Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 1-12252 (Equity Residential)
Commission File Number: 0-24920 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)
EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland (Equity Residential)
13-3675988 (Equity Residential)
Illinois (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)
36-3894853 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 474-1300
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Equity Residential Yes ☒ No ☐
ERP Operating Limited Partnership Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Equity Residential:
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Small reporting company
Emerging growth company
ERP Operating Limited Partnership:
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Equity Residential ☐
ERP Operating Limited Partnership ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Equity Residential Yes ☐ No ☒
ERP Operating Limited Partnership Yes ☐ No ☒
The number of EQR Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, outstanding on October 26, 2018 was 368,440,623.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This report combines the reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018 of Equity Residential and ERP Operating Limited Partnership. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “EQR” mean Equity Residential, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and references to “ERPOP” mean ERP Operating Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership. References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP. The following chart illustrates the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s corporate structure:
EQR is the general partner of, and as of September 30, 2018 owned an approximate 96.3% ownership interest in, ERPOP. The remaining 3.7% interest is owned by limited partners. As the sole general partner of ERPOP, EQR has exclusive control of ERPOP’s day-to-day management. Management operates the Company and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of EQR consists of the same members as the management of ERPOP.
The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) and EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units (see definition below) in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering. The Company may acquire properties in transactions that include the issuance of OP Units as consideration for the acquired properties. Such transactions may, in certain circumstances, enable the sellers to defer in whole or in part, the recognition of taxable income or gain that might otherwise result from the sales. This is one of the reasons why the Company is structured in the manner shown above. Based on the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, OP Units can be exchanged with Common Shares on a one-for-one basis because the Company maintains a one-for-one relationship between the OP Units of ERPOP issued to EQR and the outstanding Common Shares.
The Company believes that combining the reports on Form 10-Q of EQR and ERPOP into this single report provides the following benefits:
•
enhances investors’ understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;
eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both the Company and the Operating Partnership; and
creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one combined report instead of two separate reports.
The Company believes it is important to understand the few differences between EQR and ERPOP in the context of how EQR and ERPOP operate as a consolidated company. All of the Company’s property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR’s primary function is acting as the general partner of ERPOP. EQR also issues equity from time to time, the net proceeds of which it is obligated to contribute to ERPOP, and guarantees certain debt of ERPOP, as disclosed in this report. EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company’s ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for the net proceeds from equity offerings by EQR, which are contributed to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional partnership interests in ERPOP (“OP Units”) (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis) or additional preference units in ERPOP (on a one-for-one preferred share per preference unit basis), the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the Company’s
business. These sources include the Operating Partnership’s working capital, net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under its revolving credit facility and/or commercial paper program, the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities and proceeds received from disposition of certain properties and joint venture interests.
Shareholders’ equity, partners’ capital and noncontrolling interests are the main areas of difference between the consolidated financial statements of the Company and those of the Operating Partnership. The limited partners of the Operating Partnership are accounted for as partners’ capital in the Operating Partnership’s financial statements and as noncontrolling interests in the Company’s financial statements. The noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership’s financial statements include the interests of unaffiliated partners in various consolidated partnerships. The noncontrolling interests in the Company’s financial statements include the same noncontrolling interests at the Operating Partnership level and limited partner OP Unit holders of the Operating Partnership. The differences between shareholders’ equity and partners’ capital result from differences in the equity issued at the Company and Operating Partnership levels.
To help investors understand the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report provides separate consolidated financial statements for the Company and the Operating Partnership; a single set of consolidated notes to such financial statements that includes separate discussions of each entity’s debt, noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity or partners’ capital, as applicable; and a combined Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section that includes discrete information related to each entity.
This report also includes separate Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures sections and separate Exhibits 31 and 32 certifications for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership in order to establish that the requisite certifications have been made and that the Company and the Operating Partnership are compliant with Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. §1350.
In order to highlight the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, the separate sections in this report for the Company and the Operating Partnership specifically refer to the Company and the Operating Partnership. In the sections that combine disclosure of the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report refers to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of the Company. Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that directly or indirectly enters into contracts and joint ventures and holds assets and debt, reference to the Company is appropriate because the Company is one business and the Company operates that business through the Operating Partnership.
As general partner with control of ERPOP, EQR consolidates ERPOP for financial reporting purposes, and EQR essentially has no assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements. The separate discussions of the Company and the Operating Partnership in this report should be read in conjunction with each other to understand the results of the Company on a consolidated basis and how management operates the Company.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PART I.
Item 1. Financial Statements of Equity Residential:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
2
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
3 to 4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
5 to 7
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018
8 to 9
Financial Statements of ERP Operating Limited Partnership:
10
11 to 12
13 to 15
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2018
16 to 17
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Equity Residential and ERP Operating Limited Partnership
18 to 39
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
40 to 55
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
55
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
55 to 56
PART II.
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
56
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands except for share amounts)
(Unaudited)
September 30,
December 31,
2018
2017
ASSETS
Land
$
5,866,457
5,996,024
Depreciable property
20,336,747
19,768,362
Projects under development
134,961
163,547
Land held for development
87,335
98,963
Investment in real estate
26,425,500
26,026,896
Accumulated depreciation
(6,494,770
)
(6,040,378
Investment in real estate, net
19,930,730
19,986,518
Investments in unconsolidated entities
57,576
58,254
Cash and cash equivalents
32,995
50,647
Restricted deposits
55,755
50,115
Other assets
465,094
425,065
Total assets
20,542,150
20,570,599
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net
2,789,436
3,618,722
Notes, net
5,534,990
5,038,812
Line of credit and commercial paper
499,367
299,757
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
182,446
114,766
Accrued interest payable
69,132
58,035
Other liabilities
344,373
341,852
Security deposits
67,177
65,009
Distributions payable
206,899
192,828
Total liabilities
9,693,820
9,729,781
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
381,239
366,955
Equity:
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares
authorized; 745,600 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and
December 31, 2017
37,280
Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares
authorized; 368,409,586 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and
368,018,082 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017
3,684
3,680
Paid in capital
8,900,324
8,886,586
Retained earnings
1,344,825
1,403,530
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(50,689
(88,612
Total shareholders’ equity
10,235,424
10,242,464
Noncontrolling Interests:
Operating Partnership
233,825
226,691
Partially Owned Properties
(2,158
4,708
Total Noncontrolling Interests
231,667
231,399
Total equity
10,467,091
10,473,863
Total liabilities and equity
See accompanying notes
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Quarter Ended September 30,
REVENUES
Rental income
1,925,128
1,840,170
652,677
623,951
Fee and asset management
563
532
190
171
Total revenues
1,925,691
1,840,702
652,867
624,122
EXPENSES
Property and maintenance
322,487
306,645
110,541
104,721
Real estate taxes and insurance
268,784
253,318
87,388
84,087
Property management
69,175
64,702
22,247
20,861
General and administrative
41,420
40,366
12,640
12,567
Depreciation
583,869
542,964
194,618
184,100
Impairment
702
—
Total expenses
1,286,437
1,207,995
428,136
406,336
Operating income
639,254
632,707
224,731
217,786
Interest and other income
14,860
5,708
7,864
3,945
Other expenses
(14,871
(3,160
(7,661
(1,028
Interest:
Expense incurred, net
(321,454
(288,579
(111,219
(91,145
Amortization of deferred financing costs
(9,054
(6,447
(3,276
(2,064
Income before income and other taxes, income (loss) from investments in
unconsolidated entities and net gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties
and land parcels
308,735
340,229
110,439
127,494
Income and other tax (expense) benefit
(767
(710
(280
(228
Income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities
(2,993
(2,153
(985
(398
Net gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties
256,834
141,761
114,672
17,328
Net gain (loss) on sales of land parcels
995
19,170
Net income
562,804
498,297
223,846
144,196
Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:
(20,517
(17,931
(8,159
(5,166
(1,939
(2,354
(750
(801
Net income attributable to controlling interests
540,348
478,012
214,937
138,229
Preferred distributions
(2,318
(773
(772
Net income available to Common Shares
538,030
475,694
214,164
137,457
Earnings per share – basic:
1.46
1.30
0.58
0.37
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding
367,920
366,809
368,028
366,996
Earnings per share – diluted:
1.29
383,433
382,640
383,884
382,945
Distributions declared per Common Share outstanding
1.62
1.51125
0.54
0.50375
3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Continued)
Comprehensive income:
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) – derivative instruments:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period
24,021
5,216
12,026
1,709
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive
income
13,902
14,019
4,595
4,768
Other comprehensive income (loss)
37,923
19,235
16,621
6,477
Comprehensive income
600,727
517,532
240,467
150,673
Comprehensive (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
(23,848
(20,983
(9,519
(6,201
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests
576,879
496,549
230,948
144,472
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
9,054
6,447
Amortization of above/below market lease intangibles
3,294
2,729
Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt
21,360
2,018
Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments
13,893
14,010
Write-off of pursuit costs
3,125
2,329
(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities
2,993
2,153
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital
1,885
2,031
Net (gain) loss on sales of real estate properties
(256,834
(141,761
Net (gain) loss on sales of land parcels
(995
(19,170
Net (gain) loss on debt extinguishment
22,110
12,258
Compensation paid with Company Common Shares
22,270
19,999
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in other assets
(18,550
(23,024
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses
58,756
62,635
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable
11,097
11,865
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
1,190
(28,250
Increase (decrease) in security deposits
2,168
2,606
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,044,191
970,136
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in real estate – acquisitions
(708,092
(466,395
Investment in real estate – development/other
(101,573
(227,187
Capital expenditures to real estate
(138,119
(143,258
Non-real estate capital additions
(3,155
(776
Interest capitalized for real estate under development
(4,547
(23,164
Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net
691,526
350,000
(4,860
(5,324
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital
329
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
(268,820
(515,775
5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Debt financing costs
(4,355
(6,272
Mortgage notes payable, net:
Lump sum payoffs
(847,939
(493,420
Scheduled principal repayments
(4,938
(8,771
Net gain (loss) on debt extinguishment
(22,110
(12,258
Notes, net:
Proceeds
497,010
692,466
(394,077
Line of credit and commercial paper:
Line of credit proceeds
1,635,000
1,845,000
Line of credit repayments
(1,635,000
(1,845,000
Commercial paper proceeds
9,624,610
3,891,596
Commercial paper repayments
(9,425,000
(3,681,750
Proceeds from (payments on) settlement of derivative instruments
1,638
1,296
Proceeds from Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
3,074
2,963
Proceeds from exercise of options
6,000
12,967
Payment of offering costs
(27
(36
Other financing activities, net
(48
(40
Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
125
Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
1
Distributions:
Common Shares
(583,184
(554,267
Preferred Shares
Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
(21,040
(20,604
Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
(8,882
(6,873
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
(787,383
(579,273
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted deposits
(12,012
(124,912
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted deposits, beginning of period
100,762
219,088
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted deposits, end of period
88,750
94,176
46,565
47,611
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted deposits, end of period
6
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
268,966
257,805
Net cash paid for income and other taxes
934
964
Amortization of deferred financing costs:
1,809
1,810
4,197
1,943
3,048
2,694
Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt:
19,394
247
1,966
1,771
Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments:
(9
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Write-off of pursuit costs:
3,079
2,292
13
17
33
20
(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities:
1,973
1,076
1,020
1,077
Realized/unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments:
(24,021
(3,803
(1,491
(1,413
1,491
Investments in unconsolidated entities:
(3,180
(2,324
(1,680
(3,000
7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
PREFERRED SHARES
Balance, beginning of year
Balance, end of period
COMMON SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE
Exercise of share options
Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Share-based employee compensation expense:
Restricted shares
PAID IN CAPITAL
Common Share Issuance:
Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares
356
5,998
3,073
6,803
Share options
9,206
ESPP discount
604
Offering costs
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)
(533
Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
(14,361
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership
2,619
RETAINED EARNINGS
Common Share distributions
(596,735
Preferred Share distributions
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) – derivative instruments:
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income
8
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Issuance of restricted units to Noncontrolling Interests
Conversion of OP Units held by Noncontrolling Interests into OP Units held by
General Partner
(356
Equity compensation associated with Noncontrolling Interests
11,074
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
20,517
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests
(21,560
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
77
(2,619
PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
1,939
Contributions by Noncontrolling Interests
(8,930
9
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
Redeemable Limited Partners
Capital:
Partners’ Capital:
Preference Units
10,248,833
10,293,796
Limited Partners
Total partners’ capital
10,469,249
10,469,155
Total capital
Total liabilities and capital
(Amounts in thousands except per Unit data)
Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned
Properties
560,865
495,943
223,096
143,395
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME:
2,318
773
772
17,931
8,159
5,166
Net income available to Units
558,547
493,625
222,323
142,623
Earnings per Unit – basic:
Weighted average Units outstanding
380,791
379,716
380,912
379,906
Earnings per Unit – diluted:
Distributions declared per Unit outstanding
11
Comprehensive (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests –
598,788
515,178
239,717
149,872
12
Proceeds from EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Proceeds from exercise of EQR options
Contributions – Limited Partners
OP Units – General Partner
OP Units – Limited Partners
14
15
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
PREFERENCE UNITS
GENERAL PARTNER
OP Unit Issuance:
Conversion of OP Units held by Limited Partners into OP Units held by General Partner
Exercise of EQR share options
EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
EQR restricted shares
6,804
EQR share options
EQR ESPP discount
Net income available to Units – General Partner
OP Units – General Partner distributions
Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners
Adjustment for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership
LIMITED PARTNERS
Issuance of restricted units to Limited Partners
Equity compensation associated with Units – Limited Partners
Net income available to Units – Limited Partners
Units – Limited Partners distributions
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Limited Partners
16
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL (Continued)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS – PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
Business
Equity Residential (“EQR”) is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of rental apartment properties located in urban and high-density suburban markets, which is conducted on its behalf by ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”). EQR is a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993 and ERPOP is an Illinois limited partnership formed in May 1993. References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP. Unless otherwise indicated, the notes to consolidated financial statements apply to both the Company and the Operating Partnership.
