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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

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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, 2015

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

For the transition period from                 to                

Commission File Number: 1-12252 (Equity Residential)
Commission File Number: 0-24920 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)


EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland (Equity Residential)
13-3675988 (Equity Residential)
Illinois (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)
36-3894853 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
Two North Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 474-1300
 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Equity Residential Yes x    No ¨
ERP Operating Limited Partnership Yes x      No o
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).
Equity Residential Yes x    No ¨
ERP Operating Limited Partnership Yes x      No o
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.
Equity Residential:
 
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨
ERP Operating Limited Partnership:
 
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer x (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). 
Equity Residential Yes ¨    No x
ERP Operating Limited Partnership Yes ¨      No x 
The number of EQR Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, outstanding on April 30, 2015 was 363,988,765.



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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015 of Equity Residential and ERP Operating Limited Partnership. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “EQR” mean Equity Residential, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and references to “ERPOP” mean ERP Operating Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership. References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP. The following chart illustrates the Company's and the Operating Partnership's corporate structure:
    

EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2015 owned an approximate 96.2% ownership interest in, ERPOP. The remaining 3.8% interest is owned by limited partners. As the sole general partner of ERPOP, EQR has exclusive control of ERPOP's day-to-day management.

The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) and EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units (see definition below) in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering. Contributions of properties to the Company can be structured as tax-deferred transactions through the issuance of OP Units in ERPOP, which is one of the reasons why the Company is structured in the manner shown above. Based on the terms of ERPOP's partnership agreement, OP Units can be exchanged with Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The Company maintains a one-for-one relationship between the OP Units of ERPOP issued to EQR and the Common Shares.
    
The Company believes that combining the reports on Form 10-Q of EQR and ERPOP into this single report provides the following benefits:

enhances investors' understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;

eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both the Company and the Operating Partnership; and

creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one combined report instead of two separate reports.

Management operates the Company and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of EQR consists of the same members as the management of ERPOP.

The Company believes it is important to understand the few differences between EQR and ERPOP in the context of how EQR and ERPOP operate as a consolidated company. All of the Company's property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR's primary function is acting as the general partner of ERPOP. EQR also issues equity from time to time and guarantees certain debt of ERPOP, as disclosed in this report. EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company's ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for the net proceeds from equity offerings by EQR, which are contributed to



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the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional limited partnership interests in ERPOP (“OP Units”) (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis), the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the Company's business. These sources include the Operating Partnership's working capital, net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under its revolving credit facility and/or commercial paper program, the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities and proceeds received from disposition of certain properties and joint ventures.

Shareholders' equity, partners' capital and noncontrolling interests are the main areas of difference between the consolidated financial statements of the Company and those of the Operating Partnership. The limited partners of the Operating Partnership are accounted for as partners' capital in the Operating Partnership's financial statements and as noncontrolling interests in the Company's financial statements. The noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership's financial statements include the interests of unaffiliated partners in various consolidated partnerships and development joint venture partners. The noncontrolling interests in the Company's financial statements include the same noncontrolling interests at the Operating Partnership level and limited partner OP Unit holders of the Operating Partnership. The differences between shareholders' equity and partners' capital result from differences in the equity issued at the Company and Operating Partnership levels.

To help investors understand the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report provides separate consolidated financial statements for the Company and the Operating Partnership; a single set of consolidated notes to such financial statements that includes separate discussions of each entity's debt, noncontrolling interests and shareholders' equity or partners' capital, as applicable; and a combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section that includes discrete information related to each entity.

This report also includes separate Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures sections and separate Exhibits 31 and 32 certifications for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership in order to establish that the requisite certifications have been made and that the Company and the Operating Partnership are compliant with Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. §1350.

 
In order to highlight the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, the separate sections in this report for the Company and the Operating Partnership specifically refer to the Company and the Operating Partnership. In the sections that combine disclosure of the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report refers to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of the Company. Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that directly or indirectly enters into contracts and joint ventures and holds assets and debt, reference to the Company is appropriate because the Company is one business and the Company operates that business through the Operating Partnership.

