we do not believe that the recognition pattern for these transactions will be changed by the new guidance. Our one sale transaction that did not meet the criteria for immediate full recognition under the previous standard was our contribution of data center properties into a newly-formed joint venture in July 2016, as discussed further in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that this transaction, which was accounted for as a partial sale under existing guidance, would meet the criteria for immediate full gain recognition under the new guidance; this would result in an additional $18 million in income being recognizable in 2016 under the new guidance that is currently being amortized into income in subsequent periods under existing guidance.
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Real estate revenue associated with executory costs and other non-lease components: Once the new guidance setting forth principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases (discussed below) goes into effect, we believe that the new revenue standard may apply to executory costs and other components of revenue due under leases that are deemed to be non-lease components (such as common area maintenance and provision of utilities), even when the revenue for such activities is not separately stipulated in the lease. In that case, then revenue from these items previously recognized on a straight-line basis under current lease guidance would be recognized under the new revenue guidance as the related services are delivered. As a result, while the total revenue recognized over time would not differ under the new guidance, the recognition pattern would be different. We are in the process of evaluating the significance of the difference in the recognition pattern that would result from this change.

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 have not decided which method of adoption we will use.

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 of real estate to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases.  While we are still completing our assessment of the impact of this guidance, below is a summary of the anticipated primary effects of this guidance on our accounting and reporting.

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Real estate leases in which we are the lessor:
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Balance sheet reporting: We believe that we will apply an approach under the new guidance that is similar to the current accounting for operating leases, in which we will continue to recognize the underlying leased asset as property on our balance sheet.
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Deferral of compensation-related lease costs: Under the new lease guidance, lessors may only capitalize their incremental direct costs of leasing. As a result, we believe that we will no longer be able to defer the recognition of compensation-related costs in connection with new or extended tenant leases (refer to amounts reported in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for amounts deferred in 2014, 2015 and 2016).
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Lease revenue reporting: As discussed in further detail above in connection with the new revenue guidance, we believe that the new revenue standard may apply to executory costs and other components of revenue deemed to be non-lease components (such as common area maintenance and provision of utilities), even when the revenue for such activities is not separately stipulated in the lease. In that case, we would need to separate the lease components of revenue due under leases from the non-lease components. Under the new guidance, we would continue to recognize the lease components of lease revenue on a straight-line basis over our respective lease terms as we do under prior guidance. However, we would recognize the non-lease components under the new revenue guidance as the related services are delivered. As discussed above, we are in the process of evaluating the significance of the difference in the recognition pattern that would result from this change.
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Leases in which we are the lessee:
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Our most significant leases as lessee are ground leases we have for certain properties; as of March 31, 2017, our future minimum rental payments under these leases totaled $90.7 million, with various expiration dates extending to the year 2100. While we are still in the process of evaluating these leases under the new guidance, we believe that we will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for the present value of these minimum lease payments. We believe that these leases most likely will be classified as finance leases under the new guidance; as a result, the interest component of each lease payment would be recorded as interest expense and the right-of-use asset would be amortized into expense using the straight-line method over the life of the lease.

This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2019, with modified retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at the time of adoption. Early adoption is also permitted for this guidance.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance replaces the current incurred loss model with an expected loss approach, resulting in a more timely recognition of such losses. The guidance will apply to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases, and off-balance-sheet credit exposures (e.g. loan commitments). Under the new guidance, an entity will recognize its estimate of expected credit losses as an allowance, as the guidance requires that financial assets be measured on an amortized cost basis and to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The guidance is effective for us beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted after December 2018. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice related to eight specific cash flow issues. The areas addressed in the new guidance relate to debt prepayment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned and bank-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investments, beneficial interest in securitization transactions and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The guidance is effective for us beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires the statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.  Under the new guidance, amounts described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.  The guidance is effective for us beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.