EQR is the general partner of, and as of September 30, 2018 owned an approximate 96.3% ownership interest in, ERPOP. All of the Company’s property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR issues public equity from time to time, the net proceeds of which it is obligated to contribute to ERPOP, but does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company’s ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 306 properties located in 11 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 79,260 apartment units. The ownership breakdown includes (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):
Apartment Units
Wholly Owned Properties
286
74,618
Master-Leased Properties – Consolidated
162
Partially Owned Properties – Consolidated
3,535
Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated
945
306
79,260
Note: Effective February 1, 2018 and April 2, 2018, the Company took over management of two of its Master-Leased properties containing 94 apartment units and 597 apartment units located in Boston and Los Angeles, respectively.
2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not have an impact on net income previously reported. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.
In preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes 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 as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The balance sheets at December 31, 2017 have been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.
18
For further information, including definitions of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Income and Other Taxes
Due to the structure of EQR as a REIT and the nature of the operations of its operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the EQR level. In addition, ERPOP generally is not liable for federal income taxes as the partners recognize their proportionate share of income or loss in their tax returns; therefore no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the ERPOP level. Historically, the Company has generally only incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The Company has elected Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries and as a result, these entities will incur both federal and state income taxes on any taxable income of such entities after consideration of any net operating losses.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities were recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases in the comparable period. These assets and liabilities were measured using enacted tax rates for which the temporary differences were expected to be recovered or settled. The effects of changes in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities were recognized in earnings in the period enacted. The Company’s deferred tax assets were generally the result of tax affected suspended interest deductions, net operating losses, differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and the timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities.
In December 2017, the President signed into law H.R. 1, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act is not expected to have a material impact on our REIT or subsidiary entities, our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT or on our results of operations. However, the complete impact of the Tax Act is not yet fully known and there can be no assurances that it will have a neutral or favorable impact.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new leases standard which sets out principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessors and lessees). The new standard requires the following:
Lessors – Leases will be accounted for using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for operating, sales-type and financing leases, but aligned with the new revenue recognition standard. Lessors will be required to allocate lease payments to separate lease and non-lease components of each lease agreement, with the non-lease components evaluated under the new revenue recognition standard.
Lessees – Leases will be accounted for using a dual approach, classifying leases as either operating or finance based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. This classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease (for operating leases) or based on an effective interest method (for finance leases). A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on its balance sheet for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification as operating or finance leases. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases.
The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted, though the Company currently anticipates adopting the new standard on the effective date. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective method, which requires application of the new guidance at either the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented or as of the adoption date and provides for certain practical expedients, which the Company currently anticipates electing.
The Company is the lessor for its residential and retail/commercial leases and anticipates that these leases will continue to be accounted for as operating leases under the new standard. Therefore, the Company does not currently anticipate significant changes in the accounting for its lease revenues.
The Company is the lessee under various corporate office and ground leases, which are required to be recognized as right of use assets and related lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets upon adoption. The Company currently anticipates that its corporate office leases will continue to be accounted for as operating leases under the new standard. Based on its anticipated election of the practical expedients, the Company would not be required to reassess the classification of existing ground leases and therefore these leases would continue to be accounted for as operating leases. However, in the event we modify existing ground leases and/or
19
enter into new ground leases after adoption of the new standard, such leases will likely be classified as finance leases. The Company expects to record right of use assets and related lease liabilities to its opening balance sheet upon adoption of the new standard on January 1, 2019, which it currently estimates to be an amount not likely to exceed $300.0 million. The ultimate impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position will depend on our lease portfolio and other factors as of the adoption date, as we continue to evaluate the new leases standard.
In July 2018, the FASB issued an amendment to the new leases standard, which includes a practical expedient that provides lessors an option not to separate lease and non-lease components when certain criteria are met and instead account for those components as a single component under the new leases standard. The amendment also provides a transition option that permits the application of the new guidance as of the adoption date rather than to all periods presented. The Company anticipates electing the practical expedient to account for both its lease and non-lease components as a single component under the leases standard and electing the new transition option.
In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard which requires companies to adopt a new approach for estimating credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, such as trade and other receivables and loans. The standard will require entities to estimate a lifetime expected credit loss for most financial instruments, including trade receivables. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.
In August 2017, the FASB issued a final standard which makes changes to the hedge accounting model to enable entities to better portray their risk management activities in the financial statements. The new standard expands an entity’s ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components, reduces complexity in fair value hedges of interest rate risk and eases certain documentation and assessment requirements. The new standard also eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in the fair value of any hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged instrument. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard entitled Revenue from Contracts with Customers that superseded nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The new standard specifically excludes lease revenue. The new standard’s core principle is that a company recognizes revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Companies will likely need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under previous revenue recognition guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration, if any, to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. The new standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or prospectively with the cumulative effect, if any, recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company selected the modified retrospective transition method as of the date of adoption as required effective January 1, 2018. Approximately 94% of rental income consists of revenue from leasing arrangements, which is specifically excluded from the standard (included as leasing revenue in the table below). The Company analyzed its remaining revenue streams, inclusive of fee and asset management and gains and losses on sales, and concluded these revenue streams have the same timing and pattern of revenue recognition under the new guidance, and therefore the Company had no changes in revenue recognition with the adoption of the new standard. As such, adoption of the standard did not result in a cumulative adjustment recognized as of January 1, 2018, and the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, equity/capital or cash flows.
For the remaining approximately 6% of rental income that is subject to the new revenue recognition standard, the Company’s disaggregated revenue streams are disclosed in the table below for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018. These revenue streams have the same timing and pattern of revenue recognition across our reportable segments, with consistent allocations between the leasing and revenue recognition standards. The revenue streams and percentages are comparable with the percentage of rental income for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2017.
The following table presents the disaggregation of revenue streams of our rental income for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands):
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
Revenue Stream
Applicable Standard
Amount of
Rental Income
Percentage of
Leasing revenue
Leases
1,803,908
93.7
%
611,119
93.6
Utility recoveries (“RUBS”)
Revenue Recognition
46,752
2.4
15,817
Parking revenue
20,249
1.1
6,185
1.0
Other revenue
54,219
2.8
19,556
3.0
100.0
Additionally, as part of the new revenue recognition standard, the FASB issued amendments related to partial sales of real estate (see further discussion below). Adoption of the new partial sales standard did not result in a change of accounting for the Company related to its disposition process. We concluded that the Company’s typical dispositions will continue to meet the criteria for sale and associated profit recognition under both new standards.
In January 2016, the FASB issued a new standard which requires companies to measure all equity securities with readily determinable fair values at fair value on the balance sheet, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company adopted this new standard as required effective January 1, 2018 and it did not have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.
In August 2016 and October 2016, the FASB issued new standards to clarify how specific transactions are classified and presented on the statement of cash flows. Among other clarifications, the new standards specifically provide guidance for the following items within the statement of cash flows which have required significant judgment in the past:
Cash payments related to debt prepayments or extinguishment costs are to be classified within financing activities;
The portion of the cash payment made to settle a zero-coupon bond or a bond with an insignificant cash coupon attributable to accreted interest related to a debt discount is to be classified as a cash outflow within operating activities, and the portion attributable to the principal is to be classified within financing activities;
Insurance settlement proceeds are to be classified based on the nature of the loss;
Companies must elect to classify distributions received from equity method investees using either a cumulative earnings approach or a look-through approach and the election must be disclosed; and
Restricted cash will be included with cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are to be reconciled to the related line items on the balance sheet.
