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EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF MARK J. PARRELL, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - ERP OPERATING LTD PARTNERSHIPdex312.htm
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended MARCH 31, 2010

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: 0-24920

 

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Illinois   36-3894853

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois   60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(312) 474-1300

(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.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              PAGE
PART I.        
 

Item 1.

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

   2
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

   3 to 4
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

   5 to 7
    

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Capital for the quarter ended March 31, 2010

   8 to 9
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   10 to 26
 

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   27 to 43
 

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   43
 

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   43 to 44
PART II.        
 

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   45
 

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   45
 

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   45
 

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   45


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

ASSETS

    

Investment in real estate

    

Land

   $ 3,948,967      $ 3,650,324   

Depreciable property

     14,387,262        13,893,521   

Projects under development

     429,444        668,979   

Land held for development

     266,287        252,320   
                

Investment in real estate

     19,031,960        18,465,144   

Accumulated depreciation

     (3,972,022     (3,877,564
                

Investment in real estate, net

     15,059,938        14,587,580   

Cash and cash equivalents

     60,186        193,288   

Investments in unconsolidated entities

     5,645        6,995   

Deposits – restricted

     163,378        352,008   

Escrow deposits – mortgage

     20,675        17,292   

Deferred financing costs, net

     44,034        46,396   

Other assets

     164,557        213,956   
                

Total assets

   $   15,518,413      $ 15,417,515   
                

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

    

Liabilities:

    

Mortgage notes payable

   $ 4,825,356      $ 4,783,446   

Notes, net

     4,578,377        4,609,124   

Lines of credit

     91,000        -   

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     95,046        58,537   

Accrued interest payable

     68,895        101,849   

Other liabilities

     251,970        272,236   

Security deposits

     62,637        59,264   

Distributions payable

     102,106        100,266   
                

Total liabilities

     10,075,387        9,984,722   
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Redeemable Limited Partners

     295,985        258,280   
                

Capital:

    

Partners’ Capital:

    

Preference Units

     208,761        208,773   

General Partner

     4,821,422        4,833,885   

Limited Partners

     114,714        116,120   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (8,255     4,681   
                

Total partners’ capital

     5,136,642        5,163,459   

Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     10,399        11,054   
                

Total capital

     5,147,041        5,174,513   
                

Total liabilities and capital

   $ 15,518,413      $ 15,417,515   
                

See accompanying notes

 

2


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands except per Unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

REVENUES

    

Rental income

   $ 486,268      $ 480,215   

Fee and asset management

     2,422        2,863   
                

Total revenues

     488,690        483,078   
                

EXPENSES

    

Property and maintenance

     126,753        124,932   

Real estate taxes and insurance

     57,607        52,539   

Property management

     20,680        19,014   

Fee and asset management

     2,014        2,003   

Depreciation

     152,319        141,809   

General and administrative

     10,721        10,394   
                

Total expenses

     370,094        350,691   
                

Operating income

     118,596        132,387   

Interest and other income

     2,225        6,017   

Other expenses

     (4,383     (292

Interest:

    

Expense incurred, net

     (115,297     (123,502

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     (3,197     (2,962
                

(Loss) income before income and other taxes, (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations

     (2,056     11,648   

Income and other tax (expense) benefit

     (166     (2,128

(Loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities

     (464     (195

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities

     478        2,765   
                

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (2,208     12,090   

Discontinued operations, net

     60,064        73,331   
                

Net income

     57,856        85,421   

Net loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     250        69   
                

Net income attributable to controlling interests

   $ 58,106      $ 85,490   
                

ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME:

    

Preference Units

   $ 3,620      $ 3,620   
                

Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

   $ -      $ 4   
                

General Partner

   $ 51,863      $ 77,175   

Limited Partners

     2,623        4,691   
                

Net income available to Units

   $ 54,486      $ 81,866   
                

Earnings per Unit – basic:

    

(Loss) income from continuing operations available to Units

   $ (0.02   $ 0.03   
                

Net income available to Units

   $ 0.18      $ 0.28   
                

Weighted average Units outstanding

     294,450        288,710   
                

Earnings per Unit – diluted:

    

(Loss) income from continuing operations available to Units

   $ (0.02   $ 0.03   
                

Net income available to Units

   $ 0.18      $ 0.28   
                

Weighted average Units outstanding

     294,450        288,853   
                

Distributions declared per Unit outstanding

   $ 0.3375      $ 0.4825   
                

 

See accompanying notes

3


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands except per Unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,
     2010     2009

Comprehensive income:

    

Net income

   $ 57,856      $ 85,421

Other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:

    

Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period

     (13,503     2,660

Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income

     726        1,493

Other

     -        449

Other comprehensive (loss) income – other instruments:

    

Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period

     (159     1,908
              

Comprehensive income

     44,920        91,931

Comprehensive loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     250        69
              

Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests

   $ 45,170      $ 92,000
              

See accompanying notes

4


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 57,856      $ 85,421   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     152,734        150,488   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     3,197        2,997   

Amortization of discounts on investment securities

     -        (1,096

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt

     565        1,706   

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments

     593        1,148   

Write-off of pursuit costs

     1,046        192   

Property acquisition costs

     3,337        100   

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities

     464        195   

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital

     61        59   

Net (gain) on sales of unconsolidated entities

     (478     (2,765

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations

     (60,036     (61,871

(Gain) on debt extinguishments

     -        (1,985

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

     1        -   

Compensation paid with Company Common Shares

     5,757        4,920   

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

(Increase) decrease in deposits – restricted

     (1,000     1,039   

Decrease in other assets

     1,798        6,763   

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

     39,148        19,026   

(Decrease) in accrued interest payable

     (32,954     (38,578

(Decrease) in other liabilities

     (20,005     (24,437

Increase (decrease) in security deposits

     3,373        (871
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     155,457        142,451   
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Investment in real estate – acquisitions

     (498,272     -   

Investment in real estate – development/other

     (31,347     (82,171

Improvements to real estate

     (25,691     (26,644

Additions to non-real estate property

     (353     (712

Interest capitalized for real estate under development

     (4,365     (10,617

Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net

     105,071        133,154   

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital

     1,303        110   

Purchase of investment securities

     -        (52,822

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

     -        15,000   

Property acquisition costs

     (3,337     (100

Decrease (increase) in deposits on real estate acquisitions, net

     182,203        (43,020

(Increase) decrease in mortgage deposits

     (3,383     246   

Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     -        (2,823
                

Net cash (used for) investing activities

     (278,171     (70,399
                

 

See accompanying notes

5


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Loan and bond acquisition costs

   $ (1,435   $ (6,096

Mortgage notes payable:

    

Proceeds

     55,664        57,713   

Restricted cash

     7,427        7,177   

Lump sum payoffs

     (149,409     (141,132

Scheduled principal repayments

     (4,059     (5,111

(Loss) on debt extinguishments

     -        (35

Notes, net:

    

Lump sum payoffs

     -        (307,820

Gain on debt extinguishments

     -        2,020   

Lines of credit:

    

Proceeds

     1,469,125        -   

Repayments

     (1,378,125     -   

Proceeds from settlement of derivative instruments

     -        449   

Proceeds from sale of OP Units

     73,356        -   

Proceeds from EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

     2,478        2,787   

Proceeds from exercise of EQR options

     19,215        105   

OP Units repurchased and retired

     (1,887     (1,124

Payment of offering costs

     (604     (121

Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     222        522   

Contributions – Limited Partners

     -        78   

Distributions:

    

OP Units – General Partner

     (93,317     (131,567

Preference Units

     (3,620     (3,620

Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

     -        (4

OP Units – Limited Partners

     (4,794     (8,000

Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     (625     (471
                

Net cash (used for) financing activities

     (10,388     (534,250
                

Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (133,102     (462,198

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     193,288        890,794   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 60,186      $ 428,596   
                

 

See accompanying notes

6


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

    

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 144,902      $ 159,656   
                

Net cash (received) paid for income and other taxes

   $ (1,850   $ 564   
                

Real estate acquisitions/dispositions/other:

    

Mortgage loans assumed

   $ 145,660      $ -   
                

Valuation of OP Units

   $ 7,383      $ -   
                

Mortgage loans (assumed) by purchaser

   $ (39,999   $ (4,387
                

Amortization of deferred financing costs:

    

Investment in real estate, net

   $ (600   $ (1,011
                

Deferred financing costs, net

   $ 3,797      $ 4,008   
                

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt:

    

Investment in real estate, net

   $ -      $ (4
                

Mortgage notes payable

   $ (1,563   $ (1,550
                

Notes, net

   $ 2,128      $ 3,260   
                

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments:

    

Other liabilities

   $ (133   $ (345
                

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   $ 726      $ 1,493   
                

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments:

    

Other assets

   $ 7,579      $ (379
                

Mortgage notes payable

   $ 16      $ (1,186
                

Notes, net

   $ 2,725      $ (645
                

Other liabilities

   $ 3,184      $ (450
                

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

   $ (13,503   $ 2,660   
                

Proceeds from settlement of derivative instruments:

    

Other assets

   $ -      $ 449   
                

Other

    

Receivable on sale of OP Units

   $ 37,550      $ -   
                

Transfer from notes, net to mortgage notes payable

   $ 35,600      $ -   
                

See accompanying notes

 

7


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

   Quarter Ended
March 31, 2010
 

PREFERENCE UNITS

  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 208,773   

Conversion of 7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible

     (12
        

Balance, end of period

   $ 208,761   
        

GENERAL PARTNER

  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 4,833,885   

OP Unit Issuance:

  

Conversion of Preference Units into OP Units held by General Partner

     12   

Conversion of OP Units held by Limited Partners into OP Units held by General Partner

     8,007   

Issuance of OP Units

     35,806   

Exercise of EQR share options

     19,215   

EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

     2,478   

Share-based employee compensation expense:

  

EQR restricted shares

     2,647   

EQR share options

     2,205   

EQR ESPP discount

     687   

OP Units repurchased and retired

     (1,887

Offering costs

     (604

Net income available to Units – General Partner

     51,863   

OP Units – General Partner distributions

     (95,246

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)

     570   

Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners

     (39,985

Adjustment for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership

     1,769   
        

Balance, end of period

   $ 4,821,422   
        

LIMITED PARTNERS

  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 116,120   

Issuance of OP Units

     7,383   

Conversion of OP Units held by Limited Partners into OP Units held by General Partner

     (8,007

Equity compensation associated with Units – Limited Partners

     788   

Net income available to Units – Limited Partners

     2,623   

Units – Limited Partners distributions

     (4,704

Change in carrying value of Redeemable Limited Partners

     2,280   

Adjustment for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership

     (1,769
        

Balance, end of period

   $ 114,714   
        

 

See accompanying notes

8


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL (Continued)

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (Continued)

   Quarter Ended
March 31, 2010
 

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 4,681   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) – derivative instruments:

  

Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period

     (13,503

Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income

     726   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) – other instruments:

  

Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period

     (159
        

Balance, end of period

   $ (8,255
        
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   

NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS – PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES

  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 11,054   

Net (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

     (250

Contributions by Noncontrolling Interests

     222   

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests

     (625

Other

     (2
        

Balance, end of period

   $ 10,399   
        

See accompanying notes

 

9


Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Business

ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”), an Illinois limited partnership, was formed in May 1993 to conduct the multifamily residential property business of Equity Residential (“EQR”). EQR, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993, is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top United States growth markets. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT.

EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2010 owned an approximate 95.3% ownership interest in ERPOP. EQR is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) under which all property ownership and related business operations are conducted through ERPOP and its subsidiaries. References to the “Operating Partnership” include EPROP and those entities owned or controlled by it. References to the “Company” mean EQR and the Operating Partnership.

As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 491 properties located in 23 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 136,470 units. The ownership breakdown includes (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):

 

     Properties    Units

Wholly Owned Properties

   430    118,732

Partially Owned Properties:

     

Consolidated

   27    5,530

Unconsolidated

   32    7,602

Military Housing

   2    4,606
         
   491    136,470

 

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 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 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. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.

