Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

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Fair Value Measurements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements

For a description on how we estimate fair value, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
 
Our partner in a real estate joint venture has the right to require us to acquire its interest at fair value beginning in March 2020; accordingly, we classify the fair value of our partner’s interest as a redeemable noncontrolling interest in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheet. In determining the fair value of our partner’s interest as of June 30, 2015, we used a discount rate of 15.5% which factored in risk appropriate to the level of future property development expected to be undertaken by the joint venture. A significant increase (decrease) in the discount rate used in determining the fair value would result in a significantly (lower) higher fair value. Given our reliance on the unobservable inputs, the valuations are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Please refer to Note 11 for a rollforward of the activity for redeemable noncontrolling interest.

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.  As discussed in Note 7, we estimated the fair values of our investing receivables 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 and exchangeable 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 at a specific point in time, are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment.  Settlement at such fair value amounts may not be possible and may not be a prudent management decision.
 
For additional fair value information, please refer to Note 7 for investing receivables, Note 9 for debt and Note 10 for interest rate derivatives. 

COPT and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPT and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2015 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
 
$
5,765

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,765

Other
 
108

 

 

 
108

Warrants to purchase common stock (2)
 

 
141

 

 
141

Total assets
 
$
5,873

 
$
141

 
$

 
$
6,014

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deferred compensation plan liability (3)
 
$

 
$
5,873

 
$

 
$
5,873

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
3,121

 

 
3,121

Total liabilities
 
$

 
$
8,994

 
$

 
$
8,994

Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$

 
$

 
$
19,414

 
$
19,414


(1) Included in the line entitled “restricted cash and marketable securities” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.
(2) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.
(3) Included in the line entitled “other liabilities” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.

COPLP and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPLP and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2015 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:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Warrants to purchase common stock (1)
 
$

 
$
141

 
$

 
$
141

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate derivatives
 
$

 
$
3,121

 
$

 
$
3,121

Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$

 
$

 
$
19,414

 
$
19,414


(1) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets” on COPLP’s consolidated balance sheet.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In June 2015, we classified certain operating properties as held for sale, including a property in Northern Virginia on which we received an unsolicited offer. This property’s carrying value exceeded its fair value less costs to sell by approximately $1.2 million. Accordingly, we recognized an impairment loss of this amount during the three months ended June 30, 2015. The table below sets forth the fair value hierarchy of the valuation technique we used to determine the fair value of this property (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Fair Value as of June 30, 2015 (1)
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in
 
 
 
Significant
 
 
 
Impairment Losses Recognized
 
 
Active Markets for
 
Significant Other
 
Unobservable
 
 
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
 
Identical Assets
 
Observable Inputs
 
Inputs
 
 
 
Ended
 
Ended
Description
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
June 30, 2015
 
June 30, 2015
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Assets held for sale
 
$

 
$

 
$
27,690

 
$
27,690

 
$
1,238

 
$
1,238


(1) Fair value represents contract price less expected costs to sell.

In June 2014, we classified certain operating properties in Greater Baltimore, Maryland (“Greater Baltimore”) as held for sale with carrying values exceeding their respective fair values less costs to sell by approximately $1.3 million. Accordingly, we recognized impairment losses totaling this amount during the three months ended June 30, 2014. These properties were subsequently sold. The table below sets forth the fair value hierarchy of the valuation technique used by us in determining the fair values of the properties (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Fair Value of Properties Held as of June 30, 2014 (1)
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in
 
 
 
Significant
 
 
 
Impairment Losses Recognized
 
 
Active Markets for
 
Significant Other
 
Unobservable
 
 
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
 
Identical Assets
 
Observable Inputs
 
Inputs
 
 
 
Ended
 
Ended
Description
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
June 30, 2014
 
June 30, 2014
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Assets held for sale
 
$

 
$

 
$
9,796

 
$
9,796

 
$
1,302

 
$
1,302


(1) Fair value represents contract price less expected costs to sell.