The new standards must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted the new standard in the fourth quarter of 2017 and will continue to apply the look-through approach for distributions received from equity method investees. While overall cash flows did not change, there are changes between cash flow classifications due primarily to the debt prepayment penalties that the Company has incurred in the comparative period. As of September 30, 2017, the following cash flows were reclassified (amounts in thousands):
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
As Originally
Presented
Reclassification
Adjustments
As Presented
Herein
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
4,939
(2,921
(Increase) decrease in deposits - restricted
788
(788
(Increase) decrease in mortgage deposits
1,447
(1,447
963,034
7,102
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
(Increase) decrease in deposits on real estate acquisitions
and investments, net
39,519
(39,519
(4,541
4,541
(480,797
(34,978
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Mortgage deposits
57,057
(57,057
Mortgage notes payable, net: Net gain (loss) on debt extinguishment
Line of credit and commercial paper: Commercial paper proceeds
3,888,675
2,921
Net cash (used for) financing activities
(512,879
(66,394
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
77,207
(adjustments for restricted deposits, beginning of period)
141,881
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
(adjustments for restricted deposits, end of period)
In January 2017, the FASB issued a new standard which clarified the definition of a business. The standard’s objective was to add additional guidance that assists companies in determining whether transactions should be accounted for as an asset acquisition or a business combination. The new standard first requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the set is not a business. If this threshold is not met, the entity next evaluates whether the set meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. Among other differences, transaction costs associated with asset acquisitions are capitalized while those associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred. In addition, purchase price in an asset acquisition is allocated on a relative fair value basis while in a business combination it is generally measured at fair value. The new standard will be applied prospectively to any transactions occurring within the period of adoption. The Company early adopted the new standard as allowed effective January 1, 2017. The Company anticipates that substantially all of its transactions will now be accounted for as asset acquisitions, which means transaction costs will largely be capitalized as noted above.
In February 2017, the FASB issued a new standard which clarifies the accounting treatment for partial sales of nonfinancial assets (i.e. real estate). The standard clarifies that partial sales transactions include contributions of nonfinancial assets to a joint venture or other noncontrolled investee. Companies must recognize a full gain or loss on transfers of nonfinancial assets to equity method investees. The standard requires companies to derecognize distinct nonfinancial assets or distinct in substance nonfinancial assets in partial sale transactions when it does not have a controlling financial interest in the legal entity that holds the asset and transfers control of the asset. Once the distinct nonfinancial asset is transferred, the company is required to measure any non-controlling interest it receives or retains at fair value and recognize a full gain or loss on the transaction. If a company transfers ownership interests in a consolidated subsidiary and continues to maintain a controlling financial interest, the company does not derecognize the assets or liabilities, and accounts for the transaction as an equity transaction and no gain or loss is recognized. The Company adopted this new standard concurrently with the new revenue recognition standard as required effective January 1, 2018. The Company has not had a partial sale of nonfinancial assets in the current or comparative periods, therefore the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.
3.
Equity, Capital and Other Interests
Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests of Equity Residential
The following tables present the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and “Units” (which
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includes OP Units and restricted units) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
Common Shares outstanding at January 1,
368,018,082
Common Shares Issued:
Conversion of OP Units
12,510
194,796
61,321
Restricted share grants, net
122,877
Common Shares outstanding at September 30,
368,409,586
Units
Units outstanding at January 1,
13,768,438
Restricted unit grants, net
267,074
Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares
(12,510
Units outstanding at September 30,
14,023,002
Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at September 30,
382,432,588
Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership
3.7
The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units, are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total plus the number of Common Shares. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.
The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging holder of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.
The Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares cannot be classified in permanent equity as it is not always completely within an issuer’s control to deliver registered shares. Therefore, settlement in cash is assumed and that responsibility for settlement in cash is deemed to fall to the Operating Partnership as the primary source of cash for EQR, resulting in presentation in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. The Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units that are classified in permanent equity at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
The carrying value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of September 30, 2018, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership have a redemption value of approximately $381.2 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange for the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.
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The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands):
Balance at January 1,
Change in market value
14,361
Change in carrying value
(77
Balance at September 30,
Net proceeds from EQR Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings are contributed by EQR to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the Preferred Shares issued in the equity offering). As a result, the net offering proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of ERPOP.
The Company’s declaration of trust authorizes it to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), with specific rights, preferences and other attributes as the Board of Trustees may determine, which may include preferences, powers and rights that are senior to the rights of holders of the Company’s Common Shares.
The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
Amounts in thousands
Annual
Call
Dividend Per
Date (1)
Share (2)
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;
100,000,000 shares authorized:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred;
liquidation value $50 per share; 745,600 shares issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
12/10/26
4.145
(1)
On or after the call date, redeemable preferred shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.
(2)
Dividends on Preferred Shares are payable quarterly.
24
Capital and Redeemable Limited Partners of ERP Operating Limited Partnership
The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Units and in the limited partners’ Units for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
General and Limited Partner Units
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,
381,786,520
Issued to General Partner:
EQR’s restricted share grants, net
Issued to Limited Partners:
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at September 30,
Limited Partner Units
Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,
Limited Partner restricted unit grants, net
Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common
Shares
Limited Partner Units outstanding at September 30,
Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating
Partnership
The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of September 30, 2018 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), Limited Partners may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Limited Partner Units (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Limited Partner Units in total in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total plus the number of General Partner Units. Net income is allocated to the Limited Partner Units based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.
The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Limited Partner Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Limited Partner Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging limited partner.
The Limited Partner Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Limited Partner Units are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Limited Partner Units”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares cannot be classified in permanent equity as it is not always completely within an issuer’s control to deliver registered shares. Therefore, settlement in cash is assumed and that responsibility for settlement in cash is deemed to fall to the Operating Partnership as the primary source of cash for EQR, resulting in presentation in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. The Redeemable Limited Partner Units are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Limited Partner Units that are classified in permanent equity at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
The carrying value of the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Limited Partner Units in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Limited Partner Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of September 30, 2018, the Redeemable Limited Partner Units have a redemption value of approximately $381.2 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange for the Redeemable Limited Partner Units.
25
The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands):
EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares) to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the preferred shares issued in the equity offering).
The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
Unit (2)
Preference Units:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units;
liquidation value $50 per unit; 745,600 units issued and
On or after the call date, redeemable preference units may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares.
Dividends on Preference Units are payable quarterly.
Other
In September 2009, the Company announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell Common Shares from time to time into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds from all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). The program currently has a maturity of June 2019. EQR has the authority to issue 13.0 million shares but has not issued any shares under this program since September 2012.
The Company may repurchase up to 13.0 million Common Shares under its share repurchase program. No shares were repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. As of September 30, 2018, EQR has remaining authorization to repurchase up to 13.0 million of its shares under the repurchase program.
26
4.
Real Estate and Lease Intangibles
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Company’s investment in real estate (at cost) as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands):
Depreciable property:
Buildings and improvements
18,174,939
17,743,042
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
1,684,794
1,548,961
In-Place lease intangibles
477,014
476,359
Projects under development:
34,689
43,226
Construction-in-progress
100,272
120,321
Land held for development:
61,038
62,538
26,297
36,425
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Company’s above and below market ground and retail lease intangibles as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands):
Description
Balance Sheet Location
Assets
Ground lease intangibles – below market
Other Assets
191,918
Retail lease intangibles – above market
1,260
Lease intangible assets
193,178
Accumulated amortization
(25,819
(22,434
Lease intangible assets, net
167,359
170,744
Liabilities
Ground lease intangibles – above market
Other Liabilities
2,400
Retail lease intangibles – below market
1,710
5,270
Lease intangible liabilities
4,110
7,670
(1,674
(5,143
Lease intangible liabilities, net
2,436
2,527
The following table provides a summary of the effect of the amortization for above and below market ground and retail lease intangibles on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Quarter Ended
Income Statement Location
Ground lease intangible amortization
Property and Maintenance
(3,348
(3,253
(1,116
(1,092
Retail lease intangible amortization
54
524
80
Total amortization of above/below
market lease intangibles
(3,294
(2,729
(1,098
(1,012
27
The following table provides a summary of the aggregate amortization for above and below market ground and retail lease intangibles for each of the next five years (amounts in thousands):
Remaining
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Ground lease intangibles
(1,115
(4,463
Retail lease intangibles
71
Total
(4,392
(4,436
(4,444
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company acquired the entire equity interest in the following from unaffiliated parties (purchase price in thousands):
Purchase Price
Rental Properties – Consolidated (1)
1,478
707,005
Purchase price includes an allocation of approximately $113.7 million to land and $594.4 million to depreciable property (inclusive of capitalized closing costs).
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company disposed of the following to unaffiliated parties (sales price in thousands):
Sales Price
Rental Properties – Consolidated
1,292
706,120
Land Parcels (one)
2,700
708,820
The Company recognized a net gain on sales of real estate properties of approximately $256.8 million and a net gain on sales of land parcels of approximately $1.0 million on the above sales.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded an approximate $0.7 million non-cash asset impairment charge on a property located in the San Francisco market due to physical property damage as a result of a fire at one of the buildings at the property.
5.
Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate
The Company has not entered into any separate agreements to acquire or dispose of rental properties or land parcels as of October 26, 2018.
6.
Investments in Partially Owned Entities
The Company has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties which are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting (unconsolidated).
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”)
In accordance with accounting standards for consolidation of VIEs, the Company consolidates ERPOP on EQR’s financial statements. As the sole general partner of ERPOP, EQR has exclusive control of ERPOP’s day-to-day management. The limited partners are not able to exercise substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, ERPOP qualifies as a VIE. EQR has a controlling financial interest in ERPOP and, thus, is ERPOP’s primary beneficiary. EQR has the power to direct the activities of ERPOP that most significantly impact ERPOP’s economic performance as well as the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from ERPOP that could potentially be significant to ERPOP.
The Company has various equity interests in certain joint ventures owning 17 properties containing 3,535 apartment units. The Company is the general partner or managing member of these joint ventures and is responsible for managing the operations and affairs
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of the joint ventures as well as making all decisions regarding the businesses of the joint ventures. The limited partners or non-managing members are not able to exercise substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, the joint ventures qualify as VIEs. The Company has a controlling financial interest in the VIEs and, thus, is the VIEs’ primary beneficiary. The Company has both the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance as well as the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. As a result, the joint ventures are required to be consolidated on the Company’s financial statements. The consolidated assets and liabilities related to the joint ventures were approximately $714.4 million and $315.6 million, respectively, at September 30, 2018 and approximately $518.9 million and $307.0 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
The following table and information summarizes the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting as the requirements for consolidation are not met, as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands except for ownership percentage):
Ownership Percentage
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities:
Wisconsin Place Developer (VIE) (1)
42,964
44,451
33.3%
Operating Properties (Non-VIE) (2)
10,745
12,367
20.0%
3,867
1,436
Varies
Represents an unconsolidated interest in an entity that owns the land underlying one of the consolidated joint venture properties noted above and owns and operates a related parking facility. The joint venture, as a limited partner, does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights in the entity. As a result, the entity qualifies as a VIE. The joint venture does not have a controlling financial interest in the VIE and is not the VIE’s primary beneficiary. The joint venture does not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance or the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As a result, the entity that owns the land and owns and operates the parking facility is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.
Includes two joint ventures under separate agreements with the same partner totaling 945 apartment units.
7.