In preparation of the Operating Partnership’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 sheet at December 31, 2009 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

For further information, including definitions of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Income and Other Taxes

The Operating Partnership generally is not liable for federal income taxes as the partners recognize their proportionate share of the Operating Partnership’s income or loss in their tax returns; therefore, no provision for federal

 

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income taxes has been made at the ERPOP level. Historically, the Operating Partnership has generally only incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The Operating Partnership has elected Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries, primarily those entities engaged in condominium conversion and corporate housing activities 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 are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. These assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates for which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effects of changes in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized in earnings in the period enacted. The Operating Partnership’s deferred tax assets are generally the result of tax affected amortization of goodwill, differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and the timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership has recorded a deferred tax asset of approximately $42.5 million, which is fully offset by a valuation allowance due to the uncertainty in forecasting future TRS taxable income.

Other

In June 2009, the FASB issued The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which superseded all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards and became the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. The Operating Partnership adopted the codification as required, effective for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The adoption of the codification has no impact on the Operating Partnership’s consolidated results of operations or financial position but changed the way we refer to accounting literature in our reports.

Effective January 1, 2010, in an effort to improve financial standards for transfers of financial assets, more stringent conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale (e.g. loan participations) are required, the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity” and special guidance for guaranteed mortgage securitizations are eliminated, other sale-accounting criteria is clarified and the initial measurement of a transferor’s interest in transferred financial assets is changed. This does not have a material effect on the Operating Partnership’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

Effective January 1, 2010, the analysis for identifying the primary beneficiary of a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) has been simplified by replacing the previous quantitative-based analysis with a framework that is based more on qualitative judgments. The analysis requires the primary beneficiary of a VIE to be identified as the party that both (a) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and (b) has an obligation to absorb losses or a right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. For the Operating Partnership, this includes only its development partnerships as the Operating Partnership provides substantially all of the capital for these ventures (other than third party mortgage debt, if any). For the Operating Partnership, these requirements affected only disclosures and had no impact on the Operating Partnership’s consolidated results of operations or financial position. See Note 6 for further discussion.

The Operating Partnership is required to make certain disclosures regarding noncontrolling interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries. The Operating Partnership is the controlling partner in various consolidated partnerships owning 27 properties and 5,530 units and various completed and uncompleted development properties having a noncontrolling interest book value of $10.4 million at March 31, 2010. Some of these partnership agreements contain provisions that require the partnerships to be liquidated through the sale of their assets upon reaching a date specified in each respective partnership agreement. The Operating Partnership, as controlling partner, has an obligation to cause the property owning partnerships to distribute the proceeds of liquidation to the Noncontrolling Interests in these Partially Owned Properties only to the extent that the net proceeds received by the partnerships from the sale of their assets warrant a distribution based on the partnership agreements. As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership estimates the value of Noncontrolling Interest distributions would have been approximately $52.7 million (“Settlement Value”) had the partnerships been liquidated. This Settlement Value is based on estimated third party consideration realized by the partnerships upon disposition of the Partially Owned Properties and is net of all other assets and liabilities, including yield maintenance on the mortgages encumbering the properties, that would have been due on March 31, 2010 had those mortgages been prepaid. Due to, among other things, the inherent uncertainty in the sale of real estate assets, the amount of any potential distribution to the Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership’s Partially Owned Properties is subject to change. To the extent that the partnerships’ underlying assets are worth less than the underlying liabilities, the Operating Partnership has no obligation to remit any consideration to the Noncontrolling Interests in these Partially Owned Properties.

 

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Effective January 1, 2010, companies are required to separately disclose the amounts of significant transfers of assets and liabilities into and out of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for those transfers. Companies must also develop and disclose their policy for determining when transfers between levels are recognized. In addition, companies are required to provide fair value disclosures for each class rather than each major category of assets and liabilities. For fair value measurements using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) or significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), companies are required to disclose the valuation technique and the inputs used in determining fair value for each class of assets and liabilities. This does not have a material effect on the Operating Partnership’s consolidated results of operations or financial position. See Note 11 for further discussion.

Effective January 1, 2011, companies will be required to separately disclose purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of recurring Level 3 fair value measurements. The Operating Partnership does not expect this will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.

Effective January 1, 2009, issuers of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash on conversion were required to separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects each issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. As the Operating Partnership is required to apply this retrospectively, the accounting for the Operating Partnership’s $650.0 million ($482.5 million outstanding at March 31, 2010) 3.85% convertible unsecured notes that were issued in August 2006 and mature in August 2026 was affected. The Operating Partnership recognized $4.6 million and $5.3 million in interest expense related to the stated coupon rate of 3.85% for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The amount of the conversion option as of the date of issuance calculated by the Operating Partnership using a 5.80% effective interest rate was $44.3 million and is being amortized to interest expense over the expected life of the convertible notes (through the first put date on August 18, 2011). Total amortization of the cash discount and conversion option discount on the unsecured notes resulted in a reduction to earnings of approximately $1.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively, or $0.01 per Unit and $0.01 per Unit, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, and is anticipated to result in a reduction to earnings of approximately $7.8 million or $0.03 per Unit during the full year of 2010 assuming the Operating Partnership does not repurchase any additional amounts of this debt. In addition, the Operating Partnership decreased the January 1, 2009 balance of retained earnings (included in general partner’s capital) by $27.0 million, decreased the January 1, 2009 balance of notes by $17.3 million and increased the January 1, 2009 balance of paid in capital (included in general partner’s capital) by $44.3 million. The carrying amount of the conversion option remaining in paid in capital (included in general partner’s capital) was $44.3 million at both March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The unamortized cash and conversion option discounts totaled $10.8 million and $12.8 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

3.

Capital and Redeemable Limited Partners

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding “Units” (which includes OP Units and Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units) and in the limited partners’ Units for the quarter ended March 31, 2010:

 

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     2010  

General and Limited Partner Units

  

General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,

   294,157,017   

Issued to General Partner:

  

Conversion of Series E Preference Units

   556   

Issuance of OP Units

   1,057,304   

Exercise of EQR share options

   717,482   

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

   87,680   

Restricted EQR share grants, net

   230,708   

Issued to Limited Partners:

  

Issuance of LTIP Units

   94,096   

OP Units issued through acquisitions

   188,571   

OP Units Other:

  

Repurchased and retired

   (58,130
      

General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at March 31,

   296,475,284   
      

Limited Partner Units

  

Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,

   14,197,969   

Limited Partner Issuance of LTIP Units

   94,096   

Limited Partner OP Units issued through acquisitions

   188,571   

Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares

   (409,850
      

Limited Partner Units outstanding at March 31,

   14,070,786   
      

Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership

   4.7

In September 2009, EQR announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell up to 17.0 million Common Shares from time to time over the next three years 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 the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, EQR issued approximately 1.1 million Common Shares at an average price of $33.87 per share for total consideration of approximately $35.8 million through the ATM program. Concurrent with these transactions, the Operating Partnership issued approximately 1.1 million OP Units to EQR. EQR has authorization to issue an additional 12.4 million of its shares as of March 31, 2010.

On March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership issued 188,571 OP Units at a price of $39.15 per OP Unit for total valuation of $7.4 million as partial consideration for the acquisition of one rental property. As the value of the OP Units issued was agreed by contract to be $35.00 per OP Unit, the difference between the contracted value and fair value (the closing price of EQR Common Shares on the closing date) was recorded as an increase to the purchase price.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, EQR repurchased 58,130 of its Common Shares at an average price of $32.46 per share for total consideration of $1.9 million. These shares were retired subsequent to the repurchases. Concurrent with these transactions, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 58,130 OP Units previously issued to EQR. All of the shares repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were repurchased from employees at the then current market prices to cover the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of employees’ restricted shares. EQR has authorization to repurchase an additional $464.6 million of its shares as of March 31, 2010.

The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of March 31, 2010 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 LTIP Units. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of LTIP Units), the Limited Partners may exchange their Units with EQR for EQR Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Limited Partner Units is based on the proportional relationship between the carrying values of equity associated with General Partner Units relative to that of the Limited Partner Units. Net income is allocated to the Limited Partner Units based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.

A portion of the Limited Partners’ Units are classified as mezzanine equity as they do not meet the requirements for permanent equity classification. The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing EQR 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

 

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deliver EQR Common Shares to the exchanging limited partner. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered EQR Common Shares, such Limited Partner Units are referred to as “Redeemable Limited Partner Units”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares can not 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 EQR Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Limited Partner Units that are classified in permanent equity at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

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 March 31, 2010, the Redeemable Limited Partner Units have a redemption value of approximately $296.0 million, which represents the value of EQR Common Shares that would be issued in exchange with the limited partners of the Operating Partnership for Redeemable Limited Partner Units.

The following table presents the change in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (amounts in thousands):

 

     2010  

Balance at January 1,

   $ 258,280   

Change in market value

     39,985   

Change in carrying value

     (2,280
        

Balance at March 31,

   $   295,985   
        

EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for EQR Common Shares) to the Operating Partnership. 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 March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

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    Redemption
Date (1) (2)
  Conversion
Rate (2)
  Annual
Dividend  per
Unit (3)
  Amounts in thousands
        March 31,
2010
  December  31,
2009

Preference Units:

         

7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preference Units;
liquidation value $25 per unit; 327,966 and 328,466 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

  11/1/98   1.1128   $1.75   $ 8,199   $ 8,211

7.00% Series H Cumulative Convertible Preference Units;
liquidation value $25 per unit; 22,459 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

  6/30/98   1.4480   $1.75     562     562

8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units;
liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,000,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

  12/10/26   N/A   $4.145     50,000     50,000

6.48% Series N Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units;
liquidation value $250 per unit; 600,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (4)

  6/19/08   N/A   $16.20     150,000     150,000
                 
        $ 208,761   $ 208,773
                 

 

(1)

On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units (Series K and N) 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 EQR Preferred Shares.

(2)

On or after the redemption date, convertible preference units (Series E & H) may be redeemed under certain circumstances at the option of the Operating Partnership for cash (in the case of Series E) or OP Units (in the case of Series H), in whole or in part, at various redemption prices per unit based upon the contractual conversion rate, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption/conversion of the corresponding EQR Preferred Shares.

(3)

Dividends on all series of Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates. The dividend listed for Series N is a Preference Unit rate and the equivalent depositary unit annual dividend is $1.62 per unit.

(4)

The Series N Preference Units have a corresponding depositary unit that consists of ten times the number of units and one-tenth the liquidation value and dividend per unit.

 

4.

Real Estate

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Operating Partnership’s investment in real estate (at cost) as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
    

Land

   $ 3,948,967      $ 3,650,324   

Depreciable property:

    

Buildings and improvements

     13,245,764        12,781,543   

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     1,141,498        1,111,978   

Projects under development:

    

Land

     78,545        106,716   

Construction-in-progress

     350,899        562,263   

Land held for development:

    

Land

     193,201        181,430   

Construction-in-progress

     73,086        70,890   
                

Investment in real estate

     19,031,960        18,465,144   

Accumulated depreciation

     (3,972,022     (3,877,564
                

Investment in real estate, net

   $   15,059,938      $ 14,587,580   
                

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership acquired the entire equity interest in the following from unaffiliated parties (purchase price in thousands):

 

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     Properties    Units    Purchase
Price
        

Rental Properties

   6    1,467    $   639,261

Land Parcel (one)

   -    -      12,000
                

Total

   6    1,467    $ 651,261
                

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership disposed of the following to unaffiliated parties (sales price in thousands):

 

     Properties    Units    Sales Price

Rental Properties:

        

Consolidated

   8    2,011    $ 145,940

Unconsolidated (1)

   2    484      24,100

Condominium Conversion Properties

   1    2      360
                

Total

   11    2,497    $ 170,400
                

 

  (1)

The Operating Partnership owned a 25% interest in these unconsolidated rental properties. Sales price listed is the gross sales price.

