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, primarily for the purpose of investing in and owning net leased industrial, commercial and retail real property 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.

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

Gladstone Commercial Corporation conducts substantially all of its operations through a subsidiary, Gladstone Commercial Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, or the Operating Partnership. As Gladstone Commercial Corporation currently owns all of the general and limited partnership interests of the Operating Partnership through two of its subsidiaries, GCLP Business Trust I and II, the financial position and results of operations of the Operating Partnership are consolidated within Gladstone Commercial Corporation’s financial statements.

GCLP Business Trust I and GCLP Business Trust II, each a subsidiary and business trust of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, were formed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 28, 2005. Gladstone Commercial Corporation transferred its 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.

Gladstone Commercial Lending, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or Gladstone Commercial Lending, a subsidiary of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, was created to conduct all operations related to Gladstone Commercial Corporation’s 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 Gladstone Commercial Corporation.

Gladstone Commercial Advisers, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Commercial Advisers, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gladstone Commercial Corporation, 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 Gladstone Commercial Corporation owns 100% of the voting securities of Commercial Advisers, the financial position and results of operations of Commercial Advisers are consolidated within Gladstone Commercial Corporation’s financial statements.

 

Interim Financial Information

Our interim financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP are omitted. The year-end balance sheet data presented herein was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring accruals, necessary for the fair presentation of financial statements for the interim period, have been included. The interim financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2015. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for other interim periods or for the full fiscal year.

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.

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. Other 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.

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. Real estate depreciation expense on these tangible assets was $5.2 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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 condensed 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 $0.1 million, for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The capitalized below-market lease values, included in the accompanying condensed 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 $0.2 million, for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, 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 expense over the remaining term of the respective leases, which generally range from 10 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 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 $3.0 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, 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 would be immediately charged to amortization expense.

Real Estate Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

ASC 360-10, “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” requires that any properties which are held for sale, be presented separately in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Real estate assets held for sale are measured at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair value, less the cost to sell, and are listed separately on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Once properties are classified as held for sale, no further depreciation is recorded.

Under Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations, such as a disposal of a major geographic area, a major line of business, or a major equity method investment, will be presented as discontinued operations. We evaluated our held for sale assets according to this criteria, and determined we were not required to present our assets classified as held for sale during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as discontinued operations.

 

Impairment Charges

We account for the impairment of real estate, including intangible assets, 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 whether 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. We performed this evaluation and analysis and concluded that none of our properties were impaired as of March 31, 2015; however, we determined that our property located in Dayton, Ohio is at risk to become impaired in the future. The lease with the tenant in this property terminates on June 30, 2015. There is a possibility we may have to impair this property during 2015 if we do not find a replacement tenant.

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 $0.2 million and $0.4 million for deferred financing costs during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Total amortization expense related to deferred financing costs is included in interest expense and was $0.4 million, for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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 condensed 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. No such reserves or direct write offs were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

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 Note 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.

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 approximately $20,000 in liabilities in connection with acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2015. There were no liabilities accrued during the three months ended March 31, 2014. We recorded expense of $0.04 million and $0.03 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 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 $9.4 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.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, comprehensive income (loss) equaled net income (loss); therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive income (loss) is not included in the accompanying condensed 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 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which supersedes or replaces nearly all GAAP revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance establishes a new control-based revenue recognition model, changes the basis for deciding when revenue is recognized over time or at a point in time and will expand disclosures about revenue. We are currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods that begin after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is not permitted.

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 are currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02, which is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted.

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 are currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-03 and 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. Early adoption is permitted.