 
As general partner with control of ERPOP, EQR consolidates ERPOP for financial reporting purposes, and EQR essentially has no assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements. The separate discussions of the Company and the Operating Partnership in this report should be read in conjunction with each other to understand the results of the Company on a consolidated basis and how management operates the Company.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                      and Results of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands except for share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate
 
 
 
 
Land
 
$
6,357,580

 
$
6,295,404

Depreciable property
 
20,024,497

 
19,851,504

Projects under development
 
1,269,784

 
1,343,919

Land held for development
 
143,997

 
184,556

Investment in real estate
 
27,795,858

 
27,675,383

Accumulated depreciation
 
(5,600,485
)
 
(5,432,805
)
Investment in real estate, net
 
22,195,373

 
22,242,578

Cash and cash equivalents
 
49,418

 
40,080

Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
89,284

 
105,434

Deposits – restricted
 
203,800

 
72,303

Escrow deposits – mortgage
 
50,659

 
48,085

Deferred financing costs, net
 
55,791

 
58,380

Other assets
 
384,723

 
383,754

Total assets
 
$
23,029,048

 
$
22,950,614

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
4,957,876

 
$
5,086,515

Notes, net
 
5,430,806

 
5,425,346

Line of credit and commercial paper
 
470,826

 
333,000

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
202,110

 
153,590

Accrued interest payable
 
84,670

 
89,540

Other liabilities
 
383,057

 
389,915

Security deposits
 
75,294

 
75,633

Distributions payable
 
208,954

 
188,566

Total liabilities
 
11,813,593

 
11,742,105

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
 
541,866

 
500,733

Equity:
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;
 
 
 
 
100,000,000 shares authorized; 803,600 shares issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and 1,000,000 shares
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014
 
40,180

 
50,000

Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;
 
 
 
 
1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 363,968,420 shares issued
and outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and 362,855,454
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014
 
3,640

 
3,629

Paid in capital
 
8,539,115

 
8,536,340

Retained earnings
 
1,928,449

 
1,950,639

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
 
(180,022
)
 
(172,152
)
Total shareholders’ equity
 
10,331,362

 
10,368,456

Noncontrolling Interests:
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership
 
219,566

 
214,411

Partially Owned Properties
 
122,661

 
124,909

Total Noncontrolling Interests
 
342,227

 
339,320

Total equity
 
10,673,589

 
10,707,776

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
23,029,048

 
$
22,950,614


See accompanying notes
2

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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
Rental income
 
$
664,606

 
$
630,725

Fee and asset management
 
1,765

 
2,717

Total revenues
 
666,371

 
633,442

 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
Property and maintenance
 
124,560

 
125,566

Real estate taxes and insurance
 
86,432

 
82,094

Property management
 
21,444

 
22,118

Fee and asset management
 
1,321

 
1,662

Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

General and administrative
 
19,922

 
17,576

Total expenses
 
448,200

 
434,183

 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
218,171

 
199,259

 
 
 
 
 
Interest and other income
 
120

 
605

Other expenses
 
70

 
(664
)
Interest:
 
 
 
 
Expense incurred, net
 
(108,622
)
 
(113,049
)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
(2,589
)
 
(2,792
)
Income before income and other taxes, income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities, net
gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties and land parcels and discontinued operations
 
107,150

 
83,359

Income and other tax (expense) benefit
 
(43
)
 
(240
)
Income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities
 
2,963

 
(1,409
)
Net gain on sales of real estate properties
 
79,951

 

Net (loss) on sales of land parcels
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
Income from continuing operations
 
190,020

 
81,680

Discontinued operations, net
 
204

 
1,052

Net income
 
190,224

 
82,732

Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership
 
(7,059
)
 
(3,093
)
Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Net income attributable to controlling interests
 
182,522

 
79,135

Preferred distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares
 
(2,789
)
 

Net income available to Common Shares
 
$
178,842

 
$
78,099

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share – basic:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.21

Net income available to Common Shares
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding
 
363,098

 
360,470

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share – diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.21

Net income available to Common Shares
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding
 
380,327

 
376,384

 
 
 
 
 
Distributions declared per Common Share outstanding
 
$
0.5525

 
$
0.50









See accompanying notes
3

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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
190,224

 
$
82,732

Other comprehensive (loss):
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period
 
(11,788
)
 
(11,952
)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income
 
4,338

 
4,129

Other comprehensive (loss) income – foreign currency:
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period
 
(420
)
 