The Operating Partnership recognized a net gain on sales of discontinued operations of approximately $60.0 million and a net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities of approximately $0.5 million on the above sales.

 

5.

Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate

In addition to the properties that were subsequently acquired as discussed in Note 16, the Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements to acquire one rental property consisting of 183 units for $43.5 million and one land parcel for $13.5 million.

The Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements to dispose of 14 properties consisting of 1,282 units for $133.0 million.

The closings of these pending transactions are subject to certain conditions and restrictions, therefore, there can be no assurance that these transactions will be consummated or that the final terms will not differ in material respects from those summarized in the preceding paragraphs.

 

6.

Investments in Partially Owned Entities

The Operating Partnership has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties which are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting (unconsolidated). The following table summarizes the Operating Partnership’s investments in partially owned entities as of March 31, 2010 (amounts in thousands except for project and unit amounts):

 

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     Consolidated     Unconsolidated  
     Development Projects (VIEs)     Other     Total     Institutional
Joint
Ventures (5)
 
     Held for
and/or Under
Development
    Completed,
Not
Stabilized (4)
    Completed
and
Stabilized
       

Total projects (1)

     -        2        4        21        27        32   
                                                

Total units (1)

     -        567        1,167        3,796        5,530        7,602   
                                                

Balance sheet information at 3/31/10 (at 100%):

            

ASSETS

            

Investment in real estate

   $ 556,375      $ 171,931      $ 318,036      $ 423,521      $ 1,469,863      $ 553,306   

Accumulated depreciation

     (740     (1,745     (16,912     (115,882     (135,279     (175,403
                                                

Investment in real estate, net

     555,635        170,186        301,124        307,639        1,334,584        377,903   

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,616        3,068        4,135        12,998        22,817        10,832   

Deposits – restricted

     41,293        2,826        382        9        44,510        42,666   

Escrow deposits – mortgage

     -        -        42        3,583        3,625        -   

Deferred financing costs, net

     6,530        233        965        296        8,024        375   

Other assets

     95        13        282        85        475        2,821   
                                                

Total assets

   $ 606,169      $ 176,326      $ 306,930      $ 324,610      $ 1,414,035      $ 434,597   
                                                

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

            

Mortgage notes payable

   $ 316,421      $ 106,162      $ 226,523      $ 301,778      $ 950,884      $ 389,277   

Accounts payable & accrued expenses

     15,673        2,698        2,697        2,572        23,640        2,707   

Accrued interest payable

     2,411        158        252        1,677        4,498        2,424   

Other liabilities

     5,991        231        1,263        849        8,334        2,074   

Security deposits

     402        659        321        1,635        3,017        2,077   
                                                

Total liabilities

   $ 340,898      $ 109,908      $ 231,056      $ 308,511      $ 990,373      $ 398,559   
                                                

Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

   $ 8,944      $ 1,076      $ 3,878      $ (3,499   $ 10,399      $ -   

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

     (3,429     -        -        -        (3,429     -   

Partner’s capital

     -        -        -        -        -        27,029   

General and Limited Partners’ Capital

     259,756        65,342        71,996        19,598        416,692        9,009   
                                                

Total capital

     265,271        66,418        75,874        16,099        423,662        36,038   
                                                

Total liabilities and capital

   $ 606,169      $ 176,326      $ 306,930      $ 324,610      $ 1,414,035      $ 434,597   
                                                

Debt – Secured (2):

            

EQR Ownership (3)

   $ 316,421      $ 106,162      $ 226,523      $ 219,100      $ 868,206      $ 97,319   

Noncontrolling Ownership

     -        -        -        82,678        82,678        291,958   
                                                

Total (at 100%)

   $ 316,421      $ 106,162      $ 226,523      $ 301,778      $ 950,884      $ 389,277   
                                                

Operating information for the quarter ended 3/31/10 (at 100%):

            

Operating revenue

   $ 711      $ 2,066      $ 5,544      $ 13,816      $ 22,137      $ 19,006   

Operating expenses

     1,291        1,079        1,814        4,983        9,167        9,220   
                                                

Net operating (loss) income

     (580     987        3,730        8,833        12,970        9,786   

Depreciation

     -        1,309        2,636        3,708        7,653        4,108   

General and administrative/other

     69        -        43        11        123        107   
                                                

Operating (loss) income

     (649     (322     1,051        5,114        5,194        5,571   

Interest and other income

     6        3        -        5        14        46   

Other expenses

     (371     -        (1     -        (372     -   

Interest:

            

Expense incurred, net

     (678     (458     (1,552     (5,030     (7,718     (7,394

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     -        (89     (111     (56     (256     (313

Income and other tax (expense) benefit

     (33     -        (8     (16     (57     (92
                                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (1,725   $ (866   $ (621   $ 17      $ (3,195   $ (2,182
                                                

 

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(1)

Project and unit counts exclude all uncompleted development projects until those projects are substantially completed.

(2)

All debt is non-recourse to the Operating Partnership with the exception of $42.2 million in mortgage debt on various development projects. In addition, $66.0 million in mortgage debt on one development project will become recourse to the Operating Partnership upon completion of the project.

(3)

Represents the Operating Partnership’s current economic ownership interest.

(4)

Projects included here are substantially complete. However, they may still require additional exterior and interior work for all units to be available for leasing.

(5)

Unconsolidated debt maturities and rates are as follows: $70.0 million (net of $42.6 million in cash collateral held by the lender), May 1, 2010, 8.33%; $121.0 million, December 1, 2010, 7.54%; $143.8 million, March 1, 2011, 6.95%; and $11.9 million, July 1, 2019, 5.305%. On April 30, 2010, the Operating Partnership acquired the 75% equity interest it did not previously own in seven of the unconsolidated properties containing 1,811 units in exchange for an approximate $30.0 million payment to its partner. In addition, the Operating Partnership repaid the net $70.0 million mortgage loan, which was to mature on May 1, 2010, concurrent with closing using proceeds drawn from the Operating Partnership’s line of credit.

The Operating Partnership is the controlling partner in various consolidated partnership properties and development properties having a noncontrolling interest book value of $10.4 million at March 31, 2010. The Operating Partnership has identified its development partnerships as VIEs as the Operating Partnership provides substantially all of the capital for these ventures (other than third party mortgage debt, if any) despite the fact that each partner legally owns 50% of each venture. The Operating Partnership is the primary beneficiary as it exerts the most significant power over the ventures, absorbs the majority of the expected losses and has the right to receive a majority of the expected residual returns. The assets net of liabilities of the Operating Partnership’s VIEs are restricted in their use to the specific VIE to which they relate and are not available for general corporate use. The Operating Partnership does not have any unconsolidated VIEs.

 

7.

Deposits – Restricted

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s restricted deposits as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (amounts in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2010
   December  31,
2009
     

Tax–deferred (1031) exchange proceeds

   $ 51,549    $ 244,257

Earnest money on pending acquisitions

     16,505      6,000

Restricted deposits on debt (1)

     42,138      49,565

Resident security and utility deposits

     41,660      39,361

Other

     11,526      12,825
             

Totals

   $ 163,378    $ 352,008
             

 

  (1)

Primarily represents amounts held in escrow by the lender and released as draw requests are made on fully funded development mortgage loans.

 

8.

Mortgage Notes Payable

As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership had outstanding mortgage debt of approximately $4.8 billion.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership:

 

   

Repaid $153.5 million of mortgage loans;

   

Obtained $55.7 million of new mortgage loan proceeds;

   

Assumed $145.7 million of mortgage debt on two acquired properties; and

   

Was released from $40.0 million of mortgage debt assumed by the purchaser on two disposed properties.

The Operating Partnership recorded approximately $900,000 and $700,000 of write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as additional interest related to debt extinguishment of mortgages.

As of March 31, 2010, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding mortgage indebtedness were at various dates through September 1, 2048. At March 31, 2010, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 0.17% to 12.465%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 4.84%.

 

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9.

Notes

As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $4.6 billion.

As of March 31, 2010, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding notes were at various dates through 2026. At March 31, 2010, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 0.54% to 7.57%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 5.09%.

 

10.

Lines of Credit

The Operating Partnership has a $1.425 billion (net of $75.0 million which had been committed by a now bankrupt financial institution and is not available for borrowing) unsecured revolving credit facility maturing on February 28, 2012, with the ability to increase available borrowings by an additional $500.0 million by adding additional banks to the facility or obtaining the agreement of existing banks to increase their commitments. Advances under the credit facility bear interest at variable rates based upon LIBOR at various interest periods plus a spread (currently 0.50%) dependent upon the Operating Partnership’s credit rating or based on bids received from the lending group. EQR has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s credit facility up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility.

As of March 31, 2010, the amount available on the credit facility was $1.28 billion (net of $58.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of $91.0 million outstanding and net of the $75.0 million discussed above). During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the weighted average interest rate was 0.59%.

 

11.

Derivative and Other Fair Value Instruments

The valuation of financial instruments requires the Operating Partnership to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Operating Partnership, 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 Operating Partnership bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

The carrying values of the Operating Partnership’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured notes (including its line of credit) were approximately $4.8 billion and $4.7 billion, respectively, at March 31, 2010. The fair values of the Operating Partnership’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured notes (including its line of credit) were approximately $4.7 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, at March 31, 2010. The fair values of the Operating Partnership’s financial instruments (other than mortgage notes payable, unsecured notes, lines of credit, derivative instruments and investment securities) including cash and cash equivalents and other financial instruments, approximate their carrying or contract values.

In the normal course of business, the Operating Partnership is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Operating Partnership seeks to limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

The following table summarizes the Operating Partnership’s consolidated derivative instruments at March 31, 2010 (dollar amounts are in thousands):

 

     Fair Value
Hedges  (1)
   Forward
Starting
Swaps (2)
   Development
Cash Flow
Hedges (3)
        
        

Current Notional Balance

   $ 315,693    $ 900,000    $ 69,660

Lowest Possible Notional

   $ 315,693    $ 900,000    $ 3,020

Highest Possible Notional

   $ 317,694    $ 900,000    $ 91,343

Lowest Interest Rate

     2.009%      4.005%      4.059%

Highest Interest Rate

     4.800%      4.695%      4.059%

Earliest Maturity Date

     2012      2020      2011

Latest Maturity Date

     2013      2023      2011

 

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  (1)

Fair Value Hedges – Converts outstanding fixed rate debt to a floating interest rate.

  (2)

Forward Starting Swaps – Designed to partially fix the interest rate in advance of a planned future debt issuance. These swaps have mandatory counterparty terminations from 2011 through 2014.

  (3)

Development Cash Flow Hedges – Converts outstanding floating rate debt to a fixed interest rate.