Restricted Deposits
The following table presents the Company’s restricted deposits as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (amounts in thousands):
Mortgage escrow deposits:
600
845
Replacement reserves
8,478
8,347
Mortgage principal reserves/sinking funds
8,363
3,167
852
Mortgage escrow deposits
18,293
13,211
Restricted cash:
Earnest money on pending acquisitions
750
Restricted deposits on real estate investments
538
58
Resident security and utility deposits
35,379
35,183
1,545
913
Restricted cash
37,462
36,904
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8.
Debt
EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. EQR guarantees the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facility up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility. Weighted average interest rates noted below for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are net of the effect of any derivative instruments.
Mortgage Notes Payable
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had outstanding mortgage debt of approximately $2.8 billion.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company:
Repaid $550.0 million of 6.08% mortgage debt held in a Fannie Mae loan pool maturing in 2020 and incurred a prepayment penalty of approximately $22.1 million;
Repaid $43.7 million of conventional fixed-rate mortgage loans maturing in 2018;
Repaid $254.2 million of various tax-exempt mortgage bonds maturing in 2028 through 2042; and
Repaid $4.9 million of scheduled principal repayments on various mortgage debt.
The Company recorded $2.8 million of write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as additional interest expense related to debt extinguishment of mortgages. The Company also recorded $16.3 million of write-offs of net unamortized discounts during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as additional interest expense related to debt extinguishment of mortgages.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $440.9 million of secured debt subject to third party credit enhancement.
As of September 30, 2018, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding mortgage indebtedness were at various dates through May 28, 2061. At September 30, 2018, the interest rate range on the Company’s mortgage debt was 0.10% to 6.90%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s mortgage debt was 4.19%.
Notes
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $5.5 billion.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company issued $500.0 million of ten-year 3.50% unsecured notes, receiving net proceeds of approximately $497.0 million before underwriting fees, hedge termination costs and other expenses, at an all-in effective interest rate of 3.61%.
As of September 30, 2018, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding notes were at various dates through August 1, 2047. At September 30, 2018, the interest rate range on the Company’s notes before the effect of certain fair value hedges was 2.375% to 7.57%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s notes was 4.25%.
The Company’s unsecured public debt contains certain financial and operating covenants including, among other things, maintenance of certain financial ratios. The Company was in compliance with its unsecured public debt covenants for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Line of Credit and Commercial Paper
In November 2016, the Company replaced its existing $2.5 billion facility with a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing January 10, 2022. The Company has the ability to increase available borrowings by an additional $750.0 million by adding additional banks to the facility or obtaining the agreement of existing banks to increase their commitments. The interest rate on advances under the facility will generally be LIBOR plus a spread (currently 0.825%), or based on bids received from the lending group, and the Company pays an annual facility fee (currently 12.5 basis points). Both the spread and the facility fee are dependent on the credit rating of the Company’s long term debt.
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In February 2015, the Company entered into an unsecured commercial paper note program in the United States. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million under this program subject to market conditions. The notes will be sold under customary terms in the United States commercial paper note market and will rank pari passu with all of the Company’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. As of September 30, 2018, there was a balance of $499.4 million outstanding on the commercial paper program ($500.0 million in principal outstanding net of an unamortized discount of $0.6 million). The notes bear interest at various floating rates with a weighted average of 2.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and a weighted average maturity of 18 days as of September 30, 2018.
As of September 30, 2018, the amount available on the revolving credit facility was $1.49 billion (net of $6.7 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and net of $500.0 million in principal outstanding on the commercial paper program). During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the weighted average interest rate on the revolving credit facility was 2.65%.
On April 24, 2017, the Company executed a new letter of credit facility with a third party financial institution which is not backed by or collateralized by borrowings on the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2018, there was $9.0 million in letters of credit outstanding on this facility.
9.
Derivative and Other Fair Value Instruments
The valuation of financial instruments requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Company, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Company bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.
In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Company seeks to manage these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments. The Company may also use derivatives to manage commodity prices in the daily operations of the business.
A three-level valuation hierarchy exists for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The Company’s derivative positions are valued using models developed by the respective counterparty as well as models developed internally by the Company that use as their basis readily observable market parameters (such as forward yield curves and credit default swap data). Employee holdings other than Common Shares within the supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) are valued using quoted market prices for identical assets and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners are valued using the quoted market price of Common Shares. The fair values disclosed for mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its commercial paper and line of credit, if applicable) were calculated using indicative rates provided by lenders of similar loans in the case of mortgage notes payable and the private unsecured debt (including its commercial paper and line of credit, if applicable) and quoted market prices for each underlying issuance in the case of the public unsecured notes.
31
The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments (other than mortgage notes payable, unsecured notes, commercial paper, line of credit and derivative instruments), including cash and cash equivalents and other financial instruments, approximate their carrying or contract value. The following table provides a summary of the carrying and fair values for the Company’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its commercial paper and line of credit, if applicable) at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Carrying Value
Estimated Fair
Value (Level 2)
2,710,433
3,615,384
Unsecured debt, net
6,034,357
6,040,798
5,338,569
5,619,744
Total debt, net
8,823,793
8,751,231
8,957,291
9,235,128
The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated derivative instruments at September 30, 2018 (dollar amounts are in thousands):
Fair Value
Hedges (1)
Forward
Starting
Swaps (2)
Current Notional Balance
450,000
800,000
Lowest Interest Rate
2.375
2.1478
Highest Interest Rate
3.1163
Earliest Maturity Date
2028
Latest Maturity Date
2029
Fair Value Hedges – Converts outstanding fixed rate unsecured notes ($450.0 million 2.375% notes due July 1, 2019) to a floating interest rate of 90-Day LIBOR plus 0.61%.
Forward Starting Swaps – Designed to partially fix interest rates in advance of planned future debt issuances. Of the $800.0 million notional balance, $300.0 million of these swaps have mandatory counterparty terminations in 2019 and are targeted for certain 2018 debt issuances while $500.0 million of these swaps have mandatory counterparty terminations in 2020 and are targeted for certain 2019 debt issuances.
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The following tables provide a summary of the fair value measurements for each major category of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the location within the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Balance Sheet
Location
9/30/2018
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets/Liabilities
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Derivatives designated as hedging
instruments:
Interest Rate Contracts:
Forward Starting Swaps
27,526
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
144,561
172,087
Fair Value Hedges
3,088
147,649
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests –
Operating Partnership/Redeemable
Mezzanine
12/31/2017
Forward Staring Swaps
5,143
140,159
145,302
1,597
141,756
The following tables provide a summary of the effect of fair value hedges on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Type of Fair Value Hedge
Location of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivative
Hedged Item
Income Statement
Income
on Hedged Item
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest Rate Swaps
Interest expense
Fixed rate debt
September 30, 2017
of Hedged Item
1,413
The following tables provide a summary of the effect of cash flow hedges on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Effective Portion
Ineffective Portion
Type of Cash Flow Hedge
Recognized in OCI
on Derivative
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
Accumulated
OCI into Income
(13,902
N/A
(14,019
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were approximately $50.7 million and $88.6 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), respectively, related to derivative instruments. Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at September 30, 2018, the Company may recognize an estimated $19.8 million of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending September 30, 2019.
In February 2018, the Company received approximately $1.6 million to settle two forward starting swaps in conjunction with the issuance of $500.0 million of ten-year unsecured public notes. The entire $1.6 million was initially deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and will be recognized as a decrease to interest expense over the ten-year term of the notes.
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10.
Earning Per Share and Earnings Per Unit
Equity Residential
The following tables set forth the computation of net income per share – basic and net income per share – diluted for the Company (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):
Numerator for net income per share – basic:
Allocation to Noncontrolling Interests – Operating
Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling
Interests – Partially Owned Properties
Numerator for net income per share – basic
Numerator for net income per share – diluted:
Numerator for net income per share – diluted
Denominator for net income per share – basic and diluted:
Denominator for net income per share – basic
Effect of dilutive securities:
OP Units
12,871
12,907
12,884
12,910
Long-term compensation shares/units
2,642
2,924
2,972
3,039
Denominator for net income per share – diluted
Net income per share – basic
Net income per share – diluted
ERP Operating Limited Partnership
The following tables set forth the computation of net income per Unit – basic and net income per Unit – diluted for the Operating Partnership (amounts in thousands except per Unit amounts):
Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:
Net (income) loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially
Owned Properties
Allocation to Preference Units
Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted
Denominator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:
Denominator for net income per Unit – basic
Dilution for Units issuable upon assumed exercise/vesting
of the Company’s long-term compensation shares/units
Denominator for net income per Unit – diluted
Net income per Unit – basic
Net income per Unit – diluted
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11.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws. Compliance by the Company with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Company. However, the Company cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on its current properties or on properties that it may acquire in the future. As of September 30, 2018, the Company does have environmental reserves totaling approximately $5.8 million related to three of its properties.
The Company had established a reserve related to various litigation matters associated with its Massachusetts properties and periodically assessed the adequacy of the reserve and made adjustments as necessary. As of September 30, 2018, the matters were resolved for a total payout of $0.9 million and no reserve remains outstanding.
The Company does not believe there is any litigation pending or threatened against it that, individually or in the aggregate, may reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company has four wholly owned projects totaling 912 apartment units in various stages of development with remaining commitments to fund of approximately $444.0 million and estimated completion dates ranging through September 30, 2021, as well as other completed development projects that are in various stages of lease-up or are stabilized.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company has two unconsolidated operating properties that are owned with the same third party joint venture partner under separate agreements. The joint venture agreements with this partner are primarily deal-specific regarding profit-sharing, equity contributions, returns on investment, buy-sell agreements and other customary provisions. The buy-sell arrangements contain provisions that provide the right, but not the obligation, for the Company to acquire the partner’s interests or sell its interests at any time following the occurrence of certain pre-defined events described in the joint venture agreements.
12.
Reportable Segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses and about which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a recurring basis at least quarterly.
The Company’s primary business is the acquisition, development and management of multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. The chief operating decision maker evaluates the Company’s operating performance geographically by market and both on a same store and non-same store basis. The Company’s geographic same store operating segments located in urban and high-density suburban markets represent its reportable segments (the two Denver properties acquired in the third quarter of 2018 are currently included in non-same store). The Company’s operating segments located in its other markets (Phoenix) that are not material have also been included in the tables presented below.
The Company’s fee and asset management and development activities are other business activities that do not constitute an operating segment and as such, have been aggregated in the “Other” category in the tables presented below.
All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues during the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The primary financial measure for the Company’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense and 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense (all as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income). The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of its operating performance because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company’s apartment properties. Revenues for all leases are reflected on a straight-line basis in accordance with GAAP for the current and comparable periods.