91

Other comprehensive (loss)
 
(7,870
)
 
(7,732
)
Comprehensive income
 
182,354

 
75,000

Comprehensive (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
 
(7,402
)
 
(3,302
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests
 
$
174,952

 
$
71,698



See accompanying notes
4

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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
190,224

 
$
82,732

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
2,589

 
2,792

Amortization of above/below market leases
 
846

 
829

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt
 
(3,751
)
 
(2,938
)
Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments
 
4,205

 
3,996

Write-off of pursuit costs
 
493

 
452

(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities
 
(2,963
)
 
1,409

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital
 
516

 
914

Net (gain) on sale of investment securities
 

 
(21
)
Net (gain) on sales of real estate properties
 
(79,951
)
 

Net loss on sales of land parcels
 
1

 
30

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations
 

 
(71
)
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments
 
24

 
(3
)
Compensation paid with Company Common Shares
 
13,610

 
12,981

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in deposits – restricted
 
290

 
(418
)
(Increase) decrease in mortgage deposits
 
(456
)
 
375

(Increase) decrease in other assets
 
(4,237
)
 
18,613

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
45,450

 
55,263

(Decrease) in accrued interest payable
 
(4,870
)
 
(169
)
(Decrease) in other liabilities
 
(8,307
)
 
(26,194
)
(Decrease) increase in security deposits
 
(339
)
 
1,143

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
347,895

 
336,882

 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate – acquisitions
 
(6,720
)
 
(148,535
)
Investment in real estate – development/other
 
(146,194
)
 
(122,340
)
Capital expenditures to real estate
 
(38,170
)
 
(32,191
)
Non-real estate capital additions
 
(469
)
 
(159
)
Interest capitalized for real estate and unconsolidated entities under development
 
(15,313
)
 
(12,792
)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net
 
142,931

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
(2,410
)
 
(6,254
)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital
 
18,969

 
7,680

Proceeds from sale of investment securities
 

 
21

(Increase) decrease in deposits on real estate acquisitions and investments, net
 
(131,787
)
 
12,904

(Increase) in mortgage deposits
 
(59
)
 
(91
)
Net cash (used for) investing activities
 
(179,222
)
 
(301,757
)







See accompanying notes
5

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EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Debt financing costs
 
$

 
$
(60
)
Mortgage deposits
 
(2,059
)
 
(1,643
)
Mortgage notes payable:
 
 
 
 
Lump sum payoffs
 
(121,326
)
 

Scheduled principal repayments
 
(2,746
)
 
(3,034
)
Line of credit and commercial paper:
 
 
 
 
Line of credit proceeds
 
1,997,000

 
1,751,000

Line of credit repayments
 
(2,200,000
)
 
(1,568,000
)
Commercial paper proceeds
 
1,155,228

 

Commercial paper repayments
 
(814,600
)
 

(Payments on) settlement of derivative instruments
 
(25
)
 

Proceeds from Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
 
1,927

 
1,741

Proceeds from exercise of options
 
32,213

 
15,785

Common Shares repurchased and retired
 

 
(1,777
)
Redemption of Preferred Shares
 
(9,820
)
 

Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares
 
(2,789
)
 

Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 

 
(2,501
)
Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 

 
5,684

Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
 
1

 
3

Distributions:
 
 
 
 
Common Shares
 
(181,408
)
 
(234,282
)
Preferred Shares
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
 
(7,149
)
 
(9,217
)
Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(2,891
)
 
(4,113
)
Net cash (used for) financing activities
 
(159,335
)
 
(51,450
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
9,338

 
(16,325
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
40,080

 
53,534

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
49,418

 
$
37,209

 


















See accompanying notes
6

Table of Contents

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited) 
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
 
$
113,113

 
$
112,152

Net cash paid for income and other taxes
 
$
718

 
$
596

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt:
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
(4,567
)
 
$
(3,506
)
Notes, net
 
$
618

 
$
568

Line of credit and commercial paper
 
$
198

 
$

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
(133
)
 
$
(133
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
$
4,338

 
$
4,129

(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
(3,625
)
 
$
472

Other liabilities
 
$
662

 
$
937

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
516

 
$
862

Other liabilities
 
$

 
$
52

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Other assets
 
$
(4,963
)
 