The following tables provide the location of the Operating Partnership’s derivative instruments within the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and their fair market values as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

     Asset Derivatives    Liability Derivatives  

March 31, 2010

   Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value    Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value  

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

           

Interest Rate Contracts:

           

Fair Value Hedges

   Other assets    $ 7,928    Other liabilities    $ -   

Forward Starting Swaps

   Other assets      13,309    Other liabilities      (3,331

Development Cash Flow Hedges

   Other assets      -    Other liabilities      (3,429
                     

Total

      $ 21,237       $ (6,760
                     

 

     Asset Derivatives    Liability Derivatives  

December 31, 2009

   Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value    Balance Sheet
Location
   Fair Value  

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

           

Interest Rate Contracts:

           

Fair Value Hedges

   Other assets    $ 5,186    Other liabilities    $ -   

Forward Starting Swaps

   Other assets      23,630    Other liabilities      -   

Development Cash Flow Hedges

   Other assets      -    Other liabilities      (3,577
                     

Total

      $ 28,816       $ (3,577
                     

The following tables provide a summary of the effect of fair value hedges on the Operating Partnership’s accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

March 31, 2010

Type of Fair Value Hedge

   Location of  Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
   Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
   Hedged Item    Income Statement
Location of  Hedged
Item Gain/(Loss)
   Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Hedged Item
 
              
              

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

              

Interest Rate Contracts:

              

Interest Rate Swaps

   Interest expense    $ 2,742    Fixed rate debt    Interest expense    $ (2,742
                        

Total

      $ 2,742          $ (2,742
                        

 

March 31, 2010

Type of Fair Value Hedge

   Location of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized  in Income
on Derivative
   Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
    Hedged Item    Income Statement
Location of  Hedged
Item Gain/(Loss)
   Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Hedged Item

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

             

Interest Rate Contracts:

             

Interest Rate Swaps

   Interest expense    $ (1,831   Fixed rate debt    Interest expense    $ 1,831
                       

Total

      $ (1,831         $ 1,831
                       

The following tables provide a summary of the effect of cash flow hedges on the Operating Partnership’s accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

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    Effective Portion     Ineffective Portion

March 31, 2010

Type of Cash Flow Hedge

  Amount  of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in OCI
on Derivative
    Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified  from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
  Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into  Income
    Location  of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
  Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

         

Interest Rate Contracts:

         

Forward Starting Swaps/Treasury Locks

  $ (13,652   Interest expense   $ (726   N/A   $ -

Development Interest Rate Swaps/Caps

    149      Interest expense     -      N/A     -
                         

Total

  $ (13,503     $ (726     $ -
                         

 

    Effective Portion     Ineffective Portion

March 31, 2009

Type of Cash Flow Hedge

  Amount  of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in OCI
on  Derivative
  Location of  Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into  Income
  Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into  Income
    Location  of
Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivative
  Amount of  Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into  Income
         
         
         

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

         

Interest Rate Contracts:

         

Forward Starting Swaps/Treasury Locks

  $ 2,212   Interest expense   $ (1,493   N/A   $ -

Development Interest Rate Swaps/Caps

    448   Interest expense     -      N/A     -
                       

Total

  $ 2,660     $ (1,493     $ -
                       

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there were approximately $8.6 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and $4.2 million in deferred gains, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive income, respectively. Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership may recognize an estimated $6.2 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending March 31, 2011.

The following table sets forth the maturity, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, book/fair value and interest and other income of the various investment securities held as of March 31, 2010 (amounts in thousands):

 

          Other Assets     

Security

   Maturity    Amortized
Cost
   Unrealized
Gains
   Unrealized
Losses
   Book/
Fair Value
   Interest and
Other  Income

Available-for-Sale

                 

FDIC-insured certificates of deposit

   Less than one year    $ 25,000    $ -    $ -    $ 25,000    $ 61

Other

   Between one and

five years or N/A

     675      304      -      979      -
                                     

Total

      $ 25,675    $ 304    $ -    $ 25,979    $ 61
                                     

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 Operating Partnership’s derivative positions are valued using models developed by the respective counterparty as well as models developed internally by the Operating Partnership that use as their basis readily observable market parameters (such as forward yield curves and credit default swap data) and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. In addition, employee holdings other than EQR Common Shares within the supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) have a fair value of $59.0 million as of March 31, 2010 and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These SERP investments are valued using quoted market prices for identical assets and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

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The Operating Partnership’s investment securities are valued using quoted market prices or readily available market interest rate data. The quoted market prices are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy and the market interest rate data are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Redeemable Limited Partners are valued using the quoted market price of EQR Common Shares and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

12.

Earnings Per Unit

The following tables set forth the computation of net income per Unit – basic and net income per Unit – diluted (amounts in thousands except per Unit amounts):

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:

    

(Loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (2,208   $ 12,090   

Net loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     250        69   

Allocation to Preference Units

     (3,620     (3,620

Allocation to Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units

     -        (4
                

(Loss) income from continuing operations available to Units

     (5,578     8,535   

Discontinued operations, net

     60,064        73,331   
                

Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted

   $ 54,486      $ 81,866   
                

Denominator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:

    

Denominator for net income per Unit – basic

     294,450        288,710   

Effect of dilutive securities:

    

Dilution for Units issuable upon assumed exercise/vesting of EQR’s long-term compensation award shares/units

       143   
          

Denominator for net income per Unit – diluted

     294,450        288,853   
                

Net income per Unit – basic

   $ 0.18      $ 0.28   
                

Net income per Unit – diluted

   $ 0.18      $ 0.28   
                

Net income per Unit – basic:

    

(Loss) income from continuing operations available to Units

   $ (0.019   $ 0.029   

Discontinued operations, net

     0.204        0.254   
                

Net income per Unit – basic

   $ 0.185      $ 0.283   
                

Net income per Unit – diluted:

    

(Loss) income from continuing operations available to Units

   $ (0.019   $ 0.029   

Discontinued operations, net

     0.204        0.254   
                

Net income per Unit – diluted

   $ 0.185      $ 0.283   
                

Potential common shares issuable from the assumed exercise/vesting of EQR long-term compensation award shares/units are automatically anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the diluted earnings per Unit calculation as the Operating Partnership had a loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Convertible preference interests/units that could be converted into 397,611 and 406,031 weighted average Common Shares (which would be contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units) for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per Unit because the effects would be anti-dilutive. In addition, the effect of the Common Shares/OP Units that could ultimately be issued upon the conversion/exchange of the Operating Partnership’s $650.0 million ($482.5 million outstanding at March 31, 2010) exchangeable senior notes was not included in the computation of diluted earnings per Unit because the effects would be anti-dilutive.

 

13.

Discontinued Operations

The Operating Partnership has presented separately as discontinued operations in all periods the results of operations for all consolidated assets disposed of, all operations related to condominium conversion properties

 

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effective upon their respective transfer into a TRS and all properties held for sale, if any.

The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Operating Partnership owned such assets during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (amounts in thousands).

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

REVENUES

    

Rental income

   $ 2,278      $ 36,011   
                

Total revenues

     2,278        36,011   
                

EXPENSES (1)

    

Property and maintenance

     1,281        11,407   

Real estate taxes and insurance

     501        3,953   

Depreciation

     415        8,679   

General and administrative

     3        5   
                

Total expenses

     2,200        24,044   
                

Discontinued operating income

     78        11,967   

Interest and other income

     1        7   

Interest (2):

    

Expense incurred, net

     (22     (430

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     -        (35

Income and other tax (expense) benefit

     (29     (49
                

Discontinued operations

     28        11,460   

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations

     60,036        61,871   
                

Discontinued operations, net

   $ 60,064      $ 73,331   
                

 

  (1)

Includes expenses paid in the current period for properties sold or held for sale in prior periods related to the Operating Partnership’s period of ownership.

  (2)

Includes only interest expense specific to secured mortgage notes payable for properties sold and/or held for sale.

For the properties sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (excluding condominium conversion properties), the investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, and the mortgage notes payable balances at December 31, 2009 were $85.3 million and $40.0 million, respectively.

The net real estate basis of the Operating Partnership’s condominium conversion properties owned by the TRS and included in discontinued operations (excludes the Operating Partnership’s halted conversions as they are now held for use), which were included in investment in real estate, net in the consolidated balance sheets, was $0.3 million and $0.8 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

 

14.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Operating Partnership, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws. Compliance by the Operating Partnership with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership. However, the Operating Partnership 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.

The Operating Partnership is party to a housing discrimination lawsuit brought by a non-profit civil rights organization in April 2006 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The suit alleges that the Operating Partnership designed and built approximately 300 of its properties in violation of the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and Americans With Disabilities Act. The suit seeks actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief (including modification of non-compliant properties), costs and attorneys’ fees. The Operating Partnership believes it has a number of viable defenses, including that a majority of the named properties were completed before the operative dates of the statutes in question and/or were not designed or built by the Operating Partnership. Accordingly, the Operating Partnership is defending

 

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the suit vigorously. Due to the pendency of the Operating Partnership’s defenses and the uncertainty of many other critical factual and legal issues, it is not possible to determine or predict the outcome of the suit and as a result, no amounts have been accrued at March 31, 2010. While no assurances can be given, the Operating Partnership does not believe that the suit, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership does not believe there is any other litigation pending or threatened against it that, individually or in the aggregate, may reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership has established a reserve and recorded a corresponding reduction to its net gain on sales of discontinued operations related to potential liabilities associated with its condominium conversion activities. The reserve covers potential product liability related to each conversion. The Operating Partnership periodically assesses the adequacy of the reserve and makes adjustments as necessary. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership recorded additional reserves of approximately $0.7 million, paid approximately $0.7 million in claims and legal fees and released approximately $0.2 million of remaining reserves for settled claims. As a result, the Operating Partnership had total reserves of approximately $6.5 million at March 31, 2010. While no assurances can be given, the Operating Partnership does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these potential liabilities, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership.

As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership has three projects totaling 1,220 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2011. Some of the projects are developed solely by the Operating Partnership, while others are co-developed with various third party development partners. The development venture agreements with partners are primarily deal-specific, with differing terms regarding profit-sharing, equity contributions, returns on investment, buy-sell agreements and other customary provisions. The partner is most often the “general” or “managing” partner of the development venture. The typical buy-sell arrangements contain appraisal rights and provisions that provide the right, but not the obligation, for the Operating Partnership to acquire the partner’s interest in the project at fair market value upon the expiration of a negotiated time period (typically two to five years after substantial completion of the project).

 

15.

Reportable Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by senior management. Senior management decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a monthly basis.

The Operating Partnership’s primary business is owning, managing and operating multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. Senior management evaluates the performance of each of our apartment communities individually and geographically, and both on a same store and non-same store basis; however, each of our apartment communities generally has similar economic characteristics, residents, products and services. The Operating Partnership’s operating segments have been aggregated by geography in a manner identical to that which is provided to its chief operating decision maker.

The Operating Partnership’s fee and asset management, development (including its partially owned properties), condominium conversion and corporate housing (Equity Corporate Housing or “ECH”) activities are immaterial and do not individually meet the threshold requirements of a reportable segment and as such, have been aggregated in the “Other” segment in the tables presented below.

All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Operating Partnership’s total revenues during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The primary financial measure for the Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense (all as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations). The Operating Partnership believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Operating Partnership’s apartment communities. Current year NOI is compared to prior year NOI and current year budgeted NOI as a measure of financial performance. The following tables present NOI for each segment from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as well as total assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (amounts in thousands):

 

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Table of Contents
     Quarter Ended March 31, 2010
     Northeast    Northwest     Southeast    Southwest    Other (3)     Total

Rental income:

               

Same store (1)

   $ 147,207    $ 91,612      $ 97,523    $ 107,355    $ -      $ 443,697

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     16,630      1,446        1,111      3,859      19,525        42,571
                                           

Total rental income

     163,837      93,058        98,634      111,214      19,525        486,268

Operating expenses:

               

Same store (1)

     60,074      35,206        42,370      39,197      -        176,847

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     7,045      753        454      1,826      18,115        28,193
                                           

Total operating expenses

     67,119      35,959        42,824      41,023      18,115        205,040

NOI:

               

Same store (1)

     87,133      56,406        55,153      68,158      -        266,850

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     9,585      693        657      2,033      1,410        14,378
                                           

Total NOI

   $ 96,718    $ 57,099      $ 55,810    $ 70,191    $ 1,410      $ 281,228
                                           

Total assets

   $ 5,842,565    $ 2,581,681      $ 2,698,029    $ 2,798,923    $ 1,597,215      $ 15,518,413
                                           

 

(1)    Same store includes properties owned for all of both periods ending March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 which represented 117,512 units.

(2)    Non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2009.

(3)    Other includes ECH, development, condominium conversion overhead of $0.2 million and other corporate operations. Also reflects a $2.0 million elimination of rental income recorded in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest operating segments related to ECH.