36
The following table presents a reconciliation of NOI from our rental real estate for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively (amounts in thousands):
Property and maintenance expense
(322,487
(306,645
(110,541
(104,721
Real estate taxes and insurance expense
(268,784
(253,318
(87,388
(84,087
Total operating expenses
(591,271
(559,963
(197,929
(188,808
Net operating income
1,333,857
1,280,207
454,748
435,143
The following tables present NOI for each segment from our rental real estate for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as well as total assets and capital expenditures at September 30, 2018 (amounts in thousands):
Rental
Operating
Expenses
NOI
Same store (1)
Los Angeles
310,972
89,211
221,761
300,702
85,972
214,730
Orange County
68,513
16,706
51,807
66,082
16,330
49,752
San Diego
68,640
17,984
50,656
66,052
17,415
48,637
Subtotal - Southern California
448,125
123,901
324,224
432,836
119,717
313,119
San Francisco
331,067
80,377
250,690
321,894
81,942
239,952
Washington D.C.
325,480
101,620
223,860
322,310
98,046
224,264
New York
343,239
135,700
207,539
341,295
128,076
213,219
Boston
171,042
47,666
123,376
167,010
45,871
121,139
Seattle
147,311
41,762
105,549
142,564
39,686
102,878
Other Markets
1,453
506
947
1,384
498
886
Total same store
1,767,717
531,532
1,236,185
1,729,293
513,836
1,215,457
Non-same store/other (2) (3)
Non-same store
134,308
45,997
88,311
60,446
21,096
39,350
Other (3)
23,103
13,742
9,361
50,431
25,031
25,400
Total non-same store/other
157,411
59,739
97,672
110,877
46,127
64,750
Totals
591,271
559,963
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, same store primarily includes all properties acquired or completed that were stabilized prior to January 1, 2017, less properties subsequently sold, which represented 71,721 apartment units.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2017, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2017.
(3)
Other includes development, other corporate operations and operations prior to disposition for properties sold.
37
Quarter Ended September 30, 2017
108,050
30,848
77,202
104,190
29,470
74,720
23,182
5,615
17,567
22,427
5,491
16,936
23,215
6,233
16,982
22,432
5,881
16,551
154,447
42,696
111,751
149,049
40,842
108,207
116,937
29,271
87,666
113,154
29,527
83,627
109,637
34,722
74,915
108,764
33,474
75,290
115,757
45,156
70,601
114,799
42,620
72,179
57,531
16,073
41,458
56,022
15,726
40,296
50,618
14,137
36,481
49,467
13,449
36,018
485
165
320
459
158
301
605,412
182,220
423,192
591,714
175,796
415,918
42,702
13,605
29,097
18,252
6,870
11,382
4,563
2,104
2,459
13,985
6,142
7,843
47,265
15,709
31,556
32,237
13,012
19,225
197,929
188,808
For the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, same store primarily includes all properties acquired or completed that were stabilized prior to July 1, 2017, less properties subsequently sold, which represented 72,561 apartment units.
For the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after July 1, 2017, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of July 1, 2017.
Total Assets
Capital Expenditures
2,631,459
21,438
321,551
6,327
410,450
3,665
3,363,460
31,430
2,989,059
34,617
3,734,007
21,722
4,108,581
17,217
1,599,983
16,477
1,287,733
12,085
12,820
135
17,095,643
133,683
2,884,686
4,171
561,821
265
3,446,507
4,436
138,119
Same store primarily includes all properties acquired or completed that were stabilized prior to January 1, 2017, less properties subsequently sold, which represented 71,721 apartment units.
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Non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2017, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2017.
Other includes development, other corporate operations and capital expenditures for properties sold.
13.
Subsequent Events
Subsequent to September 30, 2018, the Company:
Repaid $500.0 million of 5.19% mortgage debt held in a Freddie Mac loan pool at par prior to the October 1, 2019 maturity date; and
Reissued $96.9 million of floating rate tax-exempt mortgage bonds which mature on April 1, 2042, remarket weekly and are guaranteed by ERPOP.
39
For further information including definitions for capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made by management. While the Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such information is inherently subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:
We intend to actively acquire, develop and renovate multifamily properties for rental operations as market conditions dictate. We may also acquire multifamily properties that are unoccupied or in the early stages of lease-up. We may be unable to lease these apartment properties on schedule, resulting in decreases in expected rental revenues and/or lower yields due to lower occupancy and rental rates as well as higher than expected concessions or higher than expected operating expenses. We may not be able to achieve rents that are consistent with expectations for acquired, developed or renovated properties. We may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquired property up to standards established for its intended market position, to complete a development property or to complete a renovation. Additionally, we expect that other real estate investors with capital will compete with us for attractive investment opportunities or may also develop properties in markets where we focus our development and acquisition efforts. This competition (or lack thereof) may increase (or depress) prices for multifamily properties. We may not be in a position or have the opportunity in the future to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms. We have acquired in the past and intend to continue to pursue the acquisition of properties, including large portfolios of properties, that could increase our size and result in alterations to our capital structure. The total number of apartment units under development, costs of development and estimated completion dates are subject to uncertainties arising from changing economic conditions (such as the cost of labor and construction materials), competition, tariffs and other trade disruptions and local government regulation;
Debt financing and other capital required by the Company may not be available or may only be available on adverse terms;
Labor and materials required for maintenance, repair, capital expenditure or development may be more expensive than anticipated;
Occupancy levels and market rents may be adversely affected by national and local political, economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction and excess inventory of multifamily and owned housing/ condominiums, increasing portions of owned housing/condominium stock being converted to rental use, rental housing subsidized by the government, other government programs that favor single family rental housing or owner occupied housing over multifamily rental housing, slow or negative employment growth and household formation, the availability of low-interest mortgages or the availability of mortgages requiring little or no down payment for single family home buyers, changes in social preferences, governmental regulations including rent control or rent stabilization laws and regulations (California will have a ballot measure in November 2018 that would seek to repeal an existing state law that limits the extent to which local governments can enact rent control) and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Company’s control; and
Additional factors as discussed in Part I of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly those under “Item 1A Risk Factors”.
Forward-looking statements and related uncertainties are also included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
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Overview
Equity Residential (“EQR”) is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of rental apartment properties located in urban and high-density suburban markets, which is conducted on its behalf by ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”). EQR is a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993 and ERPOP is an Illinois limited partnership formed in May 1993. References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP.
EQR is the general partner of, and as of September 30, 2018 owned an approximate 96.3% ownership interest in, ERPOP. All of the Company’s property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR issues equity from time to time, the net proceeds of which it is obligated to contribute to ERPOP, but does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company’s ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity.
The Company’s corporate headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois and the Company also operates property management offices in each of its markets. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had approximately 2,700 employees who provided real estate operations, leasing, legal, financial, accounting, acquisition, disposition, development and other support functions.
Available Information
You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to any of those reports we file with the SEC free of charge on our website, www.equityapartments.com. These reports are made available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the SEC. The information contained on our website, including any information referred to in this report as being available on our website, is not a part of or incorporated into this report.
Business Objectives and Operating and Investing Strategies
The Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s business objectives and operating and investing strategies have not changed materially from the information included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. As an extension of that strategy, the Company began in the third quarter to actively invest in rental apartment properties in urban and high-density suburban areas of Denver, a market that shares many characteristics with the Company’s other markets (as noted below, the Company acquired two properties in Denver in the third quarter of 2018). We continue to expect the acquisitions will be funded with proceeds from dispositions of properties in other markets.
Results of Operations
2018 Transactions
In conjunction with our business objectives and operating strategy, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 the Company continued to invest in apartment properties located primarily in our urban and high-density suburban markets and sell apartment properties located primarily in the less dense portion of suburban markets and/or properties that we believe will have inferior long-term returns, as follows:
Acquired five consolidated apartment properties, located in the Seattle, New York, Denver (two properties) and Boston markets, consisting of 1,461 apartment units, along with the remaining 17 apartment units of an existing consolidated apartment property located in the Washington D.C. market, for approximately $707.0 million at a weighted average Acquisition Cap Rate (see Definitions section below) of 4.4%;
Sold five consolidated apartment properties, located in the Seattle, Los Angeles and New York (three properties) markets, consisting of 1,292 apartment units for approximately $706.1 million at a weighted average Disposition Yield (see Definitions section below) of 4.1% and generating an Unlevered IRR (see Definitions section below) of 8.7%;
Sold one land parcel located in the Washington D.C. market for a sale price of approximately $2.7 million;
Started construction on one project, located in the Boston market, consisting of 469 apartment units totaling approximately $409.7 million of expected development costs; and
41
Substantially completed construction on one project, located in the San Francisco market, consisting of 449 apartment units totaling approximately $322.2 million of development costs at a Development Yield (see Definitions section below) of 5.1% and stabilized three projects, located in the Washington D.C., San Francisco and Seattle markets, consisting of 1,021 apartment units totaling approximately $620.4 million of development costs at a weighted average Development Yield of 5.1%.
See also Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s real estate transactions.
Same Store Results
Properties that the Company owned and were stabilized (see definition below) for all of both of the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (the “Nine-Month 2018 Same Store Properties”), which represented 71,721 apartment units, and properties that the Company owned and were stabilized for all of both of the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (the “Third Quarter 2018 Same Store Properties”), which represented 72,561 apartment units, impacted the Company’s results of operations. Both the Nine-Month 2018 Same Store Properties and the Third Quarter 2018 Same Store Properties are discussed in the following paragraphs.
The Company’s primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental income less direct property operating expenses (including real estate taxes and insurance). The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of its operating performance because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company’s apartment properties.
The following tables provide a rollforward of the apartment units included in Same Store Properties and a reconciliation of apartment units included in Same Store Properties to those included in Total Properties for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018:
Apartment
Same Store Properties at Beginning of Period
275
70,117
284
72,629
2016 acquisitions
573
2017 acquisitions
136
2018 dispositions
(5
(1,292
(1
(506
Properties added back to same store (1)
285
Lease-up properties stabilized
Same Store Properties at September 30, 2018
281
71,721
72,561
Same Store
Non-Same Store:
2018 acquisitions
1,461
2017 acquisitions - stabilized
437
2017 acquisitions - not stabilized
510
Properties removed from same store (1)
Master-Leased properties (2)
Lease-up properties not yet stabilized (3)
3,667
3,319
Total Non-Same Store
6,594
5,754
Unconsolidated properties
Total Properties and Apartment Units
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Note: Properties are considered “stabilized” when they have achieved 90% occupancy for three consecutive months. Properties are included in Same Store when they are stabilized for all of the current and comparable periods presented.
Note: During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company closed down a garage (CRP Sports Garage in Boston, Massachusetts) and began its demolition as it starts the development of West End Tower on the site. As a result, the garage was removed from the same store portfolio, which had no impact on the unit or property count for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018.
Consists of two properties which were removed from the same store portfolio as discussed further below:
a.
Playa Pacifica in Hermosa Beach, California containing 285 apartment units was removed from the same store portfolio in the first quarter of 2015 due to a major renovation in which significant portions of the property were taken offline for extended time periods. As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, Playa Pacifica had an occupancy of 95.8% and 95.8%, respectively. Playa Pacifica remains in non-same store for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as the property did not achieve greater than 90% occupancy for all of the current and comparable periods presented. Playa Pacifica is included in the same store portfolio for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 as the property was stabilized for all of the current and comparable periods presented.
b.