$
7,279

Notes, net
 
$
4,842

 
$

Other liabilities
 
$
11,933

 
$
4,670

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
$
(11,788
)
 
$
(11,952
)
Interest capitalized for real estate and unconsolidated entities under development:
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate, net
 
$
(15,313
)
 
$
(12,774
)
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$

 
$
(18
)
Investments in unconsolidated entities:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(1,454
)
Other liabilities
 
$
(2,280
)
 
$
(4,800
)
Other:
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
$
420

 
$
(91
)

See accompanying notes
7

Table of Contents

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31, 2015
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
PREFERRED SHARES
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
50,000

Partial redemption of 8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable
 
(9,820
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
40,180

 
 
 
COMMON SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
3,629

Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares
 
1

Exercise of share options
 
8

Share-based employee compensation expense:
 
 
Restricted shares
 
2

Balance, end of period
 
$
3,640

 
 
 
PAID IN CAPITAL
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
8,536,340

Common Share Issuance:
 
 
Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares
 
3,712

Exercise of share options
 
32,205

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
 
1,927

Share-based employee compensation expense:
 
 
Restricted shares
 
6,720

Share options
 
997

ESPP discount
 
412

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)
 
(2,307
)
Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
 
(41,763
)
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership
 
872

Balance, end of period
 
$
8,539,115

 
 
 
RETAINED EARNINGS
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
1,950,639

Net income attributable to controlling interests
 
182,522

Common Share distributions
 
(201,032
)
Preferred Share distributions
 
(891
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares – cash charge
 
(2,789
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
1,928,449

 














See accompanying notes
8

Table of Contents

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited) 
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31, 2015
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
 
 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
(172,152
)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
 
 
Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period
 
(11,788
)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income
 
4,338

   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) – foreign currency:
 
 
     Currency translation adjustments arising during the period
 
(420
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
(180,022
)
 
 
 
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
214,411

Issuance of restricted units to Noncontrolling Interests
 
1

Conversion of OP Units held by Noncontrolling Interests into OP Units held by General Partner
 
(3,713
)
Equity compensation associated with Noncontrolling Interests
 
9,963

Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
 
7,059

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests
 
(7,913
)
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership
 
630

Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership
 
(872
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
219,566

 
 
 
PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
124,909

Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
 
643

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests
 
(2,891
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
122,661


See accompanying notes
9

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate
 
 
 
 
Land
 
$
6,357,580

 
$
6,295,404

Depreciable property
 
20,024,497

 
19,851,504

Projects under development
 
1,269,784

 
1,343,919

Land held for development
 
143,997

 
184,556

Investment in real estate
 
27,795,858

 
27,675,383

Accumulated depreciation
 
(5,600,485
)
 
(5,432,805
)
Investment in real estate, net
 
22,195,373

 
22,242,578

Cash and cash equivalents
 
49,418

 
40,080

Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
89,284

 
105,434

Deposits – restricted
 
203,800

 
72,303

Escrow deposits – mortgage
 
50,659

 
48,085

Deferred financing costs, net
 
55,791

 
58,380

Other assets
 
384,723

 
383,754

Total assets
 
$
23,029,048

 
$
22,950,614

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
4,957,876

 
$
5,086,515

Notes, net
 
5,430,806

 
5,425,346

Line of credit and commercial paper
 
470,826

 
333,000

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
202,110

 
153,590

Accrued interest payable
 
84,670

 
89,540

Other liabilities
 
383,057

 
389,915

Security deposits
 
75,294

 
75,633

Distributions payable
 
208,954

 
188,566

Total liabilities
 
11,813,593

 
11,742,105

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable Limited Partners
 
541,866

 
500,733

Capital:
 
 
 
 
Partners' Capital:
 
 
 
 
Preference Units
 
40,180

 
50,000

General Partner
 
10,471,204

 
10,490,608

Limited Partners
 
219,566

 
214,411

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
 
(180,022
)
 
(172,152
)
Total partners' capital
 
10,550,928

 
10,582,867

Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
122,661

 
124,909

Total capital
 
10,673,589

 
10,707,776

Total liabilities and capital
 
$
23,029,048

 
$
22,950,614



See accompanying notes
10

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands except per Unit data)
(Unaudited) 
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
Rental income
 