 

     Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
     Northeast    Northwest     Southeast    Southwest    Other (3)     Total

Rental income:

               

Same store (1)

   $ 148,990    $ 96,487      $ 99,367    $ 112,058    $ -      $ 456,902

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     1,010      348        920      2,211      18,824        23,313
                                           

Total rental income

     150,000      96,835        100,287      114,269      18,824        480,215

Operating expenses:

               

Same store (1)

     58,478      34,296        42,389      38,998      -        174,161

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     984      466        418      1,564      18,892        22,324
                                           

Total operating expenses

     59,462      34,762        42,807      40,562      18,892        196,485

NOI:

               

Same store (1)

     90,512      62,191        56,978      73,060      -        282,741

Non-same store/other (2) (3)

     26      (118     502      647      (68     989
                                           

Total NOI

   $ 90,538    $ 62,073      $ 57,480    $ 73,707    $ (68   $ 283,730
                                           

 

(1)

Same store includes properties owned for all of both periods ending March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 which represented 117,512 units.

(2)

Non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2009.

(3)

Other includes ECH, development, condominium conversion overhead of $0.5 million and other corporate operations. Also reflects a $2.3 million elimination of rental income recorded in Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest operating segments related to ECH.

Note: Markets included in the above geographic segments are as follows:

(a)

Northeast – New England (excluding Boston), Boston, New York Metro, DC Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.

(b)

Northwest – Central Valley, Denver, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle/Tacoma.

(c)

Southeast – Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, South Florida, Tampa and Tulsa.

(d)

Southwest – Albuquerque, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix and San Diego.

The following table presents a reconciliation of NOI from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

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     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Rental income

   $ 486,268      $ 480,215   

Property and maintenance expense

     (126,753     (124,932

Real estate taxes and insurance expense

     (57,607     (52,539

Property management expense

     (20,680     (19,014
                

Total operating expenses

     (205,040     (196,485
                

Net operating income

   $ 281,228      $ 283,730   
                

 

16.

Subsequent Events/Other

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership:

 

   

Acquired its joint venture partner’s interest in one development property for $0.1 million;

   

Acquired one apartment property consisting of 559 units for $166.8 million;

   

Exercised the first of its two one-year extension options related to the Operating Partnership’s $500.0 million term loan facility, which originally matured on October 5, 2010 but now matures on October 5, 2011 and has one remaining one-year extension option exercisable by the Operating Partnership;

   

Repaid $102.2 million in mortgage loans on various properties; and

   

Acquired the 75% equity interest it did not previously own in seven of the unconsolidated properties containing 1,811 units in exchange for an approximate $30.0 million payment to its partner. In addition, the Operating Partnership repaid the $112.6 million mortgage loan, which was to mature on May 1, 2010, concurrent with closing using $70.0 million drawn from the Operating Partnership’s line of credit and $42.6 million in proceeds held by the lender from four property sales in 2009.

Other

During the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Operating Partnership incurred charges of $4.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, related to the write-off of various pursuit and out-of-pocket costs for terminated acquisition, disposition (including halted condominium conversions) and development transactions ($1.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively) and related to property acquisition costs, such as survey, title and legal fees, on the acquisition of operating properties ($3.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively). These costs are included in other expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

During the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Operating Partnership received $2.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the settlement of insurance/litigation claims, which are included in interest and other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

For further information including definitions for capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this report 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 Operating Partnership’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 Operating Partnership 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 Operating Partnership 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 multifamily properties for rental operations as market conditions dictate. The Operating Partnership also develops projects and currently has various properties under development. We may begin new development activities if conditions warrant. We may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquired property up to standards established for its intended market position or to complete a development property. Additionally, we expect that other major real estate investors with significant capital will compete with us for attractive investment opportunities or may also develop properties in markets where we focus our development efforts. This competition may increase 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. To the extent that we do develop more properties if conditions warrant, we expect to do so ourselves in addition to co-investing with our development partners. The total number of development units, 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 and local government regulation;

   

Debt financing and other capital required by the Operating Partnership 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 economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction and excess inventory of multifamily housing and single family housing, slow or negative employment growth, availability of low interest mortgages for single family home buyers and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Operating Partnership’s control; and

   

Additional factors as discussed in Part I of 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 Notes 2, 5, 11 and 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Overview

ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”), an Illinois limited partnership, was formed in May 1993 to conduct the multifamily residential property business of Equity Residential (“EQR”). EQR, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993, is an S&P 500 company focused on the acquisition, development and management of high quality apartment properties in top United States growth markets. EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT.

EQR is one of the largest publicly traded real estate companies and is the largest publicly traded owner of multifamily properties in the United States (based on the aggregate market value of its outstanding Common Shares, the number of apartment units wholly owned and total revenues earned). The Operating Partnership’s corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois and the Operating Partnership also operates property management offices

 

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throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership has approximately 4,200 employees who provide real estate operations, leasing, legal, financial, accounting, acquisition, disposition, development and other support functions.

EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2010 owned an approximate 95.3% ownership interest in, ERPOP. EQR is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) under which all property ownership and related business operations are conducted through ERPOP and its subsidiaries. References to the “Operating Partnership” include ERPOP and those entities owned or controlled by it. References to the “Company” mean EQR and the Operating Partnership.

Business Objectives and Operating Strategies

The Operating Partnership seeks to maximize current income, capital appreciation of each property and the total return for its shareholders. The Operating Partnership’s strategy for accomplishing these objectives includes:

 

   

Leveraging our size and scale in four critical ways:

   

Investing in apartment communities located in strategically targeted markets to maximize our total risk-adjusted return on an enterprise level;

   

Meeting the needs of our residents by offering a wide array of product choices and a commitment to service;

   

Engaging, retaining and attracting the best employees by providing them with the education, resources and opportunities to succeed; and

   

Sharing resources and best practices in property management across the enterprise.

   

Owning a highly diversified portfolio in our target markets. Target markets are defined by a combination of the following criteria:

   

High barrier-to-entry markets where because of land scarcity or government regulation it is difficult or costly to build new apartment complexes leading to low supply;

   

Markets with high single family housing prices making our apartments a more economical housing choice and allowing us to more readily increase rents;

   

Strong economic growth leading to high demand for apartments; and

   

Markets with an attractive quality of life leading to high demand and retention.

   

Giving residents reasons to stay with the Operating Partnership by providing a range of product choices available in our diversified portfolio and by enhancing their experience with us through meticulous customer service by our employees and by providing various value-added services.

   

Being open and responsive to changes in the market in order to take advantage of investment opportunities that align with our long-term vision.

Acquisition, Development and Disposition Strategies

The Operating Partnership anticipates that future property acquisitions, developments and dispositions will occur within the United States. Acquisitions and developments may be financed from various sources of capital, which may include retained cash flow, issuance of additional equity and debt securities, sales of properties, joint venture agreements and collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings. In addition, the Operating Partnership may acquire properties in transactions that include the issuance of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (“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. ERPOP may also acquire land parcels to hold and/or sell based on market opportunities. The Operating Partnership may also seek to acquire properties by purchasing defaulted or distressed debt that encumbers desirable properties in the hope of obtaining title to property through foreclosure or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure proceedings.

When evaluating potential acquisitions, developments and dispositions, the Operating Partnership generally considers the following factors:

 

   

strategically targeted markets;

   

income levels and employment growth trends in the relevant market;

   

employment and household growth and net migration in the relevant market’s population;

   

barriers to entry that would limit competition (zoning laws, building permit availability, supply of undeveloped or developable real estate, local building costs and construction costs, among other factors);

   

the location, construction quality, age, condition and design of the property;

 

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the current and projected cash flow of the property and the ability to increase cash flow;

   

the potential for capital appreciation of the property;

   

the terms of resident leases, including the potential for rent increases;

   

the potential for economic growth and the tax and regulatory environment of the community in which the property is located;

   

the occupancy and demand by residents for properties of a similar type in the vicinity (the overall market and submarket);

   

the prospects for liquidity through sale, financing or refinancing of the property;

   

the benefits of integration into existing operations;

   

purchase prices and yields of available existing stabilized properties, if any;

   

competition from existing multifamily properties, comparably priced single family homes or rentals, residential properties under development and the potential for the construction of new multifamily properties in the area; and

   

opportunistic selling based on demand and price of high quality assets, including condominium conversions.

The Operating Partnership generally reinvests the proceeds received from property dispositions primarily to achieve its acquisition, development and rehab strategies and at times to fund its debt maturities and debt and equity repurchase activities. In addition, when feasible, the Operating Partnership may structure these transactions as tax-deferred exchanges.

Current Environment

Through much of 2009, the Operating Partnership assumed a highly cautious outlook given so much uncertainty in the general economy and the capital markets and deterioration in our property operations. In contrast, early 2010 seemed to warrant a cautious optimism given signs pointing to improvement in economic activity, more normalized credit markets and better fundamentals for our business. With the first quarter of 2010 behind us, we are becoming optimistic that the improvement realized to date in 2010 will be sustained and prospects for growth in our business are better than they have been in some time. However, we cannot be certain this improvement has firmly taken hold until we get through our primary leasing season (which runs through August).

The credit environment improved throughout mid and late 2009 and into 2010 and we currently have access to multiple sources of capital allowing us a less cautious posture with respect to pre-funding our maturing debt obligations. The Operating Partnership has access to the equity markets and believes it could access both the secured and unsecured debt markets at attractive rates. Additionally, the Operating Partnership has minimal debt maturities for the balance of 2010. As a result of the improved credit environment, in late 2009, we utilized $366.2 million of cash on hand to repurchase certain unsecured notes and convertible notes in public tender offers. Concurrently, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009, we began to see an increase in the availability of attractive acquisition opportunities. We expect to revert from a net seller of assets during 2009 to a net buyer of assets in 2010. The Operating Partnership acquired six properties consisting of 1,467 units for $639.3 million and one land parcel for $12.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership sold 10 properties consisting of 2,495 units for $170.0 million, as well as 2 condominium units for $0.4 million. Our access to capital and our ability to execute large, complex transactions should be competitive advantages in 2010. However, should a double-dip recession materialize or credit/equity markets deteriorate, we may seek to take steps similar to those we took in 2008 and early 2009 to increase liquidity and meet our debt maturities.

We believe that cash and cash equivalents, securities readily convertible to cash, current availability on our revolving credit facility and disposition proceeds for 2010 will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our funding obligations relating to asset acquisitions, debt maturities and existing development projects through 2010. We expect that our remaining longer-term funding requirements will be met through some combination of new borrowings, equity issuances (including EQR’s ATM share offering program), property dispositions and cash generated from operations.

Despite the challenging conditions noted below, we believe that the Operating Partnership is well-positioned notwithstanding the slow economic recovery. Our properties are geographically diverse and were approximately 94.5% occupied as of March 31, 2010, little new multifamily rental supply has been added to most of our markets and the long-term demographic picture is positive. We believe our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity will allow us to fund our debt maturities and development fundings in the near term, and should also allow us to take advantage of investment opportunities in the future. When economic conditions improve, the short-term nature of our leases and the limited supply of new rental housing being constructed should allow us to quickly realize revenue growth and improvement in our operating results.

While a generally improving credit environment and better general economic conditions provide reason for optimism, the Operating Partnership will continue to experience a period of declining revenues in 2010, which will adversely impact the Operating Partnership’s results of operations. The vast majority of our leases are for terms of 12 months or less. As a result, we quickly feel the impact of an economic downturn which limits our ability to raise rents or causes us to lower rents on turnover units and lease renewals.

 

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During late 2008 and most of 2009, our rental rates across the portfolio declined on average between 9% and 10% for new residents but on average less than 1% for renewing residents. Given the roll-down in lease rates that occurred throughout 2009, the full year comparison to 2010 will continue to show declining revenue, even though quarter over quarter revenue improvement has been pronounced enough that the Operating Partnership expects sequential same store revenue to increase in the second quarter of 2010 when compared to the first quarter of 2010 for the first time in six quarters. Our revenues have benefited from our resident turnover rates, which have generally declined more significantly than expected, and our occupancy rates, which increased more quickly than expected. Further, we have experienced better than expected increases in lease renewals while the decline in lease rates for new leases has been smaller than expected.