Acton Courtyard in Berkeley, California containing 71 apartment units was removed from the same store portfolio in the third quarter of 2016 due to an affordable housing dispute which required significant portions of the property to be vacant for an extended re-leasing period. As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, Acton Courtyard had an occupancy of 84.5% and 93.0%, respectively. Acton Courtyard remains in non-same store for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as the property did not achieve greater than 90% occupancy for all of the current and comparable periods presented. Acton Courtyard is included in the same store portfolio for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 as the property was stabilized for all of the current and comparable periods presented.
Consists of one property containing 162 apartment units that is wholly owned by the Company where the entire project is master leased to a third party corporate housing provider. Effective February 1, 2018, the Company took over management of one of its other master-leased properties containing 94 apartment units located in the Boston market. Also, effective April 2, 2018, the Company took over management of one of its other master-leased properties containing 597 apartment units located in the Los Angeles market.
Consists of properties in various stages of lease-up and properties where lease-up has been completed but the properties were not stabilized for the comparable periods presented. Also includes the two master-leased properties noted above.
The following table provides comparative same store results and statistics for the Nine-Month 2018 Same Store Properties:
September YTD 2018 vs. September YTD 2017
Same Store Results/Statistics for 71,721 Same Store Apartment Units
$ in thousands (except for Average Rental Rate)
Results
Statistics
Revenues
Average
Rate (1)
Physical
Occupancy (2)
Turnover (3)
YTD 2018
2,739
96.2
40.5
YTD 2017
2,687
95.9
42.2
Change
38,424
17,696
20,728
52
0.3
(1.7
)%
2.2
3.4
1.7
1.9
Note: Same store revenues for all leases are reflected on a straight line basis in accordance with GAAP for the current and comparable periods.
Average Rental Rate – Total residential rental revenues reflected on a straight-line basis in accordance with GAAP divided by the weighted average occupied apartment units for the reporting period presented.
Physical Occupancy – The weighted average occupied apartment units for the reporting period divided by the average of total apartment units available for rent for the reporting period.
Turnover – Total residential move-outs (including inter-property and intra-property transfers) divided by total residential apartment units.
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The following table provides comparative same store operating expenses for the Nine-Month 2018 Same Store Properties:
Same Store Operating Expenses for 71,721 Same Store Apartment Units
$ in thousands
% of Actual
Actual
Real estate taxes
224,909
216,000
8,909
4.1
42.3
On-site payroll (1)
116,961
114,010
2,951
2.6
22.0
Utilities (2)
71,896
68,942
2,954
4.3
13.5
Repairs and maintenance (3)
68,619
65,498
3,121
4.8
12.9
Insurance
13,704
13,019
685
5.3
Leasing and advertising
7,373
7,353
1.4
Other on-site operating expenses (4)
28,070
29,014
(944
(3.3
Same store operating expenses
On-site payroll – Includes payroll and related expenses for on-site personnel including property managers, leasing consultants and maintenance staff.
Utilities – Represents gross expenses prior to any recoveries under the Resident Utility Billing System (“RUBS”). Recoveries are reflected in rental income.
Repairs and maintenance – Includes general maintenance costs, apartment unit turnover costs including interior painting, routine landscaping, security, exterminating, fire protection, snow removal, elevator, roof and parking lot repairs and other miscellaneous building repair and maintenance costs.
(4)
Other on-site operating expenses – Includes ground lease costs and administrative costs such as office supplies, telephone and data charges and association and business licensing fees.
The following tables present reconciliations of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations to NOI, along with rental income, operating expenses and NOI per the consolidated statements of operations allocated between same store and non-same store results (amounts in thousands):
Adjustments:
Fee and asset management revenue
(563
(532
Total NOI
Rental income:
Same store
Non-same store/other
Total rental income
Operating expenses:
NOI:
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For properties that the Company acquired or completed that were stabilized prior to January 1, 2017 and that the Company expects to continue to own through December 31, 2018, the Company anticipates the following same store results for the full year ending December 31, 2018, which assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward looking:
2018 Same Store Assumptions
Revised Full Year
Previous Full Year
Physical Occupancy
96.2%
96.1%
Revenue change
2.3%
1.9% to 2.3%
Expense change
3.7%
3.5% to 4.0%
NOI change
1.7%
1.0% to 1.8%
Same store revenues increased 2.2% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which was at the higher end of our expectations, due to gains in occupancy of 0.3%, continued low turnover and strong renewals. The Company now anticipates full year 2018 same store revenue growth of approximately 2.3% as compared to the guidance range of 1.9% to 2.3% that was provided in July 2018. The Company’s primary focus in 2018 is to continue providing exceptional customer service in order to retain existing residents to drive strong occupancy and renewal rate growth, which came in at 4.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017.
Washington D.C. continues to perform on target due to high occupancy rates and job growth leading to absorption of substantial new supply in the market. Same store revenues increased 1.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which was slightly below our full year expectations. Occupancy of 96.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was higher than at the same time period last year. We continue to expect same store revenue growth of approximately 1.2% in this market in 2018, as we expect improved results in the fourth quarter.
In the New York market, we anticipated that elevated deliveries of new luxury supply would have an impact on our ability to raise rents and would require us to issue meaningful rent concessions. While we were impacted by new supply, stronger demand for our well-located properties led to increased same store occupancy levels and fewer rent concessions in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 than we expected. As a result, same store revenues increased 0.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, putting the market on track to exceed our most recent full year expectation of 0.2% provided in July 2018 for this market. These strong demand conditions have led to higher occupancy and renewal rates, leading us to revise our expectation of same store revenue growth to approximately 0.7% for full year 2018.
Boston continues to steadily absorb new supply as a result of strong job growth in the business services sector. Same store revenues increased 2.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which is trending above our most recent full year expectation due to stronger base rent growth and renewal increases. With Boston’s continued ability to absorb new supply and easing near-term supply pressure, we now expect to produce full year same store revenue growth of approximately 2.4% in this market in 2018, which is better than our most recent expectation of 2.1% provided in July 2018.
We have a continued cautious outlook for Seattle as the market decelerates as anticipated due to significant supply. Same store revenues increased 3.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which made it one of our strongest performing markets. We do expect our ability to raise rents to continue to be muted, however, from elevated new supply. We continue to expect Seattle to produce same store revenue growth of approximately 3.0% in 2018, which is consistent with our most recent expectations provided in July 2018.
San Francisco continues to perform better than expected as a result of strong demand driving occupancy, new lease growth and renewal rates. The market continues to show positive trends and is producing wage growth driven by technology company expansions and investments. As a result, same store revenues increased 2.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. We expect to produce same store revenue growth of approximately 2.9% in this market in 2018, which is consistent with our most recent expectations provided in July 2018.
Los Angeles continues to experience new supply, but the impact of this supply has been somewhat delayed due to labor shortages pushing deliveries of new units into 2019. Strong demand and, to some extent, these delays in deliveries have led to occupancy, renewals and new lease rates that exceeded our original expectations. Same store revenues increased 3.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which was consistent with our most recent full year expectations. Residential-only same store revenues increased 3.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, while our reported revenue increase of 3.4% includes the impact of a negative, one-time non-residential income adjustment. We expect to produce same store revenue growth of approximately 3.6% in this market in 2018, which is better than our most recent expectation of 3.4% provided in July 2018.
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During the first half of the year, Orange County experienced pressure on average rental rates and occupancy due to supply within the Irvine area. However, demand and occupancy remain strong and we expect to produce some of our best revenue results in this market. Same store revenues increased 3.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which was slightly higher than our most recent full year expectations. We expect to produce same store revenue growth of approximately 3.6% in this market in 2018, which is slightly higher than our most recent expectation of 3.5% provided in July 2018.
In the San Diego market, we experienced supply pressure in the downtown area, but military spending remains strong. Same store revenues increased 3.9% in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. We expect to produce same store revenue growth of approximately 4.0% in this market in 2018, which is consistent with our most recent expectation provided in July 2018.
Same store expenses increased 3.4% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. The Company now anticipates that full year 2018 same store expenses will increase 3.7% as compared to the most recent guidance range of 3.5% to 4.0% that was provided in July 2018, primarily due to the following items:
Real estate taxes increased 4.1% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which is at the low end of our most recent full year expectations, due primarily to better than anticipated appeal results in California. Real estate taxes are estimated to increase approximately 4.0% for the full year 2018 as compared to 2017, which is at the low end of our most recent expectation of 4.0% to 4.5% provided in July 2018.
Payroll costs increased 2.6% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, which is trending lower than our most recent full year expectations of a 3.0% to 4.0% increase, primarily due to a reduction in medical reserve expenses in the comparable period. Payroll costs are now estimated to increase around 3.5% for the full year 2018 as compared to 2017, which is consistent with our most recent expectation provided in July 2018 of a 3.0% to 4.0% increase due to continued wage pressures, particularly with maintenance staff.
Utilities increased 4.3% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the same period in 2017, primarily due to increases in the commodity cost for electricity, natural gas and heating oil after enjoying several years of declining rates, as well as adverse winter weather in the Northeast in the first quarter of 2018. Utilities are now estimated to increase approximately 4.7% for the full year 2018 as compared to 2017, which is an increase to the most recent guidance provided in July 2018 of 4.0%.
Same store NOI increased 1.7% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which was at the higher end of our most recent expectation provided in July 2018. The Company now anticipates full year 2018 same store NOI growth of approximately 1.7% as compared to the guidance range of 1.0% to 1.8% that was provided in July 2018, as a result of the above same store revenue and expense expectations.
See also Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s segment disclosures.
Non-Same Store/Other Results
Non-same store/other NOI results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased approximately $32.9 million compared to the same period of 2017 and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar years 2017 and 2018, operations from the Company’s development properties and operations prior to disposition from 2017 and 2018 sold properties. This difference is due primarily to:
A positive impact of higher NOI from development and newly stabilized development properties in lease-up of $29.0 million;
A positive impact of higher NOI from properties acquired in 2017 and 2018 of $20.2 million;
A positive impact of higher NOI from other non-same store properties (including one current and two former master leased properties) of $1.3 million; and
A negative impact of lost NOI from 2017 and 2018 dispositions of $21.8 million.
The Company’s guidance assumes consolidated rental acquisitions of $707.0 million (all of which occurred already) and consolidated rental dispositions of $706.1 million (all of which occurred already) and expects that the Acquisition Cap Rate will be 0.30% higher than the Disposition Yield for the full year ending December 31, 2018. The Company budgeted one development start
46
during the year ending December 31, 2018, which started in the second quarter of 2018. We currently budget spending approximately $125.0 million on development costs during the year ending December 31, 2018, primarily for properties currently under construction including the one project started in 2018. We assume that this capital will be primarily sourced with excess operating cash flow, future debt offerings and borrowings on our revolving credit facility and/or commercial paper program. These 2018 assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.
