1. Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Gladstone Commercial Corporation is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that was incorporated under the General Corporation Laws of the State of Maryland on February 14, 2003, and is currently operated primarily for the purpose of investing in and owning net leased industrial and office properties and selectively making long-term industrial and commercial mortgage loans. Subject to certain restrictions and limitations, our business is managed by Gladstone Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or the Adviser, and administrative services are provided by Gladstone Administration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or the Administrator, each pursuant to a contractual arrangement with us. Our Adviser and Administrator collectively employ all of our personnel and pay their salaries, benefits, and general expenses directly. Gladstone Commercial Corporation conducts substantially all of its operations through a subsidiary, Gladstone Commercial Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, or the Operating Partnership.

All further references herein to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” mean Gladstone Commercial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where it is made clear that the term means only Gladstone Commercial Corporation. All references to the number of properties and square footage are unaudited.

Subsidiaries

We conduct substantially all of our operations through a subsidiary, Gladstone Commercial Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, or the Operating Partnership. As we currently own all of the general and limited partnership interests of the Operating Partnership through two of our subsidiaries, GCLP Business Trust I and II, the financial position and results of operations of the Operating Partnership are consolidated within our financial statements.

Gladstone Commercial Lending, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or Gladstone Commercial Lending, a subsidiary of ours, was created to conduct all operations related to our real estate mortgage loans. As the Operating Partnership currently owns all of the membership interests of Gladstone Commercial Lending, the financial position and results of operations of Gladstone Commercial Lending are consolidated with ours.

Gladstone Commercial Advisers, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Commercial Advisers, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, is a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, which was created to collect any non-qualifying income related to our real estate portfolio. There has been no such income earned to date. Since we own 100% of the voting securities of Commercial Advisers, the financial position and results of operations of Commercial Advisers are consolidated within our financial statements.

GCLP Business Trust I and GCLP Business Trust II, each a subsidiary and business trust of ours, were formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 28, 2005. We transferred our 99% limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership to GCLP Business Trust I in exchange for 100 shares of the trust. Gladstone Commercial Partners, LLC transferred its 1% general partnership interest in the Operating Partnership to GCLP Business Trust II in exchange for 100 trust shares.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

 

Real Estate and Lease Intangibles

We record investments in real estate at cost and capitalize improvements and replacements when they extend the useful life or improve the efficiency of the asset. We expense costs of repairs and maintenance as such costs are incurred. We compute depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life, or 39 years, for buildings and improvements, 5 to 20 years for equipment and fixtures, and the shorter of the useful life or the remaining lease term for tenant improvements and leasehold interests. Real estate depreciation expense on the building and tenant improvement assets were $22.2 million, $18.8 million, and $15.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively

Most of our acquisitions involve the acquisition of properties that are already being operated as rental properties, which we will generally consider to be a business combination under ASC 805. Business combination guidance is generally applicable to us when properties are acquired with leases in place at the time of acquisition. When an acquisition is considered a business combination, ASC 805 requires that the purchase price of real estate be allocated to the acquired tangible assets and liabilities, consisting of land, building, tenant improvements, long-term debt assumed and identified intangible assets and liabilities, typically the value of above-market and below-market leases, the value of in-place leases, the value of unamortized lease origination costs and the value of tenant relationships, based in each case on their fair values. ASC 805 also requires that all expenses related to an acquisition accounted for as a business combination to be expensed as incurred, rather than capitalized into the cost of the acquisition. Certain of our acquisitions involve sale-leaseback transactions with newly-originated leases, which we account for as asset acquisitions under Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 805, “Business Combinations.” In the case of an asset acquisition, we will capitalize the transaction costs incurred in connection with the acquisition.

Management’s estimates of fair value are made using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers (e.g. discounted cash flow analysis). Factors considered by management in its analysis include an estimate of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods considering current market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. We also consider information obtained about each property as a result of our pre-acquisition due diligence, marketing and leasing activities in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In estimating carrying costs, management also includes lost reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses as well as estimates of lost rentals at market rates during the hypothetical expected lease-up periods, which primarily range from 9 to 18 months, depending on specific local market conditions. Management also estimates costs to execute similar leases, including leasing commissions, legal and other related expenses to the extent that such costs are not already incurred in connection with a new lease origination as part of the transaction.

We allocate purchase price to the fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property by valuing the property as if it were vacant. The “as-if-vacant” value is allocated to land, building and tenant improvements based on management’s determination of the relative fair values of these assets on the date of acquisition.

Above-market and below-market in-place lease fair values for owned properties are recorded based on the present value (using an interest rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease. When determining the non-cancelable term of the lease, we evaluate which fixed-rate renewal options, if any, should be included. The capitalized above-market lease values, included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as part of deferred rent receivable, are amortized as a reduction of rental income over the remaining non-cancelable terms of the respective leases. Total amortization related to above-market lease values was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 and $0.3 million, for each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The capitalized below-market lease values, included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as part of deferred rent liability, are amortized as an increase to rental income over the remaining non-cancelable terms of the respective leases, including any below market renewal periods. Total amortization related to below-market lease values was $0.9 million, $0.7 million, and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

The total amount of the remaining intangible assets acquired, which consists of in-place lease values, unamortized lease origination costs, and customer relationship intangible values, are allocated based on management’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease and our overall relationship with that respective tenant. Characteristics to be considered by management in determining these values include the nature and extent of our existing business relationships with the tenant, growth prospects for developing new business with the tenant, the tenant’s credit quality and our expectations of lease renewals (including those existing under the terms of the lease agreement), among other factors.