After three consecutive years of excellent expense control (same store expenses declined 0.1% between 2009 and 2008 and grew 2.2% between 2008 and 2007 and 2.1% between 2007 and 2006), the Operating Partnership anticipates that 2010 same store expenses will increase between 1.0% and 2.0% primarily due to cost pressures from non-controllable areas such as real estate taxes and utilities (same store expenses increased 1.5% in the first quarter of 2010 when compared with the same period in the prior year). The combination of expected declines in revenues and moderately increasing expense levels will have a negative impact on the Operating Partnership’s results of operations for 2010.

Results of Operations

In conjunction with our business objectives and operating strategy, the Operating Partnership continued to invest or recycle its capital investment in apartment properties located in strategically targeted markets during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 as follows:

 

   

Acquired $639.3 million of apartment properties consisting of six properties and 1,467 units and one land

 

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parcel for $12.0 million, all of which we deem to be in our strategic targeted markets; and

   

Sold $170.0 million of apartment properties consisting of 10 properties and 2,495 units, as well as 2 condominium units for $0.4 million, the majority of which was in exit or less desirable markets.

The Operating Partnership’s primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental income less property and maintenance expense, real estate tax and insurance expense and property management expense. The Operating Partnership believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Operating Partnership’s apartment communities.

Properties that the Operating Partnership owned for all of both of the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (the “First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties”), which represented 117,512 units, impacted the Operating Partnership’s results of operations. The First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The Operating Partnership’s acquisition, disposition and completed development activities also impacted overall results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Dilution, as a result of the Operating Partnership’s net asset sales last year, negatively impacts property net operating income. The impacts of these activities are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

Comparison of the quarter ended March 31, 2010 to the quarter ended March 31, 2009

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership reported diluted earnings per Unit of $0.18 compared to $0.28 per Unit in the same period of 2009. The difference is primarily due to lower total property net operating income driven by lower same store NOI and dilution from the Operating Partnership’s 2009 and 2010 transaction activity.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, income from continuing operations decreased approximately $14.3 million when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The decrease in continuing operations is discussed below.

Revenues from the First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties decreased $13.2 million primarily as a result of a decrease in average rental rates charged to residents, partially offset by an increase in occupancy. Expenses from the First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties increased $2.7 million primarily due to increases in repairs and maintenance expenses (largely due to greater storm-related costs such as snow removal and roof repairs), higher real estate taxes, utilities and property management costs, partially offset by decreases in on-site payroll and administrative costs. The following tables provide comparative same store results and statistics for the First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties:

First Quarter 2010 vs. First Quarter 2009

Same Store Results/Statistics

$ in thousands (except for Average Rental Rate) – 117,512 Same Store Units

 

Description

   Results    Statistics
  

Revenues

  

Expenses

   NOI   

Average
Rental
Rate (1)

  

Occupancy

  

Turnover

Q1 2010

   $ 443,697    $   176,847    $ 266,850    $ 1,331    94.7%    11.8%

Q1 2009

   $ 456,902    $ 174,161    $ 282,741    $ 1,385    93.7%    13.5%
                                     

Change

   $   (13,205)    $ 2,686    $   (15,891)    $ (54)    1.0%    (1.7%)
                                     

Change

     (2.9%)      1.5%      (5.6%)      (3.9%)      

 

(1)

Average rental rate is defined as total rental revenues divided by the weighted average occupied units for the period.

The following table provides comparative same store operating expenses for the First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties:

 

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First Quarter 2010 vs. First Quarter 2009

Same Store Operating Expenses

$ in thousands – 117,512 Same Store Units

 

     Actual
Q1 2010
   Actual
Q1 2009
   $
Change
    %
Change
    % of Actual
Q1 2010
Operating
Expenses

Real estate taxes

   $ 46,920    $ 46,255    $ 665      1.4%      26.5%

On-site payroll (1)

     41,754      42,651      (897   (2.1%   23.6%

Utilities (2)

     28,978      28,374      604      2.1%      16.4%

Repairs and maintenance (3)

     26,089      24,453      1,636      6.7%      14.8%

Property management costs (4)

     17,836      16,905      931      5.5%      10.1%

Insurance

     5,637      5,634      3      0.1%      3.2%

Leasing and advertising

     3,805      3,636      169      4.6%      2.1%

Other operating expenses (5)

     5,828      6,253      (425   (6.8%   3.3%
                                

Same store operating expenses

   $ 176,847    $ 174,161    $ 2,686      1.5%      100.0%
                                

 

(1)

On-site payroll – Includes payroll and related expenses for on-site personnel including property managers, leasing consultants and maintenance staff.

(2)

Utilities – Represents gross expenses prior to any recoveries under the Resident Utility Billing System (“RUBS”). Recoveries are reflected in rental income.

(3)

Repairs and maintenance – Includes general maintenance costs, 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 costs.

(4)

Property management costs – Includes payroll and related expenses for departments, or portions of departments, that directly support on-site management. These include such departments as regional and corporate property management, property accounting, human resources, training, marketing and revenue management, procurement, real estate tax, property legal services and information technology.

(5)

Other operating expenses – Includes administrative costs such as office supplies, telephone and data charges and association and business licensing fees.

The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations to NOI for the First Quarter 2010 Same Store Properties:

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  
     (Amounts in thousands)  

Operating income

   $ 118,596      $ 132,387   

Adjustments:

    

Non-same store operating results

     (14,378     (989

Fee and asset management revenue

     (2,422     (2,863

Fee and asset management expense

     2,014        2,003   

Depreciation

     152,319        141,809   

General and administrative

     10,721        10,394   
                

Same store NOI

   $ 266,850      $ 282,741   
                

For properties that the Operating Partnership acquired prior to January 1, 2009 and expects to continue to own through December 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership anticipates the following same store results for the full year ending December 31, 2010:

 

2010 Same Store Assumptions

Physical occupancy

   94.3%

Revenue change

   (3.0%) to (1.0%)

Expense change

   1.0% to 2.0%

NOI change

   (6.0%) to (2.0%)

The Operating Partnership anticipates consolidated rental acquisitions of $1.25 billion and consolidated rental dispositions of $850.0 million for the full year ending December 31, 2010.

These 2010 assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

 

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Non-same store operating results increased approximately $13.4 million and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar years 2009 and 2010, as well as operations from the Operating Partnership’s completed development properties and corporate housing business. While the operations of the non-same store assets have been negatively impacted during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 similar to the same store assets, the non-same store assets have contributed a greater percentage of total NOI to the Operating Partnership’s overall operating results primarily due to increasing occupancy for properties in lease-up and a longer ownership period in 2010 than 2009. This increase primarily resulted from:

 

   

Development and other miscellaneous properties in lease-up of $7.2 million;

   

Newly stabilized development and other miscellaneous properties of $1.0 million;

   

Properties acquired in 2009 and 2010 of $7.8 million; and

   

Partially offset by an allocation of property management costs not included in same store results and operating activities from other miscellaneous operations, such as the Operating Partnership’s corporate housing business.

See also Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Operating Partnership’s segment disclosures.

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses, decreased approximately $0.5 million or 52.6% primarily due to a decrease in revenue earned on management of the Operating Partnership’s military housing ventures at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base as well as management of the Operating Partnership’s partially owned unconsolidated joint ventures due to the continued sales of these properties.

Property management expenses from continuing operations include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Operating Partnership’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies. These expenses increased approximately $1.7 million or 8.8%. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in payroll-related costs and legal and professional fees, partially offset by a decline in marketing and training expenses.

Depreciation expense from continuing operations, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased approximately $10.5 million or 7.4% primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on properties acquired in 2009 and 2010, development properties placed in service and capital expenditures for all properties owned.

General and administrative expenses from continuing operations, which include corporate operating expenses, increased approximately $0.3 million or 3.1% primarily due to higher payroll-related costs. The Operating Partnership anticipates that general and administrative expenses will approximate $38.0 million to $40.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Interest and other income from continuing operations decreased approximately $3.8 million or 63.0% primarily as a result of a decrease in interest earned on cash and cash equivalents and investment securities due to lower interest rates during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and lower overall balances as well as a gain on debt extinguishment recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 that did not reoccur in 2010, partially offset by an increase in insurance/litigation settlement proceeds. The Operating Partnership anticipates that interest and other income will approximate $3.0 million to $4.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Other expenses from continuing operations increased approximately $4.1 million primarily due to an increase in pursuit cost write-offs as a result of the Operating Partnership’s decision to significantly reduce its development activities as well as an increase in property acquisition costs incurred in conjunction with the Operating Partnership’s significantly higher acquisition volume. The Operating Partnership anticipates that other expenses will approximate $10.0 million to $13.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward looking.

Interest expense from continuing operations, including amortization of deferred financing costs, decreased approximately $8.0 million or 6.3% primarily as a result of lower overall debt balances due to the significant debt repurchases in 2009 and lower rates, partially offset by interest expense on the $500.0 million mortgage pool that closed in June 2009 and lower capitalized interest. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership capitalized interest costs of approximately $4.4 million as compared to $10.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. This capitalization of interest primarily relates to consolidated projects under development. The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was 5.22% as compared to 5.41% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The Operating Partnership anticipates that interest expense will approximate $466.0 million to $476.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

 

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Income and other tax expense from continuing operations decreased approximately $2.0 million or 92.2% primarily due to a decrease in franchise taxes for Texas and a decrease in business taxes for Washington, D.C. The Operating Partnership anticipates that income and other tax expense will approximate $1.0 million to $2.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Loss from investments in unconsolidated entities increased approximately $0.3 million as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009 primarily due to miscellaneous income received during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 that did not reoccur in 2010, a decline in the operating performance of the Operating Partnership’s partially owned unconsolidated joint ventures and the continued sales of these properties.

Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities decreased approximately $2.3 million as the Operating Partnership had a larger gain on sale for a property sold in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the gain on sale for two properties sold in the first quarter of 2010.

Discontinued operations, net decreased approximately $13.3 million or 18.1% between the periods under comparison. This decrease is primarily due to lower gains from property sales during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 and the operations of those properties. In addition, properties sold in 2010 reflect operations for a partial period in 2010 in contrast to a full period in 2009. See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of January 1, 2010, the Operating Partnership had approximately $193.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, its restricted 1031 exchange proceeds totaled $244.3 million and it had $1.37 billion available under its revolving credit facility (net of $56.7 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and $75.0 million which had been committed by a now bankrupt financial institution and is not available for borrowing). After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, the Operating Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents balance at March 31, 2010 was approximately $60.2 million, its restricted 1031 exchange proceeds totaled $51.5 million and the amount available on the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facility was $1.28 billion (net of $58.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of $91.0 million outstanding and net of the $75.0 million discussed above).

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership generated proceeds from various transactions, which included the following:

 

   

Disposed of 10 properties and 2 condominium units, receiving net proceeds of approximately $106.4 million;

   

Obtained $55.7 million in new mortgage financing; and

   

Issued approximately 1.9 million Units and received net proceeds of $57.5 million.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the above proceeds were primarily utilized to:

 

   

Acquire six rental properties and one land parcel for approximately $498.3 million;

   

Invest $31.3 million primarily in development projects;

   

Repurchase 58,130 OP Units, utilizing cash of $1.9 million (see Note 3); and

   

Repay $153.5 million of mortgage loans.