Comparison of the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018 to the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2017
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported diluted earnings per share/unit of $1.46 compared to $1.29 per share/unit in the same period of 2017. The difference is primarily due to approximately $0.14 per share/unit in higher property NOI and $0.30 per share/unit in higher gains on property sales in 2018 as compared to 2017, partially offset by $0.13 per share/unit in higher debt extinguishment costs and lower non-operating asset gains on sale and $0.10 per share/unit in higher depreciation expense in 2018 as compared to 2017, as discussed below. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported diluted earnings per share/unit of $0.58 compared to $0.37 per share/unit in the same period of 2017. The difference is primarily due to approximately $0.26 per share/unit in higher gains on property sales and $0.04 per share/unit in higher property NOI in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to 2017, partially offset by $0.04 per share/unit of higher debt extinguishment costs and $0.03 per share/unit of higher depreciation expense in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to the same period of 2017, as discussed below.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, consolidated rental income increased 4.6%, consolidated operating expenses (comprised of property and maintenance and real estate taxes and insurance) increased 5.6% and consolidated NOI increased 4.2% when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in NOI is primarily a result of the Company’s improved NOI from same store and lease-up properties. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, consolidated rental income increased 4.6%, consolidated operating expenses (compromised of property and maintenance and real estate taxes and insurance) increased 4.8% and consolidated NOI increased 4.5% when compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The increase in NOI is primarily a result of the Company’s improved NOI from same store and lease-up properties.
Property management expenses include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Company’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies. These expenses increased approximately $4.5 million or 6.9% and approximately $1.4 million or 6.6% for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. These increases are primarily attributable to increases in payroll-related costs and legal and professional fees, partially offset by decreases in education/conference costs. The Company anticipates that property management expenses will approximate $91.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2018.
General and administrative expenses, which include corporate operating expenses, increased approximately $1.1 million or 2.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in payroll-related costs. The Company anticipates that general and administrative expenses will approximate $54.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2018.
Depreciation expense, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased approximately $40.9 million or 7.5% and approximately $10.5 million or 5.7% for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods, primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on properties acquired in 2017 and 2018 and development properties placed in service during 2017 and 2018.
Interest and other income increased approximately $9.2 million and $3.9 million for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year periods, primarily due to an $8.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively, increase in insurance/litigation settlement proceeds during 2018 compared to the prior year periods. The Company anticipates that interest and other income will approximate $1.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2018, excluding certain non-comparable insurance/litigation settlement proceeds.
Other expenses increased approximately $11.7 million and $6.6 million for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods, primarily due to an increase in expenses related to insurance, litigation and environmental settlements and advocacy contributions in 2018 as compared to 2017.
Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing costs, increased approximately $35.5 million or 12.0% and approximately $21.3 million or 22.8% for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The increase is due to $29.4 million and $18.3 million, respectively, in higher debt extinguishment costs for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year periods, as well as lower capitalized interest due to the Company’s decline in development activity for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 4.36% as
47
compared to 4.47% for the prior year period. The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 4.30% as compared to 4.35% for the prior year period. The Company capitalized interest of approximately $4.5 million and $23.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.6 million and $6.6 million during the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company anticipates that interest expense, excluding debt extinguishment costs/prepayment penalties, will approximate $374.0 million to $378.3 million and capitalized interest will approximate $6.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2018.
The 2018 guidance/projections provided above are based on current projections and are forward-looking.
Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities increased approximately $0.8 million and approximately $0.6 million for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. The increases are primarily due to a trailing gain on the liquidation of the Archstone Germany portfolio and a trailing gain on the sale of a property interest by the Archstone residual joint venture in the third quarter of 2017, neither of which reoccurred in the current year.
Net gain on sales of real estate properties increased approximately $115.1 million or 81.2% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period, primarily as a result of the sale of five consolidated apartment properties for a sales price of approximately $706.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to four consolidated apartment properties for a sales price of approximately $319.7 million sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, all of which did not meet the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. Net gain on sales of real estate properties increased approximately $97.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to the prior year period as a result of the sale of one consolidated property for a sales price of approximately $416.1 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the sale of one consolidated property for a sales price of approximately $53.0 million in the prior year period.
Net gain on sales of land parcels decreased approximately $18.2 million or 94.8% during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the prior year period due to the gain on sale of one land parcel with a lower basis in the prior year compared to the gain on sale of one land parcel in the current year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Short-Term Liquidity and Cash Proceeds
The Company generally expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility and commercial paper program. Under normal operating conditions, the Company considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating requirements and payments of distributions.
As of January 1, 2018, the Company had approximately $50.6 million of cash and cash equivalents, approximately $50.1 million of restricted deposits and the amount available on its revolving credit facility was $1.69 billion. After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, at September 30, 2018, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance was approximately $33.0 million, the restricted deposits balance was approximately $55.8 million and the amount available on its revolving credit facility was $1.49 billion.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company generated proceeds from various transactions, which included the following:
Disposed of five consolidated rental properties and one land parcel receiving net proceeds of approximately $691.5 million;
Issued $500.0 million of ten-year 3.50% unsecured notes, receiving net proceeds of approximately $497.0 million before underwriting fees, hedge termination settlements and other expenses; and
Issued approximately 0.3 million Common Shares related to share option exercises and ESPP purchases and received net proceeds of $9.1 million, which were contributed to the capital of the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis).
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the above proceeds along with net cash flow from operations and borrowings from the Company’s revolving line of credit and commercial paper program were primarily utilized to:
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Acquire five consolidated rental properties for approximately $708.1 million in cash;
Invest $101.6 million primarily in development projects; and
Repay $852.9 million of mortgage loans (inclusive of scheduled principal repayments) and incur prepayment penalties of approximately $22.1 million.
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper Program
In November 2016, the Company replaced its existing $2.5 billion facility with a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing January 10, 2022. The Company has the ability to increase available borrowings by an additional $750.0 million by adding additional banks to the facility or obtaining the agreement of existing banks to increase their commitments. The interest rate on advances under the facility will generally be LIBOR plus a spread (currently 0.825%), or based on bids received from the lending group, and the Company pays an annual facility fee (currently 12.5 basis points). Both the spread and the facility fee are dependent on the credit rating of the Company’s long-term debt.
In February 2015, the Company entered into an unsecured commercial paper note program in the United States. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million under this program subject to market conditions. The notes will be sold under customary terms in the United States commercial paper note market and will rank pari passu with all of the Company’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. As of October 26, 2018, there was a balance of $500.0 million in principal outstanding on the commercial paper program.
As of October 26, 2018, the amount available on the revolving credit facility was $901.4 million net of:
$500.0 million in principal outstanding on the commercial paper program;
$495.0 million in principal outstanding on the revolving line of credit;
$96.9 million of floating rate tax-exempt mortgage bonds which mature on April 1, 2042 and are guaranteed by ERPOP; and
$6.7 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit.
This facility may, among other potential uses, be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short-term liquidity requirements.
Dividend Policy
Beginning in 2018, the Company no longer determines its dividends/distributions as a fixed percentage of estimated Normalized FFO but instead adopted a more conventional policy based on actual and projected financial conditions, the Company’s actual and projected liquidity and operating results, the Company’s projected cash needs for capital expenditures and other investment activities and such other factors as the Company’s Board of Trustees deems relevant. The Company declared a dividend/distribution for the first, second and third quarters of 2018 of $0.54 per share/unit in each quarter, an annualized increase of 7.2% over the amount paid in 2017. This policy change is supported by the Company’s strong growth in property operations since the recent economic downturn and a significant reduction in its development activity resulting in a material increase in available cash flow. All future dividends/distributions remain subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Trustees. The Company believes that its expected 2018 operating cash flow will be sufficient to cover capital expenditures and regular dividends/distributions.
Total dividends/distributions paid in October 2018 amounted to $206.9 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which consisted of certain distributions declared during the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.
Long-Term Financing and Capital Needs
The Company expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as lump sum unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions, financing of construction and development activities through the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities, including additional OP Units, proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties and joint ventures and cash generated from operations after all distributions. In addition, the Company has significant unencumbered properties available to secure additional mortgage borrowings in the event that the public capital markets are unavailable or the cost of alternative sources of capital is too high. The fair value of and cash flow from these unencumbered properties are in excess of the requirements the Company must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes, line of credit and commercial paper program. Of the $26.4 billion in investment in real estate on the Company’s balance sheet at September 30, 2018, $21.6 billion
49
or 81.7% was unencumbered. However, there can be no assurances that these sources of capital will be available to the Company in the future on acceptable terms or otherwise.
EQR issues public equity from time to time and guarantees certain debt of the Operating Partnership. EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership.
The Company’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedules as of September 30, 2018 are as follows:
Debt Summary as of September 30, 2018
($ in thousands)
Weighted
Maturities
Amounts (1)
% of Total
Rates (1)
(years)
Secured
31.6
4.19
5.4
Unsecured
68.4
4.12
9.5
4.14
8.2
Fixed Rate Debt:
Secured – Conventional
2,386,165
27.0
4.66
3.8
Unsecured – Public
5,088,560
57.7
4.39
11.2
Fixed Rate Debt
7,474,725
84.7
4.48
8.9
Floating Rate Debt:
6,554
0.1
1.82
6.4
Secured – Tax Exempt
396,717
4.5
2.09
13.6
Unsecured – Public (2)
446,430
5.1
2.76
0.7
Unsecured – Revolving Credit Facility
2.65
3.2
Unsecured – Commercial Paper Program
5.6
2.23
Floating Rate Debt
1,349,068
15.3
2.35
4.6
Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Fair value interest rate swaps convert the $450.0 million 2.375% notes due July 1, 2019 to a floating interest rate of 90-Day LIBOR plus 0.61%.
Debt Maturity Schedule as of September 30, 2018
Year
Fixed
Floating
Weighted Average
Rates on
Fixed Rate Debt (1)
Total Debt (1)
1,493
450,200
451,693
4.01
2.39
506,731
517,412
1,024,143
11.5
5.17
4.02
1,128,592
700
1,129,292
12.7
5.20
927,506
928,106
10.4
4.64
265,341
800
266,141
3.26
1,326,800
4,800
1,331,600
14.9
3.74
3.73
2024
1,272
10,900
12,172
4.79
1.98
2025
451,334
13,200
464,534
5.2
3.38
3.33
2026
593,424
14,500
607,924
6.8
3.59
3.54
2027
401,468
15,600
417,068
4.7
3.19
2028+
1,924,969
359,065
2,284,034
25.6
4.17
3.76
Subtotal
7,528,930
1,387,777
8,916,707
4.23
3.91
Deferred Financing Costs and
Unamortized (Discount)
(54,205
(38,709
(92,914
50
Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are as of September 30, 2018.
Includes $500.0 million in principal outstanding on the Company’s commercial paper program, of which $450.0 million matures in 2018 and $50.0 million matures in 2019.
Includes a $500.0 million 5.19% mortgage loan with a maturity date of October 1, 2019 that was repaid at par on October 1, 2018.
Includes a $500.0 million 5.78% mortgage loan with a maturity date of July 1, 2020 that can be prepaid at par beginning July 1, 2019.
See Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of debt at September 30, 2018.