$
664,606

 
$
630,725

Fee and asset management
 
1,765

 
2,717

Total revenues
 
666,371

 
633,442

 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
Property and maintenance
 
124,560

 
125,566

Real estate taxes and insurance
 
86,432

 
82,094

Property management
 
21,444

 
22,118

Fee and asset management
 
1,321

 
1,662

Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

General and administrative
 
19,922

 
17,576

Total expenses
 
448,200

 
434,183

 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
218,171

 
199,259

 
 
 
 
 
Interest and other income
 
120

 
605

Other expenses
 
70

 
(664
)
Interest:
 
 
 
 
Expense incurred, net
 
(108,622
)
 
(113,049
)
Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
(2,589
)
 
(2,792
)
Income before income and other taxes, income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities, net
gain (loss) on sales of real estate properties and land parcels and discontinued operations
 
107,150

 
83,359

Income and other tax (expense) benefit
 
(43
)
 
(240
)
Income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities
 
2,963

 
(1,409
)
Net gain on sales of real estate properties
 
79,951

 

Net (loss) on sales of land parcels
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
Income from continuing operations
 
190,020

 
81,680

Discontinued operations, net
 
204

 
1,052

Net income
 
190,224

 
82,732

Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Net income attributable to controlling interests
 
$
189,581

 
$
82,228

 
 
 
 
 
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME:
 
 
 
 
Preference Units
 
$
891

 
$
1,036

Premium on redemption of Preference Units
 
$
2,789

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
General Partner
 
$
178,842

 
$
78,099

Limited Partners
 
7,059

 
3,093

Net income available to Units
 
$
185,901

 
$
81,192

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Unit – basic:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Units
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.21

Net income available to Units
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Weighted average Units outstanding
 
376,696

 
374,201

 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Unit – diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Units
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.21

Net income available to Units
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Weighted average Units outstanding
 
380,327

 
376,384

 
 
 
 
 
Distributions declared per Unit outstanding
 
$
0.5525

 
$
0.50

 







See accompanying notes
11

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands except per Unit data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
190,224

 
$
82,732

Other comprehensive (loss):
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period
 
(11,788
)
 
(11,952
)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income
 
4,338

 
4,129

Other comprehensive (loss) income – foreign currency:
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period
 
(420
)
 
91

Other comprehensive (loss)
 
(7,870
)
 
(7,732
)
Comprehensive income
 
182,354

 
75,000

Comprehensive (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests –
Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests
 
$
181,711

 
$
74,496


See accompanying notes
12

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited) 
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
190,224

 
$
82,732

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
2,589

 
2,792

Amortization of above/below market leases
 
846

 
829

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt
 
(3,751
)
 
(2,938
)
Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments
 
4,205

 
3,996

Write-off of pursuit costs
 
493

 
452

(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities
 
(2,963
)
 
1,409

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital
 
516

 
914

Net (gain) on sale of investment securities
 

 
(21
)
Net (gain) on sales of real estate properties
 
(79,951
)
 

Net loss on sales of land parcels
 
1

 
30

Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations
 

 
(71
)
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments
 
24

 
(3
)
Compensation paid with Company Common Shares
 
13,610

 
12,981

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in deposits – restricted
 
290

 
(418
)
(Increase) decrease in mortgage deposits
 
(456
)
 
375

(Increase) decrease in other assets
 
(4,237
)
 
18,613

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
45,450

 
55,263

(Decrease) in accrued interest payable
 
(4,870
)
 
(169
)
(Decrease) in other liabilities
 
(8,307
)
 
(26,194
)
(Decrease) increase in security deposits
 
(339
)
 
1,143

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
347,895

 
336,882

 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate – acquisitions
 
(6,720
)
 
(148,535
)
Investment in real estate – development/other
 
(146,194
)
 
(122,340
)
Capital expenditures to real estate
 
(38,170
)
 
(32,191
)
Non-real estate capital additions
 
(469
)
 
(159
)
Interest capitalized for real estate and unconsolidated entities under development
 
(15,313
)
 
(12,792
)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net
 
142,931

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
(2,410
)
 
(6,254
)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return of capital
 
18,969

 
7,680

Proceeds from sale of investment securities
 

 
21

(Increase) decrease in deposits on real estate acquisitions and investments, net
 
(131,787
)
 