In September 2009, EQR announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell up to 17.0 million Common Shares from time to time over the next three years 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 the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). EQR may, but shall have no obligation to, sell Common Shares through the ATM share offering program in amounts and at times to be determined by EQR. Actual sales will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by EQR from time to time, including (among others) market conditions, the trading price of EQR’s Common Shares and determinations of the appropriate sources of funding for EQR. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, EQR issued approximately 1.1 million Common Shares at an average price of $33.87 per share for total consideration of approximately $35.8 million through the ATM program. Cumulative to date, EQR has issued approximately 4.6 million Common Shares at an average price of $35.03 for total consideration of approximately $159.5 million. EQR has 12.4 million Common Shares remaining available for issuance under the ATM program.

 

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Depending on its analysis of market prices, economic conditions and other opportunities for the investment of available capital, EQR may repurchase its Common Shares pursuant to its existing share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Trustees. EQR repurchased $1.9 million (58,130 shares at an average price per share of $32.46) of its Common Shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. Concurrent with these transactions, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 58,130 OP Units previously issued to EQR. As of March 31, 2010, EQR had authorization to repurchase an additional $464.6 million of its shares. See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Depending on its analysis of prevailing market conditions, liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors, the Operating Partnership may from time to time seek to repurchase and retire its outstanding debt in open market or privately negotiated transactions.

The Operating Partnership’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedules as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:

Debt Summary as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Amounts (1)    % of Total    Weighted
Average
Rates (1)
   Weighted
Average
Maturities
(years)

Secured

   $ 4,825,356    50.8%    4.84%    8.6

Unsecured

     4,669,377    49.2%    4.99%    4.4
                     

Total

   $ 9,494,733    100.0%    4.92%    6.5
                     

Fixed Rate Debt:

           

Secured – Conventional

   $ 3,876,409    40.8%    5.75%    7.2

Unsecured – Public/Private

     3,773,828    39.8%    5.85%    5.1
                     

Fixed Rate Debt

     7,650,237    80.6%    5.80%    6.2
                     

Floating Rate Debt:

           

Secured – Conventional

     343,275    3.6%    2.49%    3.6

Secured – Tax Exempt

     605,672    6.4%    0.55%    21.1

Unsecured – Public/Private

     804,549    8.5%    1.67%    1.4

Unsecured – Revolving Credit Facility

     91,000    0.9%    0.59%    1.9
                     

Floating Rate Debt

     1,844,496    19.4%    1.38%    8.0
                     

Total

   $ 9,494,733    100.0%    4.92%    6.5
                     

 

(1)

Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Note: The Operating Partnership capitalized interest of approximately $4.4 million and $10.6 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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Debt Maturity Schedule as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Year

  

Fixed

Rate (1)

   

Floating

Rate (1)

    Total    % of
Total
  

Weighted Average

Rates on Fixed

Rate Debt (1)

  

Weighted Average

Rates on Total

Debt (1)

2010

   $ 115,757      $ 568,442  (2)    $ 684,199    7.2%    5.78%    1.73%

2011

     1,066,539  (3)      237,858        1,304,397    13.7%    5.51%    4.92%

2012

     752,897        94,379  (4)      847,276    8.9%    5.42%    4.89%

2013

     266,581        304,549        571,130    6.0%    6.76%    4.87%

2014

     517,682        -        517,682    5.5%    5.28%    5.28%

2015

     355,914        -        355,914    3.8%    6.41%    6.41%

2016

     1,089,484        -        1,089,484    11.5%    5.32%    5.32%

2017

     1,355,743        456        1,356,199    14.3%    5.87%    5.87%

2018

     336,092        44,677        380,769    4.0%    5.95%    5.59%

2019

     502,244        20,766        523,010    5.5%    5.19%    5.01%

2020+

     1,291,304        573,369        1,864,673    19.6%    6.11%    5.11%
                                     

Total

   $ 7,650,237      $ 1,844,496      $ 9,494,733    100.0%    5.83%    5.01%
                                     

 

(1)

Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are as of March 31, 2010.

(2)

Includes the Operating Partnership’s $500.0 million term loan facility, which originally matured on October 5, 2010. Effective April 12, 2010, the Operating Partnership exercised the first of its two one-year extension options. As a result, the maturity date is now October 5, 2011 and there is one remaining one-year extension option exercisable by the Operating Partnership.

(3)

Includes $482.5 million face value of 3.85% convertible unsecured debt with a final maturity of 2026. The notes are callable by the Operating Partnership on or after August 18, 2011. The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021.

(4)

Includes $91.0 million outstanding on the Operating Partnership’s unsecured revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2010, there was approximately $1.28 billion available on this facility.

The following table provides a summary of the Operating Partnership’s unsecured debt as of March 31, 2010:

 

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Unsecured Debt Summary as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Coupon
Rate
  Due
Date
    Face
Amount
    Unamortized
Premium/
(Discount)
    Net
Balance
 

Fixed Rate Notes:

          
   6.950%   03/02/11      $ 93,096      $ 798      $ 93,894   
   6.625%   03/15/12        253,858        (366     253,492   
   5.500%   10/01/12        222,133        (548     221,585   
   5.200%   04/01/13  (1)      400,000        (355     399,645   

Fair Value Derivative Adjustments

         (1)      (300,000     -        (300,000
   5.250%   09/15/14        500,000        (274     499,726   
   6.584%   04/13/15        300,000        (563     299,437   
   5.125%   03/15/16        500,000        (318     499,682   
   5.375%   08/01/16        400,000        (1,175     398,825   
   5.750%   06/15/17        650,000        (3,688     646,312   
   7.125%   10/15/17        150,000        (489     149,511   
   7.570%   08/15/26        140,000        -        140,000   
   3.850%   08/15/26  (2)      482,545        (10,826     471,719   
                            
         3,791,632        (17,804     3,773,828   
                            

Floating Rate Notes:

          
     04/01/13  (1)      300,000        -        300,000   

Fair Value Derivative Adjustments

        (1)      4,549        -        4,549   

Term Loan Facility

   LIBOR+0.50%   10/05/10  (3)(4)      500,000        -        500,000   
                            
         804,549        -        804,549   

Revolving Credit Facility:

   LIBOR+0.50%   02/28/12  (3)(5)      91,000        -        91,000   
                            

Total Unsecured Debt

       $ 4,687,181      $ (17,804   $ 4,669,377   
                            

 

(1)

$300.0 million in fair value interest rate swaps converts a portion of the 5.200% notes due April 1, 2013 to a floating interest rate.

(2)

Convertible notes mature on August 15, 2026. The notes are callable by the Operating Partnership on or after August 18, 2011. The notes are putable by the holders on August 18, 2011, August 15, 2016 and August 15, 2021.

(3)

Facilities are private. All other unsecured debt is public.

(4)

Represents the Operating Partnership’s $500.0 million term loan facility, which originally matured on October 5, 2010. Effective April 12, 2010, the Operating Partnership exercised the first of its two one-year extension options. As a result, the maturity date is now October 5, 2011 and there is one remaining one-year extension option exercisable by the Operating Partnership.

(5)

Represents amount outstanding on the Operating Partnership’s unsecured revolving credit facility which matures on February 28, 2012. As of March 31, 2010, there was approximately $1.28 billion available on this facility.

An unlimited amount of debt securities remains available for issuance by the Operating Partnership under a registration statement that became automatically effective upon filing with the SEC in December 2008 (under SEC regulations enacted in 2005, the registration statement automatically expires on December 21, 2011 and does not contain a maximum issuance amount). An unlimited amount of equity securities remains available for issuance by EQR under a registration statement the SEC declared effective in December 2008 (under SEC regulations enacted in 2005, the registration statement automatically expires on December 15, 2011 and does not contain a maximum issuance amount).

The Operating Partnership’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of March 31, 2010 is presented in the following table. The Operating Partnership calculates the equity component of its market capitalization as the sum of (i) the total outstanding Units at the equivalent market value of the closing price of EQR’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) the “OP Unit Equivalent” of all convertible preference units; and (iii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preference units outstanding.

 

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Capital Structure as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)

 

Secured Debt

         $ 4,825,356    50.8  

Unsecured Debt

           4,669,377    49.2  
                     

Total Debt

           9,494,733    100.0   44.5

Units

     296,475,284           

OP Unit Equivalents (see below)

     397,482           
                 

Total outstanding at quarter-end

     296,872,766           

EQR Common Share Price at March 31, 2010

   $ 39.15           
                 
           11,622,569    98.3  

Perpetual Preference Units (see below)

           200,000    1.7  
                     

Total Equity

           11,822,569    100.0   55.5

Total Market Capitalization

         $ 21,317,302      100.0

Convertible Preference Units as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)

 

Series

   Redemption
Date
   Outstanding
Units
   Liquidation
Value
   Annual
Dividend Per
Unit
   Annual
Dividend
Amount
   Weighted
Average
Rate
    Conversion
Ratio
   OP Unit
Equivalents

Preference Units:

                      

7.00% Series E

   11/1/98    327,966    $ 8,199    $ 1.75    $ 574      1.1128    364,961

7.00% Series H

   6/30/98    22,459      562      1.75      39      1.4480    32,521
                                  

Total Convertible Preference Units

      350,425    $ 8,761       $ 613    7.00      397,482

Perpetual Preference Units as of March 31, 2010

(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)

 

Series

   Redemption
Date
   Outstanding
Units
   Liquidation
Value
   Annual
Dividend
Per Unit
   Annual
Dividend
Amount
   Weighted
Average
Rate
 

Preference Units:

                 

8.29% Series K

   12/10/26    1,000,000    $ 50,000    $ 4.145    $ 4,145   

6.48% Series N

   6/19/08    600,000      150,000      16.20      9,720   
                           

Total Perpetual Preference Units

      1,600,000    $ 200,000       $ 13,865    6.93

The Operating Partnership generally expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and certain scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. Under normal operating conditions, the Operating Partnership considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating requirements and payments of distributions. However, there may be times when the Operating Partnership experiences shortfalls in its coverage of distributions, which may cause the Operating Partnership to consider reducing its distributions and/or using the proceeds from property dispositions or additional financing transactions to make up the difference. Should these shortfalls occur for lengthy periods of time or be material in nature, the Operating Partnership’s financial condition may be adversely affected and it may not be able to maintain its current distribution levels. The Operating Partnership reduced its quarterly OP Unit dividend beginning with the dividend for the third quarter of 2009, from $0.4825 per Unit (an annual rate of $1.93 per Unit) to $0.3375 per Unit (an annual rate of $1.35 per Unit). The Operating Partnership believes that its expected 2010 operating cash flow is sufficient to cover capital expenditures and distributions.

The Operating Partnership also expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as scheduled unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions, financing of construction and development activities and capital improvements through the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities, including additional

 

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OP Units, and proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties as well as joint ventures. In addition, the Operating Partnership 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 Operating Partnership must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes and line of credit. Of the $19.0 billion in investment in real estate on the Operating Partnership’s balance sheet at March 31, 2010, $11.7 billion or 61.3% was unencumbered. However, there can be no assurances that these sources of capital will be available to the Operating Partnership in the future on acceptable terms or otherwise.

The Operating Partnership’s senior debt credit ratings from Standard & Poors (“S&P”), Moody’s and Fitch are BBB+, Baa1 and A-, respectively. EQR’s preferred equity ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch are BBB-, Baa2 and BBB, respectively. During the third quarter of 2009, Moody’s and Fitch placed both EQR and the Operating Partnership on negative outlook.

The Operating Partnership has a $1.425 billion (net of $75.0 million which had been committed by a now bankrupt financial institution and is not available for borrowing) long-term revolving credit facility with available borrowings as of April 30, 2010 of $917.8 million (net of $58.2 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of $449.0 million outstanding and net of the $75.0 million discussed above) that matures in February 2012 (see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion). This facility may, among other potential uses, be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short-term liquidity requirements.

See Note 16 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the events which occurred subsequent to March 31, 2010.

Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate

Our policy with respect to capital expenditures is generally to capitalize expenditures that improve the value of the property or extend the useful life of the component asset of the property. We track improvements to real estate in two major categories and several subcategories:

 

   

Replacements (inside the unit). These include:

   

flooring such as carpets, hardwood, vinyl, linoleum or tile;

   

appliances;

   

mechanical equipment such as individual furnace/air units, hot water heaters, etc;

   

furniture and fixtures such as kitchen/bath cabinets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, sinks, tubs, toilets, mirrors, countertops, etc; and

   

blinds/shades.

All replacements are depreciated over a five-year estimated useful life. We expense as incurred all make-ready maintenance and turnover costs such as cleaning, interior painting of individual units and the repair of any replacement item noted above.

 

   

Building improvements (outside the unit). These include:

   

roof replacement and major repairs;

   

paving or major resurfacing of parking lots, curbs and sidewalks;

   

amenities and common areas such as pools, exterior sports and playground equipment, lobbies, clubhouses, laundry rooms, alarm and security systems and offices;

   

major building mechanical equipment systems;

   

interior and exterior structural repair and exterior painting and siding;

   

major landscaping and grounds improvement; and

   

vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.

All building improvements are depreciated over a five to ten-year estimated useful life. We capitalize building improvements and upgrades only if the item: (i) exceeds $2,500 (selected projects must exceed $10,000); (ii) extends the useful life of the asset; and (iii) improves the value of the asset.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, our actual improvements to real estate totaled approximately $25.7 million. This includes the following (amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts):

 

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Capital Expenditures to Real Estate

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010

 

     Total
Units (1)
   Replacements (2)    Avg.
Per Unit
   Building
Improvements
   Avg.
Per Unit
   Total    Avg.
Per Unit

Same Store Properties (3)

   117,512    $ 16,087    $ 137    $ 8,461    $ 72    $ 24,548    $ 209

Non-Same Store Properties (4)

   6,750      455      80      551      97      1,006      177

Other (5)

   -      114         23         137   
                                  

Total

   124,262    $ 16,656       $ 9,035       $ 25,691   
                                  

 

(1)

Total Units – Excludes 7,602 unconsolidated units and 4,606 military housing units, for which repairs and maintenance expenses and capital expenditures to real estate are self-funded and do not consolidate into the Operating Partnership’s results.

(2)

Replacements – Includes new expenditures inside the units such as appliances, mechanical equipment, fixtures and flooring, including carpeting. Replacements for same store properties also include $6.2 million spent on various assets related to unit renovations/rehabs (primarily kitchens and baths) designed to reposition these assets for higher rental levels in their respective markets.

(3)

Same Store Properties – Primarily includes all properties acquired or completed and stabilized prior to January 1, 2009, less properties subsequently sold.

(4)

Non-Same Store Properties – Primarily includes all properties acquired during 2009 and 2010, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2009. Per unit amounts are based on a weighted average of 5,663 units.

(5)

Other – Primarily includes expenditures for properties sold during the period.

During 2010, the Operating Partnership continued its efforts to limit the scope of projects and apply greater cost controls on vendors. For 2010, the Operating Partnership estimates that it will spend approximately $1,075 per unit of capital expenditures for its same store properties inclusive of unit renovation/rehab costs, or $825 per unit excluding unit renovation/rehab costs. The above assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Operating Partnership’s property management offices and its corporate offices, were approximately $0.4 million. The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $1.2 million in total additions to non-real estate property for the remainder of 2010. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Improvements to real estate and additions to non-real estate property are generally funded from net cash provided by operating activities and from investment cash flow.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Operating Partnership is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Operating Partnership seeks to limit these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

The Operating Partnership 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 Operating Partnership 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 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments at March 31, 2010.

Other

Total distributions paid in April 2010 amounted to $102.5 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which included certain distributions declared during the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Operating Partnership has co-invested in various properties that are unconsolidated and accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Management does not believe these investments have a materially different impact upon the Operating Partnership’s liquidity, cash flows, capital resources, credit or market risk than its other property management and ownership activities. During 2000 and 2001, the Operating Partnership entered into institutional ventures with an unaffiliated partner. At the respective closing dates, the Operating Partnership sold and/or contributed 45 properties containing 10,846 units to these ventures and retained a 25% ownership interest in the ventures. The Operating Partnership’s joint venture partner contributed cash equal to 75% of the agreed-upon equity value of the properties comprising the ventures, which was then distributed to the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership’s strategy with respect to these ventures was to reduce its concentration of properties in a variety of markets. The Operating Partnership sold seven properties consisting of 1,684 units (including one property containing 250 units which was acquired by the Operating Partnership) and three properties consisting of 670 units during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In addition, the Operating Partnership sold two properties consisting of 484 units during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Operating Partnership and its joint venture partner currently intend to wind up these investments over the next few years by buying or selling the related assets, which may involve refinancing the assets as a majority of the debt encumbering them matures in 2010 and early 2011. See Note 6 for a description of debt maturities.

As of March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership has three projects totaling 1,220 units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2011. The development agreements currently in place are discussed in detail in Note 14 of the Operating Partnership’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

See also Notes 2 and 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Operating Partnership’s investments in partially owned entities.

The Operating Partnership’s contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter have not changed materially from the amounts and disclosures included in its annual report on Form 10-K, other than as it relates to scheduled debt maturities. See the updated debt maturity schedule included in Liquidity and Capital Resources for further discussion.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to use judgment in the application of accounting policies, including making estimates and assumptions. If our judgment or interpretation of the facts and circumstances relating to various transactions had been different or different assumptions were made, it is possible that different accounting policies would have been applied, resulting in different financial results or different presentation of our financial statements.

The Operating Partnership has identified five significant accounting policies as critical accounting policies. These critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and those requiring significant judgments and estimates. With respect to these critical accounting policies, management believes that the application of judgments and estimates is consistently applied and produces financial information that fairly presents the results of operations for all periods presented. The five critical accounting policies are:

Acquisition of Investment Properties

The Operating Partnership allocates the purchase price of properties to net tangible and identified intangible assets acquired based on their fair values. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, the Operating Partnership utilizes a number of sources, including independent appraisals that may be obtained in connection with the acquisition or financing of the respective property, our own analysis of recently acquired and existing comparable properties in our portfolio and other market data. The Operating Partnership also considers information obtained about each property as a result of its pre-acquisition due diligence, marketing and leasing activities in estimating the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Operating Partnership periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate, for indicators of permanent impairment. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions and legal and environmental concerns, as well as the Operating Partnership’s ability to hold and its intent with regard to each asset. Future events could occur which would cause the Operating Partnership to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted.

 

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Depreciation of Investment in Real Estate

The Operating Partnership depreciates the building component of its investment in real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building improvements over a 5-year to 10-year estimated useful life and both the furniture, fixtures and equipment and replacements components over a 5-year estimated useful life, all of which are judgmental determinations.

Cost Capitalization

See the Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate section for a discussion of the Operating Partnership’s policy with respect to capitalization vs. expensing of fixed asset/repair and maintenance costs. In addition, the Operating Partnership capitalizes the payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on the supervision of major capital and/or renovation projects. These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as an increase to depreciable property.

For all development projects, the Operating Partnership uses its professional judgment in determining whether such costs meet the criteria for capitalization or must be expensed as incurred. The Operating Partnership capitalizes interest, real estate taxes and insurance and payroll and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on development activities, with capitalization ceasing no later than 90 days following issuance of the certificate of occupancy. These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as construction-in-progress for each specific property. The Operating Partnership expenses as incurred all payroll costs of on-site employees working directly at our properties, except as noted above on our development properties prior to certificate of occupancy issuance and on specific major renovations at selected properties when additional incremental employees are hired.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments

The valuation of financial instruments requires the Operating Partnership to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Operating Partnership, 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 Operating Partnership bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

Funds From Operations

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) available to Units decreased by $20.5 million or 12.4% as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to FFO available to Units for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

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Funds From Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Net income

   $ 57,856      $ 85,421   

Adjustments:

    

Net loss attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties

     250        69   

Depreciation

     152,319        141,809   

Depreciation – Non-real estate additions

     (1,693     (1,898

Depreciation – Partially Owned and Unconsolidated Properties

     11        183   

Net (gain) on sales of unconsolidated entities

     (478     (2,765

Discontinued operations:

    

Depreciation

     415        8,679   

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations

     (60,036     (61,871

Net incremental gain (loss) on sales of condominium units

     388        (64
                

FFO (1) (2)

     149,032        169,563   

Preferred distributions

     (3,620     (3,624
                

FFO available to Units (1) (2)

   $ 145,412      $ 165,939   
                

 

(1)

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 of depreciable property, plus depreciation and amortization, 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. Once the Operating Partnership commences the conversion of units to condominiums, it simultaneously discontinues depreciation of such property. FFO available to Units is calculated on a basis consistent with net income available to Units and reflects adjustments to net income for preferred distributions and premiums on redemption of preference units/interests in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States

(2)

The Operating Partnership believes that FFO and FFO available to 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 dispositions of depreciable property 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 Units can help compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies. FFO and FFO available to Units do not represent net income, net income available to Units or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, FFO and FFO available to Units should not be exclusively considered as alternatives to net income, net income available to Units or net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as measures of liquidity. The Operating Partnership’s calculation of FFO and FFO available to 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.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

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 Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. See the Current Environment section of Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations relating to market risk and the current economic environment. See also Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative and other fair value instruments.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:

Effective as of March 31, 2010, 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

 

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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.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

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 in Item 4(a) above that occurred during the first quarter of 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Operating Partnership does not believe that there have been any material developments in the legal proceedings that were discussed in Part I, Item 3 of the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) Unregistered OP Units Issued in the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Operating Partnership issued 188,571 OP Units having a value of $7.4 million to its limited partners. OP Units are generally exchangeable into Common Shares of EQR on a one-for-one basis or, at the option of EQR and the Operating Partnership, the cash equivalent thereof, at any time one year after the date of issuance. These OP Units were issued in exchange for direct or indirect interest in multifamily properties in private placement transactions under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 the Operating Partnership from the limited partners in connection with these transactions, the Operating Partnership believes it may rely on these exemptions.

(c) OP Units Repurchased in the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010

The Operating Partnership repurchased the following OP Units during the quarter ended March 31, 2010:

 

Period

   Total Number
of OP  Units
Purchased (1)
   Average
Price
Paid Per
Unit (1)
   Total Number of
OP  Units
Purchased as Part of
Publicly  Announced
Plans or Programs (1)
   Dollar Value of
OP  Units
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the  Plans or
Programs (1)

January 2010

   -    $ -    -    $ 466,536,298

February 2010

   58,130    $ 32.46    58,130    $ 464,649,256

March 2010

   -    $ -    -    $ 464,649,256
                       

First Quarter 2010

   58,130    $ 32.46    58,130   

 

(1)

The OP Units repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 represent OP Units redeemed in response to repurchases of Common Shares under the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program approved by its Board of Trustees. All of the shares repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 were repurchased from employees at an average price of $32.46 per share (the average of the then current market prices) to cover the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of employees’ restricted shares. EQR has authorization to repurchase an additional $464.6 million of its shares as of March 31, 2010.

 

Item 6. Exhibits – See the Exhibit Index

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

BY: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL

ITS GENERAL PARTNER

Date: May 6, 2010     By:  

/s/    Mark J. Parrell

     

        Mark J. Parrell

     

        Executive Vice President and

     

        Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 6, 2010      
    By:  

/s/    Ian S. Kaufman

     

        Ian S. Kaufman

     

        Senior Vice President and

     

        Chief Accounting Officer

 

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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 number for our Exchange Act filings referenced below is 0-24920.

 

Exhibit   

Description

  

Location

31.1    Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.   

Attached herein.

31.2    Certification of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.   

Attached herein.

32.1    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.   

Attached herein.

32.2    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.   

Attached herein.

101    XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The following materials from ERP Operating Limited Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010, formatted in XBRL: (i) consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of operations, (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows, (iv) consolidated statement of changes in capital and (v) notes to consolidated financial statements. As provided in Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this information is furnished and not filed for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.   

Attached herein.