ERPOP’s long-term senior debt ratings and short-term commercial paper ratings as well as EQR’s long-term preferred equity ratings, which all have a stable outlook, as of October 26, 2018 are as follows:
Standard & Poor’s
Moody’s
Fitch
ERPOP’s long-term senior debt rating
A-
A3
A
ERPOP’s short-term commercial paper rating
A-2
P-2
F-1
EQR’s long-term preferred equity rating
BBB
Baa1
BBB+
See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the events, if any, which occurred subsequent to September 30, 2018.
Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate
The Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s capital expenditures policy has not changed from the information included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our actual capital expenditures to real estate included the following (amounts in thousands except for apartment unit and per apartment unit amounts):
Capital Expenditures to Real Estate
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Same Stores Properties (5)
Non-Same Store Properties/Other (6)
Same Store Avg. Per Apartment Unit
Total Apartment Units (1)
78,315
Building Improvements (2)
69,956
2,328
72,284
976
Renovation Expenditures (3)
30,079
1,183
31,262
419
Replacements (4)
33,648
925
34,573
469
Total Capital Expenditures
1,864
Total Apartment Units – Excludes 945 unconsolidated apartment units for which capital expenditures to real estate are self-funded and do not consolidate into the Company’s results.
Building Improvements – Includes roof replacement, paving, building mechanical equipment systems, exterior siding and painting, major landscaping, furniture, fixtures and equipment for amenities and common areas, vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.
Renovation Expenditures – Apartment unit renovation costs (primarily kitchens and baths) designed to reposition these units for higher rental levels in their respective markets. Amounts for 2,195 same store apartment units approximated $13,700 per apartment unit renovated.
Replacements – Includes appliances, mechanical equipment, fixtures and flooring (including hardwood and carpeting).
(5)
Same Store Properties – Primarily includes all properties acquired or completed that are stabilized prior to January 1, 2017, less properties subsequently sold.
(6)
Non-Same Store Properties/Other – Primarily includes all properties acquired during 2017 and 2018, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2017. Also includes capital expenditures for properties sold.
The Company estimates that during 2018 it will spend approximately $2,800 per same store apartment unit or $200.0 million of total capital expenditures to real estate for same store properties. During 2018, the Company expects to spend approximately $41.0
51
million for apartment unit renovation expenditures on approximately 3,000 same store apartment units at an average cost of approximately $13,700 per apartment unit renovated. The anticipated total capital expenditures to real estate for same store properties represent approximately the same percentage of same store revenues, cost per unit and absolute dollar amounts as compared to 2017. The Company plans to continue the elevated capital expenditures for investment in customer-facing building improvements (leasing offices, fitness centers, common areas, etc.) to enhance the quality of our properties and to protect our competitive position given the new luxury supply opening in many of our markets. We also expect to maintain our elevated spending on sustainability projects and renovation expenditures during 2018. The above assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Company’s property management offices and its corporate offices, were approximately $3.2 million. The Company expects to fund approximately $1.8 million in total non-real estate capital additions for the remainder of 2018. These anticipated fundings represent an increase over 2017, which is primarily driven by anticipated hardware and software upgrades to various existing systems during 2018. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.
Capital expenditures to real estate and non-real estate capital additions are generally funded from net cash provided by operating activities and from investment cash flow.
Derivative Instruments
The Company has a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors. When viewed in conjunction with the underlying and offsetting exposure that the derivatives are designed to hedge, the Company has not sustained a material loss from these instruments nor does it anticipate any material adverse effect on its net income or financial position in the future from the use of derivatives it currently has in place.
See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments at September 30, 2018.
Definitions
The definition of certain terms described above or below are as follows:
Acquisition Cap Rate – NOI that the Company anticipates receiving in the next 12 months (or the year two or three stabilized NOI for properties that are in lease-up at acquisition) less an estimate of property management costs/management fees allocated to the project (generally ranging from 2.0% to 4.0% of revenues depending on the size and income streams of the asset) and less an estimate for in-the-unit replacement capital expenditures (generally ranging from $100-$450 per apartment unit depending on the age and condition of the asset) divided by the gross purchase price of the asset. The weighted average Acquisition Cap Rate for acquired properties is weighted based on the projected NOI streams and the relative purchase price for each respective property.
Development Yield – NOI that the Company anticipates receiving in the next 12 months following stabilization less an estimate of property management costs/management fees allocated to the project (generally ranging from 2.0% to 4.0% of revenues depending on the size and income streams of the asset) and less an estimate for in-the-unit replacement capital expenditures (generally ranging from $50-$150 per apartment unit depending on the type of asset) divided by the total budgeted capital cost of the asset. The weighted average Development Yield for development properties is weighted based on the projected NOI streams and the relative total budgeted capital cost for each respective property.
Disposition Yield – NOI that the Company anticipates giving up in the next 12 months less an estimate of property management costs/management fees allocated to the project (generally ranging from 2.0% to 4.0% of revenues depending on the size and income streams of the asset) and less an estimate for in-the-unit replacement capital expenditures (generally ranging from $100-$450 per apartment unit depending on the age and condition of the asset) divided by the gross sale price of the asset. The weighted average Disposition Yield for sold properties is weighted based on the projected NOI streams and the relative sales price for each respective property.
Unlevered Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) – The Unlevered IRR on sold properties is the compound annual rate of return calculated by the Company based on the timing and amount of: (i) the gross purchase price of the property plus any direct acquisition costs incurred by the Company; (ii) total revenues earned during the Company’s ownership period; (iii) total direct property operating expenses (including real estate taxes and insurance) incurred during the Company’s ownership period; (iv) capital expenditures incurred during the Company’s ownership period; and (v) the gross sales price of the property net of selling costs.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
The Company has various unconsolidated interests in certain joint ventures. The Company does not believe that these unconsolidated investments have a materially different impact on its liquidity, cash flows, capital resources, credit or market risk than its consolidated operating and/or other activities. See Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s investments in partially owned entities. See also Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the Company’s development projects.
The Company’s contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter have not changed materially from the amounts and disclosures included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. See the updated debt maturity schedule included in Liquidity and Capital Resources for further discussion.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s critical accounting policies and estimates have not changed from the information included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
53
Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations
The following is the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s reconciliation of net income to FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units for the nine months and quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned
Preferred/preference distributions
Net income available to Common Shares and Units / Units
Depreciation – Non-real estate additions
(3,397
(3,808
(1,137
(1,228
Depreciation – Partially Owned Properties
(2,837
(2,500
(904
(834
Depreciation – Unconsolidated Properties
3,447
3,430
1,150
1,145
Net (gain) loss on sales of unconsolidated entities – operating assets
(68
(114,672
(17,328
Noncontrolling Interests share of gain (loss) on sales
of real estate properties
(284
Impairment – operating assets
FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (1) (3) (4)
883,213
891,882
302,080
308,478
Impairment – non-operating assets
1,059
783
Debt extinguishment and preferred share redemption (gains) losses
41,142
11,789
17,603
(613
Non-operating asset (gains) losses
(255
(19,355
223
(405
Other miscellaneous items
(2,608
(4,195
(1,138
(3,405
Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (2) (3) (4)
924,617
882,450
319,827
304,838
FFO (1) (3)
885,531
894,200
302,853
309,250
Normalized FFO (2) (3)
926,935
884,768
320,600
305,610
The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”) defines funds from operations (“FFO”) (April 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)), excluding gains (or losses) from sales and impairment write-downs of depreciated operating properties, plus depreciation and amortization expense, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis. The April 2002 White Paper states that gain or loss on sales of property is excluded from FFO for previously depreciated operating properties only.
Normalized funds from operations (“Normalized FFO”) begins with FFO and excludes:
the impact of any expenses relating to non-operating asset impairment;
pursuit cost write-offs;
gains and losses from early debt extinguishment and preferred share redemptions;
gains and losses from non-operating assets; and
other miscellaneous items.
The Company believes that FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the operating performance of a real estate company, because they are recognized measures of performance by the real estate industry and by excluding gains or losses related to sales of depreciated operating properties and excluding real estate depreciation (which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar condition based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates), FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units can help compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies. The Company also believes that Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the operating performance of a real estate company because they allow investors to compare the Company’s operating performance to its performance in prior reporting periods and to the operating performance of other real estate companies without the effect of items that by their nature are not comparable from period to period and tend to obscure the Company’s actual operating results. FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units do not represent net income, net income available to Common Shares / Units or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units should not be exclusively considered as alternatives to net income, net income available to Common Shares / Units or net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as a measure of liquidity. The Company’s calculation of FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units may differ from other real estate companies due to, among other items, variations in cost capitalization policies for capital expenditures and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other real estate companies.
FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are calculated on a basis consistent with net income available to Common Shares / Units and reflects adjustments to net income for preferred distributions and premiums on redemption of preferred shares/preference units in accordance with GAAP. The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain restrictions, the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their OP Units for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, to the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative and other fair value instruments.
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:
Effective as of September 30, 2018, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
(b)
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:
There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting of the Company identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation referred to above that occurred during the third quarter of 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Effective as of September 30, 2018, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of EQR, of the effectiveness of the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting of the Operating Partnership identified in connection with the Operating Partnership’s evaluation referred to above that occurred during the third quarter of 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
As of September 30, 2018, the Company does not believe there is any litigation pending or threatened against it that, individually or in the aggregate, may reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(a) Unregistered Common Shares Issued in the Quarter Ended September 30, 2018 - Equity Residential
During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, EQR issued 1,016 Common Shares in exchange for 1,016 OP Units held by various limited partners of ERPOP. OP Units are generally exchangeable into Common Shares on a one-for-one basis or, at the option of ERPOP, the cash equivalent thereof, at any time one year after the date of issuance. These shares were either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as these were transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. In light of the manner of the sale and information obtained by EQR from the limited partners in connection with these transactions, EQR believes it may rely on these exemptions.
None.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits – See the Exhibit Index.
EXHIBIT INDEX
The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this report. References to exhibits or other filings under the caption “Location” indicate that the exhibit or other filing has been filed, that the indexed exhibit and the exhibit referred to are the same and that the exhibit referred to is incorporated by reference. The Commission file numbers for our Exchange Act filings referenced below are 1-12252 (Equity Residential) and 0-24920 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership).
Exhibit
10.1
Age 62 Retirement Agreement, dated September 4, 2018, by and between Equity Residential and David J. Neithercut.
Attached herein.
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.
31.1
Equity Residential – Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer.
31.2
Equity Residential – Certification of Robert A. Garechana, Chief Financial Officer.
31.3
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
31.4
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification of Robert A. Garechana, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
32.1
Equity Residential – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
32.2
Equity Residential – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Robert A. Garechana, Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
32.3
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
32.4
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Robert A. Garechana, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
101
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The following materials from Equity Residential’s and ERP Operating Limited Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows, (iv) consolidated statement of changes in equity (Equity Residential), (v) consolidated statement of changes in capital (ERP Operating Limited Partnership) and (vi) notes to consolidated financial statements.
57
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
October 30, 2018
By:
/s/ Robert A. Garechana
Robert A. Garechana
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Ian S. Kaufman
Ian S. Kaufman
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP BY: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
ITS GENERAL PARTNER