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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
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9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2014
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| 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 they are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of such entities. We eliminate all significant 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 the entity’s operations 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.
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, 2013 included in our 2013 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 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Reclassifications
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. These reclassifications occurred in conjunction with the transfer of properties to, and from, discontinued operations during 2013.
Prior Out of Period Adjustment
As previously disclosed in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the second quarter of 2013, we identified an error related to the estimated fair value of a redeemable noncontrolling interest in a real estate joint venture. Changes in such fair value are reported as changes in equity with no impact to net income or comprehensive income. The error resulted in an understatement of the line entitled “redeemable noncontrolling interest” in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheet and an overstatement of the line entitled “additional paid-in capital” in the equity section of our consolidation balance sheet of $3.7 million as of December 31, 2012. We have determined that this adjustment was not material to our financial statements for 2012 or 2013. Accordingly, this change is reported as an out-of-period adjustment in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) related to the reporting of discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity effective for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014. This guidance defines a discontinued operation as a component or group of components disposed or classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results; the guidance states that a strategic shift could include a disposal of a major geographical area of operations, a major line of business, a major equity method investment or other major parts of an entity. The guidance also provides for additional disclosure requirements in connection with both discontinued operations and other dispositions not qualifying as discontinued operations. The guidance applies prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date. Our adoption of the guidance will result in fewer disposed or held for sale properties being reported as discontinued operations in our results of operations (including operating properties sold during the current period) but will not otherwise materially affect our 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, 2017, utilizing one of two methods: retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at 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.
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