Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

v3.21.1
Fair Value Measurements
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
Recurring Fair Value Measurements

We have a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan for Trustees and certain members of our management team that, prior to December 31, 2019, permitted participants to defer up to 100% of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and receive a tax-deferred return on such deferrals. We froze additional entry into the plan effective December 31, 2019.  The assets held in the plan (comprised primarily of mutual funds and equity securities) and the corresponding liability to the participants are measured at fair value on a recurring basis on our consolidated balance sheets using quoted market prices, as are other marketable securities that we hold. The balance of the plan, which was fully funded and totaled $3.0 million as of March 31, 2021, is included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheets along with an insignificant amount of other marketable securities. The offsetting liability associated with the plan is adjusted to fair value at the end of each accounting period based on the fair value of the plan assets and reported in “other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets. The assets of the plan are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, while the offsetting liability is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of our interest rate derivatives are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate market data and implied volatilities in such interest rates. While we determined that the majority of the inputs used to value our derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with our interest rate derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default. However, as of March 31, 2021, we assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of our derivatives and determined that these adjustments are not significant. As a result, we determined that our interest rate derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other assets (excluding investing receivables) and accounts payable and accrued expenses are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturities of these instruments.  The fair values of our investing receivables, as disclosed in Note 7, were based on the discounted estimated future cash flows of the loans (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated cash payments include scheduled principal and interest payments.  For our disclosure of debt fair values in Note 9, we estimated the fair value of our unsecured senior notes based on quoted market rates for publicly-traded debt (categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy) and estimated the fair value of our other debt based on the discounted estimated future cash payments to be made on such debt (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans, or groups of loans, with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated future payments include scheduled
principal and interest payments.  Fair value estimates are made as of a specific point in time, are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment. 

For additional fair value information, refer to Note 7 for investing receivables, Note 9 for debt and Note 10 for interest rate derivatives. 

The table below sets forth our financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2021 and the hierarchy level of inputs used in measuring their respective fair values under applicable accounting standards (in thousands):
Description Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets (Level 1)		 Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)		 Significant
Unobservable 
Inputs
(Level 3)		 Total
Assets:        
Marketable securities in deferred compensation plan (1)
        
Mutual funds $ 3,005  $ —  $ —  $ 3,005 
Other 14  —  —  14 
Other marketable securities (1) 31  —  —  31 
Interest rate derivatives (1) —  77  —  77 
Total assets $ 3,050  $ 77  $ —  $ 3,127 
Liabilities:        
Deferred compensation plan liability (2) $ —  $ 3,019  $ —  $ 3,019 
Interest rate derivatives —  7,640  —  7,640 
Total liabilities $ —  $ 10,659  $ —  $ 10,659 

(1)Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheet.
(2)Included in the line entitled “other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheet.