Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Leased Properties and Leases

v3.19.2
Leased Properties and Leases
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Leases [Abstract]  
LEASED PROPERTIES AND LEASES
LEASED PROPERTIES AND LEASES
The Company primarily acquires mid-stream and downstream assets in the U.S. energy sector such as pipelines, storage terminals, and gas and electric distribution systems and leases these assets to operators under triple-net leases. These leases typically include a contracted base rent with escalation clauses and participating rents that are tied to contract-specific criteria. Base rents under the Company's leases are structured on an estimated fair market value rent structure over the initial term, which includes assumptions related to the terminal value of the assets and expectations of tenant renewals. At the conclusion of the initial lease term, the Company's leases may contain fair market value repurchase options or fair market rent renewal terms. These clauses also act as safeguards against the Company's tenants pursuing activities which would undermine or degrade the value of the assets faster than the underlying reserves are depleted. Participating rents are structured to provide exposure to the successful commercial activity of the tenant, and as such, also provide protection in the event that the economic life of the assets is reduced based on accelerated production by the Company's tenants. While the Company is primarily a lessor, certain of its operating subsidiaries are lessees and have entered into lease agreements as discussed further below.
LESSOR - LEASED PROPERTIES
The Company's current leased properties are classified as operating leases and are recorded as leased property in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Initial direct costs incurred in connection with the creation and execution of a lease prior to January 1, 2019 are capitalized and amortized over the lease term. The Company did not reassess initial indirect cost as it elected the package of practical expedients. Subsequent to January 1, 2019, initial direct costs under ASC 842 are incremental costs of a lease that would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained and may include commissions or payments made to an existing tenant as an incentive to terminate its lease. Base rent related to the Company's leased property is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease when collectability is probable. Participating rent is recognized when it is earned, based on the achievement of specified performance criteria. Base and participating rent are recorded as lease revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Rental payments received in advance are classified as unearned revenue and included as a liability within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unearned revenue is amortized ratably over the lease period as revenue recognition criteria are met. Rental payments received in arrears are accrued and classified as deferred rent receivable and included in assets within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Under the Company's triple-net leases, the tenant is required to pay property taxes and insurance directly to the applicable third-party provider. Consistent with guidance in ASC 842, the Company will present the cost and the lessee's direct payment to the third-party under the triple-net leases on a net basis in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
As of June 30, 2019, the Company had two significant properties located in Wyoming, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, which are leased on a triple-net basis to major tenants, described in the table below. These major tenants are responsible for the payment of all taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and other operating expenses relating to the leased properties. The long-term, triple-net leases generally have an initial term of 11 to 15 years with options for renewals. Lease payments are scheduled to increase at varying intervals during the initial term of the leases. The following table summarizes the significant leased properties, major tenants and lease terms:
Summary of Leased Properties, Major Tenants and Lease Terms
Property
Grand Isle Gathering System
Pinedale LGS
Location
Gulf of Mexico/Louisiana
Pinedale, WY
Tenant
Energy XXI GIGS Services, LLC
Ultra Wyoming LGS, LLC
Asset Description
Approximately 153 miles of offshore pipeline with total capacity of 120 thousand Bbls/d, including a 16-acre onshore terminal and saltwater disposal system.
Approximately 150 miles of pipelines and four central storage facilities.
Date Acquired
June 2015
December 2012
Initial Lease Term
11 years
15 years
Renewal Option
Equal to the lesser of 9-years or 75 percent of the remaining useful life
5-year terms
Current Monthly Rent Payments
7/1/2018 - 6/30/2019: $2,860,917
7/1/2019 - 6/30/2020: $3,223,917
$1,812,307
Initial Estimated Useful Life
27 years
26 years

The Company also concluded that Omega's long-term contract with the Department of Defense ("DOD") to provide natural gas distribution to Fort Leonard Wood through Omega's pipeline distribution system on the military post meets the definition of a lease under ASC 842. Omega is the lessor in the contract and the lease is classified as an operating lease. The Company noted the non-lease component is the predominant component in the lease, and the timing and pattern of transfer of the lease component and the associated non-lease component are the same. As discussed in Note 2 ("Recent Accounting Pronouncements"), the Company elected a practical expedient that allows lessors to not separate lease and related non-lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the revenue standard under ASC 606. With the election of this practical expedient, the Company continues to account for the DOD contract under the revenue standard.
In the second quarter of 2019, the Company started a system improvement project on Omega's pipeline distribution system, which is considered a "built to suit" transaction under ASC 842. The system improvement project is a separate lease component and the DOD is deemed to control the system improvement due to certain contract provisions. As a result, the Company is accounting for the costs of the system improvement as a financing arrangement, which is included in accounts and other receivables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The margin the Company earns on the system improvement project is a non-lease component accounted for under the revenue standard. Refer to Note 4 ("Transportation And Distribution Revenue") for further details.
The future contracted minimum rental receipts for all leases as of June 30, 2019, are as follows:
Future Minimum Lease Receipts
Years Ending December 31,
Amount
2019
$
30,267,595

2020
65,383,190

2021
71,345,190

2022
70,322,690

2023
67,274,690

Thereafter
193,639,760

Total
$
498,233,115


The table below displays the Company's individually significant leases as a percentage of total leased properties and total lease revenues for the periods presented:
 
As a Percentage of (1)
 
Leased Properties
 
Lease Revenues
 
As of
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Six Months Ended
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
June 30, 2019
 
June 30, 2018
 
June 30, 2019
 
June 30, 2018
Pinedale LGS(2)
44.4
%
 
44.5
%
 
38.8
%
 
35.3
%
 
38.9
%
 
34.1
%
Grand Isle Gathering System
55.3
%
 
55.2
%
 
61.1
%
 
55.6
%
 
61.0
%
 
56.7
%
Portland Terminal Facility(3)
%
 
%
 
%
 
9.0
%
 
%
 
9.1
%
(1) Insignificant leases are not presented; thus, percentages may not sum to 100%.
 
 
 
 
(2) Pinedale LGS lease revenues include variable rent of $1.0 million and $2.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $1.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.
(3) On December 21, 2018, the Portland Terminal Facility was sold to Zenith Terminals, terminating the Portland Lease Agreement.

The following table reflects the depreciation and amortization included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income associated with the Company's leases and leased properties:
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Six Months Ended
 
June 30, 2019
 
June 30, 2018
 
June 30, 2019
 
June 30, 2018
Depreciation Expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GIGS
$
2,440,790

 
$
2,751,272

 
$
4,881,581

 
$
5,502,544

Pinedale
2,217,360

 
2,217,360

 
4,434,720

 
4,434,720

Portland Terminal Facility(1)

 
318,915

 

 
637,830

United Property Systems
9,831

 
9,120

 
19,455

 
18,242

Total Depreciation Expense
$
4,667,981

 
$
5,296,667

 
$
9,335,756

 
$
10,593,336

Amortization Expense - Deferred Lease Costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GIGS
$
7,641

 
$
7,641

 
$
15,282

 
$
15,282

Pinedale
15,342

 
15,342

 
30,684

 
30,684

Total Amortization Expense - Deferred Lease Costs
$
22,983

 
$
22,983

 
$
45,966

 
$
45,966

ARO Accretion Expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GIGS
$
110,993

 
$
127,928

 
$
221,985

 
$
255,856

Total ARO Accretion Expense
$
110,993

 
$
127,928

 
$
221,985

 
$
255,856

(1) On December 21, 2018, the Portland Terminal Facility was sold to Zenith Terminals, terminating the Portland Lease Agreement.

The following table reflects the deferred costs that are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets associated with the Company's leased properties:
 
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Net Deferred Lease Costs
 
 
 
GIGS
$
214,037

 
$
229,319

Pinedale
519,665

 
550,349

Total Deferred Lease Costs, net
$
733,702

 
$
779,668


TENANT INFORMATION
Substantially all of the lease tenants' financial results are driven by exploiting naturally occurring oil and natural gas hydrocarbon deposits beneath the Earth's surface. As a result, the tenants' financial results are highly dependent on the performance of the oil and natural gas industry, which is highly competitive and subject to volatility. During the terms of the leases, management monitors the credit quality of its tenants by reviewing their published credit ratings, if available, reviewing publicly available financial statements, or reviewing financial or other operating statements, monitoring news reports regarding the tenants and their respective businesses, and monitoring the timeliness of lease payments and the performance of other financial covenants under their leases.
Ultra Petroleum
UPL is currently subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and is required to file with the SEC annual reports containing audited financial statements and quarterly reports containing unaudited financial statements. Its SEC filings can be found at www.sec.gov. Its common stock will trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol UPL until August 8, 2019 at which time it will commence trading on the OTCQX marketplace under the symbol UPLC. The Company makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the audited and unaudited financial statements of UPL but has no reason to doubt the accuracy or completeness of such information. In addition, UPL has no duty, contractual or otherwise, to advise the Company of any events that might have occurred subsequent to the date of such financial statements which could affect the significance or accuracy of such information. None of the information in the public reports of UPL that are filed with the SEC is incorporated by reference into, or in any way form, a part of this filing.
Energy Gulf Coast/Cox Oil
Prior to October 29, 2018, EGC was subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and was required to file with the SEC annual reports containing audited financial statements and quarterly reports containing unaudited financial statements. Its SEC filings can be found at www.sec.gov. Effective March 21, 2018, EGC changed its NASDAQ ticker symbol from EXXI to EGC. The Company makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the audited and unaudited financial statements of EGC but has no reason to doubt the accuracy or completeness of such information. In addition, EGC has no duty, contractual or otherwise, to advise the Company of any events that might have occurred subsequent to the date of such financial statements which could affect the significance or accuracy of such information. None of the information in the public reports of EGC that are filed with the SEC is incorporated by reference into, or in any way form, a part of this filing. Upon the filing by EGC of a Form 15 with the SEC on October 29, 2018, following the closing on October 18, 2018 of the previously announced acquisition of EGC by an affiliate of the privately-held Cox Oil, EGC's SEC reporting obligations were suspended and it ceased to file such reports.
The Company believes the terms of the Grand Isle Lease Agreement require EGC and Cox Oil to provide the Company with certain financial statement information of EGC which must be filed pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X. When EGC's financial information ceased to be publicly available, the Company encouraged officials of EGC and Cox Oil and, through Company counsel, the legal counsel to such entities, to satisfy their obligations under the Grand Isle Lease Agreement to provide the required information to the Company for inclusion in its SEC reports. To date, EGC and Cox Oil have refused to fulfill these obligations. The Company intends to enforce the obligations of EGC and Cox Oil and obtained a temporary restraining order ("TRO") from a Texas state court, mandating that they deliver the required EGC financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. While the TRO has been stayed pending an appeal by EGC and Cox Oil, the Company will continue to pursue all viable options to obtain and file the necessary financial statements.
LESSEE - LEASED PROPERTIES
The Company's operating subsidiaries currently lease single-use office space and equipment with remaining lease terms of less than two years, some of which may include renewal options. These leases are classified as operating leases and immaterial to the consolidated financial statements. The Company recognizes lease expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term.