The value of in-place leases and lease origination costs are amortized to amortization expense over the remaining term of the respective leases, which generally range from 7 to 15 years. The value of customer relationship intangibles, which is the benefit to us resulting from the likelihood of an existing tenant renewing its lease, are amortized to amortization expense over the remaining term and any anticipated renewal periods in the respective leases, but in no event does the amortization period for intangible assets exceed the remaining depreciable life of the building. Total amortization expense related to these intangible assets and liabilities was $13.1 million, $10.0 million, and $7.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Should a tenant terminate its lease, the unamortized portion of the above-market and below-market lease values would be charged to rental income and the unamortized portion of in-place lease values, lease origination costs and customer relationship intangibles will be amortized through the revised termination date.

Impairment Charges

We account for the impairment of real estate in accordance with ASC 360-10-35, “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” which requires us to periodically review the carrying value of each property to determine if circumstances indicate impairment of the carrying value of the investment exists or that depreciation periods should be modified. If circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment, we prepare a projection of the undiscounted future cash flows, without interest charges, of the specific property and determine if the carrying value of the investment in such property is recoverable. In performing the analysis, we consider such factors as each tenant’s payment history and financial condition, the likelihood of lease renewal, business conditions in the industry in which the tenants operate, whether there are indications that the fair value of the real estate has decreased and our intended holding period of the property. If the carrying amount is more than the aggregate undiscounted future cash flows, we would recognize an impairment loss to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the property. We evaluate our entire portfolio of properties each quarter for any impairment indicators and perform an impairment analysis on those select properties that have an indication of impairment.

Held for Sale Property

For properties considered held for sale, we cease depreciating and amortizing the property and value the property at the lower of depreciated and amortized cost or fair value, less costs to dispose. We present qualifying assets and liabilities and the results of operations that have been sold, or otherwise qualify as held for sale, as discontinued operations in all periods when the sale meets the definition of discontinued operations. Under GAAP, the definition of discontinued operations is the disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on our operations and financial results. The components of the property’s net income (loss) that are reflected as discontinued operations include operating results, depreciation, amortization, and interest expense.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider cash equivalents to be short-term, highly-liquid investments that are both readily convertible to cash and have a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase, except that any such investments purchased with funds held in escrow or similar accounts are classified as restricted cash. Items classified as cash equivalents include money-market deposit accounts. At times, the balance of our cash and cash equivalents may exceed federally insurable limits.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of security deposits and receipts from tenants for reserves. These funds will be released to the tenants upon completion of agreed upon tasks, as specified in the lease agreements, mainly consisting of maintenance and repairs on the buildings and upon receipt by us of evidence of insurance and tax payments. For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, changes in restricted cash caused by changes in reserves held for tenants are shown as investing activities. Changes in restricted cash caused by changes in security deposits are reflected as financing activities.

Funds Held in Escrow

Funds held in escrow consist of funds held by certain of our lenders for properties held as collateral by these lenders. These funds will be released to us upon completion of agreed upon tasks, as specified in the mortgage agreements, mainly consisting of maintenance and repairs on the buildings, and when evidence of insurance and tax payments has been submitted to the lenders.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs consist of costs incurred to obtain financing, including legal fees, origination fees and administrative fees. The costs are deferred and amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the secured financing. We made payments of $1.9 million, $1.0 million, and $2.1 million for deferred financing costs during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively. Total amortization expense related to deferred financing costs is included in interest expense and was $2.0 million, $1.7 million, and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

Gains on Property Sales

Gains on property sales consist of the excess consideration received for a property over the property carrying value at the time of sale. We recognize gains on property sales in accordance with GAAP.

Gains on Debt Extinguishment

Gains on debt extinguishment consist of the excess forgiveness of debt received for a property over the property carrying value at the time of forgiveness. We recognize gains on debt extinguishment in accordance with GAAP.

Revenue Recognition

Rental revenue includes rents that each tenant pays in accordance with the terms of its respective lease reported evenly over the non-cancelable term of the lease. Most of our leases contain rental increases at specified intervals. We recognize such revenues on a straight-line basis. Deferred rent receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet includes the cumulative difference between rental revenue, as recorded on a straight-line basis, and rents received from the tenants in accordance with the lease terms, along with the capitalized above-market or in-place lease values of certain acquired properties.

 

Accordingly, we determine, in our judgment, to what extent the deferred rent receivable applicable to each specific tenant is collectable. We review deferred rent receivable, as it relates to straight line rents, on a quarterly basis and take into consideration the tenant’s payment history, the financial condition of the tenant, business conditions in the industry in which the tenant operates and economic conditions in the geographic area in which the property is located. In the event that the collectability of deferred rent with respect to any given tenant is in doubt, we record an allowance for uncollectable accounts or record a direct write-off of the specific rent receivable. We incurred $0.8 million in deferred rent expense during the year ended December 31, 2014. No such reserves or direct write offs were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2015 or 2013.

Tenant recovery revenue includes payments from tenants as reimbursements for franchise taxes, management fees, insurance, maintenance and repairs, utilities, and ground lease payments. We recognize tenant recovery revenue in the same periods that we incur the related expenses.

Mortgage Notes Receivable

Management considers its loans and other lending investments to be held-for-investment. We reflect our loans classified as long-term investments at amortized cost, less allowance for loan losses, acquisition premiums or discounts, and deferred loan fees. On occasion, we may acquire loans at small premiums or discounts based on the credit characteristics of such loans. These premiums or discounts would be recognized as yield adjustments over the lives of the related loans. Loan origination fees, as well as direct loan origination costs, are also deferred and recognized over the lives of the related loans as yield adjustments. If loans with premiums, discounts, or loan origination fees are prepaid, we would immediately recognize the unamortized portion as a decrease or increase in the prepayment gain or loss. Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method applied on a loan-by-loan basis. Prepayment penalties or yield maintenance payments from borrowers are recognized as additional income when received.

Income Taxes

We have operated and intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, accordingly, will not be subject to federal income taxes on amounts distributed to stockholders (except income from foreclosure property), provided that we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our stockholders and meet certain other conditions. To the extent that we satisfy the distribution requirement but distribute less than 100% of our taxable income, we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed income.

Commercial Advisers is a wholly-owned TRS that is subject to federal and state income taxes. Though Commercial Advisers has had no activity to date, we would account for any future income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Under ASC 740-10-25, we would account for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.

We may recognize a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more-likely-than-not (defined as a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, despite our belief that the filing position is supportable, the benefit of that tax position is not recognized in the statements of operations. We recognize interest and penalties, as applicable, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. We recognize unrecognized tax benefits in the period that the uncertainty is eliminated by either affirmative agreement of the uncertain tax position by the applicable taxing authority, or by expiration of the applicable statute of limitation. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we did not record any provisions for uncertain tax positions.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligation,” requires an entity to recognize a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability can be reasonably estimated. ASC 410-20-20 clarifies that the term “Conditional Asset Retirement Obligation” refers to a legal obligation (pursuant to existing laws or by contract) to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. ASC 410-20-25-6 clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. We have accrued a liability at the present value of the estimated payments expected to be made and corresponding increase to the cost of the related properties for disposal related to all properties constructed prior to 1985 that have, or may have, asbestos present in the building. The liabilities are accreted to their estimated obligation over the life of the leases for the respective properties. We accrued $0.1 million, $0.4 million and $0.0 million in liabilities in connection with acquisitions for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We recorded accretion expense of $0.2 million, $0.1 million, and $0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to general and administrative expense. Costs of future expenditures for obligations are discounted to their present value. The aggregate undiscounted obligation on all properties is $9.0 million and the discount rates used in the calculations range from 2.5% to 7.6%. We do not expect to make any payments in conjunction with these obligations in each of the next five years.

Stock Issuance Costs

We account for stock issuance costs in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5.A, which states that incremental costs directly attributable to a proposed or actual offering of securities may properly be deferred and charged against the gross proceeds of the offering. Accordingly, we record costs incurred related to our ongoing equity offerings to other assets on our consolidated balance sheet and ratably apply these amounts to the cost of equity as stock is issued. If an equity offering is subsequently terminated and there are amounts remaining in other assets that have not been allocated to the cost of the offering, the remaining amounts are recorded as a general and administrative expense on our consolidated statements of operations.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, comprehensive income (loss) equaled net income (loss); therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive income (loss) is not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

We manage our operations on an aggregated, single segment basis for purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions, and, accordingly, have only one reporting and operating segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May of 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Revenue from a lease contract with a tenant is not within the scope of this revenue standard. In adopting ASU 2014-09, companies may use either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. Additionally, this guidance requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 is effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on our financial position or results of operations. Early adoption is permitted for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.

 

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” (“ASU-2015-02”), which amends or supersedes the scope and consolidation guidance under existing GAAP. The new standard changes the way a reporting entity evaluates whether a) limited partnerships and similar entities should be consolidated, b) fees paid to decision makers or service provides are variable interests in a variable interest entity, or VIE, and c) variable interests in a VIE held by related parties require the reporting entity to consolidate the VIE. ASU 2015-02 also eliminates the VIE consolidation model based on majority exposure to variability that applied to certain investment companies and similar entities. We do not anticipate a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows from adopting this standard. ASU 2015-02 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We intend to adopt this pronouncement during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU-2015-03”), which simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs. We do not anticipate a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows from adopting this standard. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. We intend to adopt this pronouncement during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments” (“ASU 2015-16”), pertaining to entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. The guidance requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Any adjustments should be calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. We are currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-16, and do not anticipate a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows from adopting this standard. ASU 2015-16 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. We intend to adopt this pronouncement during the three months ended March 31, 2016.