12,904

(Increase) in mortgage deposits
 
(59
)
 
(91
)
Net cash (used for) investing activities
 
(179,222
)
 
(301,757
)
 









See accompanying notes
13

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Debt financing costs
 
$

 
$
(60
)
Mortgage deposits
 
(2,059
)
 
(1,643
)
Mortgage notes payable:
 
 
 
 
Lump sum payoffs
 
(121,326
)
 

Scheduled principal repayments
 
(2,746
)
 
(3,034
)
Line of credit and commercial paper:
 
 
 
 
Line of credit proceeds
 
1,997,000

 
1,751,000

Line of credit repayments
 
(2,200,000
)
 
(1,568,000
)
Commercial paper proceeds
 
1,155,228

 

Commercial paper repayments
 
(814,600
)
 

(Payments on) settlement of derivative instruments
 
(25
)
 

Proceeds from EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
 
1,927

 
1,741

Proceeds from exercise of EQR options
 
32,213

 
15,785

OP Units repurchased and retired
 

 
(1,777
)
Redemption of Preference Units
 
(9,820
)
 

Premium on redemption of Preference Units
 
(2,789
)
 

Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 

 
(2,501
)
Contributions – Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 

 
5,684

Contributions – Limited Partners
 
1

 
3

Distributions:
 
 
 
 
OP Units – General Partner
 
(181,408
)
 
(234,282
)
Preference Units
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
OP Units – Limited Partners
 
(7,149
)
 
(9,217
)
Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(2,891
)
 
(4,113
)
Net cash (used for) financing activities
 
(159,335
)
 
(51,450
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
9,338

 
(16,325
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
40,080

 
53,534

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
49,418

 
$
37,209

 


















See accompanying notes
14

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
 
$
113,113

 
$
112,152

Net cash paid for income and other taxes
 
$
718

 
$
596

Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt:
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
(4,567
)
 
$
(3,506
)
Notes, net
 
$
618

 
$
568

Line of credit and commercial paper
 
$
198

 
$

Amortization of deferred settlements on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
(133
)
 
$
(133
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
$
4,338

 
$
4,129

(Income) loss from investments in unconsolidated entities:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
(3,625
)
 
$
472

Other liabilities
 
$
662

 
$
937

Distributions from unconsolidated entities – return on capital:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
516

 
$
862

Other liabilities
 
$

 
$
52

Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Other assets
 
$
(4,963
)
 
$
7,279

Notes, net
 
$
4,842

 
$

Other liabilities
 
$
11,933

 
$
4,670

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
$
(11,788
)
 
$
(11,952
)
Interest capitalized for real estate and unconsolidated entities under development:
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate, net
 
$
(15,313
)
 
$
(12,774
)
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$

 
$
(18
)
Investments in unconsolidated entities:
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
 
$
(130
)
 
$
(1,454
)
Other liabilities
 
$
(2,280
)
 
$
(4,800
)
Other:
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
$
420

 
$
(91
)

See accompanying notes
15

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
 
March 31, 2015
PARTNERS' CAPITAL
 
 
 
PREFERENCE UNITS
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
50,000

Partial redemption of 8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable
(9,820
)
Balance, end of period
$
40,180

 
 
GENERAL PARTNER
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
10,490,608

OP Unit Issuance:
 
Conversion of OP Units held by Limited Partners into OP Units held by General Partner
3,713

Exercise of EQR share options
32,213

EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
1,927

Share-based employee compensation expense:
 
EQR restricted shares
6,722

EQR share options
997

EQR ESPP discount
412

Net income available to Units – General Partner
178,842

OP Units – General Partner distributions
(201,032
)
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)
(2,307
)
Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners
(41,763
)
Adjustment for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership
872

Balance, end of period
$
10,471,204

 
 
LIMITED PARTNERS
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
214,411

Issuance of restricted units to Limited Partners
1

Conversion of OP Units held by Limited Partners into OP Units held by General Partner
(3,713
)
Equity compensation associated with Units – Limited Partners
9,963

Net income available to Units – Limited Partners
7,059

Units – Limited Partners distributions
(7,913
)
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Limited Partners
630

Adjustment for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership
(872
)
Balance, end of period
$
219,566

 
 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
(172,152
)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
 
Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period
(11,788
)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income
4,338

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) – foreign currency:
 
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period
(420
)
Balance, end of period
$
(180,022
)
 








See accompanying notes
16

Table of Contents

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITAL (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
 
March 31, 2015
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
 
 
 
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS – PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
124,909

Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
643

Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests
(2,891
)
Balance, end of period
$
122,661


See accompanying notes
17

Table of Contents

EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.
Business

Equity Residential (“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. 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 has elected to be taxed as a REIT. References to the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the "Operating Partnership" mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP. Unless otherwise indicated, the notes to consolidated financial statements apply to both the Company and the Operating Partnership.
EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2015 owned an approximate 96.2% ownership interest in, ERPOP. All of the Company’s property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR issues public equity from time to time but does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company’s ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity.
As of March 31, 2015, the Company, directly or indirectly through investments in title holding entities, owned all or a portion of 389 properties located in 12 states and the District of Columbia consisting of 108,793 apartment units. The ownership breakdown includes (table does not include various uncompleted development properties):
 
 
Properties
 
Apartment
Units
Wholly Owned Properties
 
362

 
97,825

Master-Leased Properties – Consolidated
 
3

 
853

Partially Owned Properties – Consolidated
 
19

 
3,771

Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated
 
3

 
1,281

Military Housing
 
2

 
5,063

 
 
389

 
108,793


2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not have an impact on net income previously reported. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.

In preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The balance sheets at December 31, 2014 have been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.


18

Table of Contents

For further information, including definitions of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Income and Other Taxes
Due to the structure of EQR as a REIT and the nature of the operations of its operating properties, no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the EQR level. In addition, ERPOP generally is not liable for federal income taxes as the partners recognize their proportionate share of income or loss in their tax returns; therefore no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the ERPOP level. Historically, the Company has generally only incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The Company has elected Taxable REIT Subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries and as a result, these entities will incur both federal and state income taxes on any taxable income of such entities after consideration of any net operating losses.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities applicable to the TRS 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 Company’s deferred tax assets are generally the result of tax affected suspended interest deductions, net operating losses, differing depreciable lives on capitalized assets and the timing of expense recognition for certain accrued liabilities. As of March 31, 2015, the Company has recorded a deferred tax asset, which is fully offset by a valuation allowance due to the uncertainty in forecasting future TRS taxable income.

Other

The Company is the controlling partner in various consolidated partnerships owning 19 properties and 3,771 apartment units and various completed and uncompleted development properties having a noncontrolling interest book value of $122.7 million at March 31, 2015. The Company is required to make certain disclosures regarding noncontrolling interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries. Of the consolidated entities described above, the Company is the controlling partner in limited-life partnerships owning six properties having a noncontrolling interest deficit balance of $11.0 million. These six 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 Company, 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, 2015, the Company estimates the value of Noncontrolling Interest distributions for these six properties would have been approximately $63.3 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 six 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, 2015 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 Company's Partially Owned Properties is subject to change. To the extent that the partnerships' underlying assets are worth less than the underlying liabilities, the Company has no obligation to remit any consideration to the Noncontrolling Interests in these Partially Owned Properties.

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued new guidance for reporting discontinued operations. Only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations that has a major effect on a company’s operations and financial results will be presented as discontinued operations. Companies are required to expand their disclosures about discontinued operations to provide more information on the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the discontinued operations. Companies are also required to disclose the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of a company that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. Application of this guidance is prospective from the date of adoption and early adoption was permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that had not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The new standard was effective January 1, 2015, but the Company early adopted it as allowed effective January 1, 2014. Adoption of this standard resulted in and will likely continue to result in substantially fewer of the Company's dispositions meeting the discontinued operations qualifications. See Note 11 for further discussion.
    
In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard entitled Revenue from Contracts with Customers that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. The new standard specifically excludes lease contracts. The new standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods

19

Table of Contents

or services. Companies will likely need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under current revenue recognition guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration, if any, to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017 and early adoption is not permitted. The new standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In August 2014, the FASB issued a new standard that will explicitly require management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. In connection with each annual and interim period, management will assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the issuance date. Disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt, however to determine the specific disclosures, management will need to assess whether its plans will alleviate substantial doubt. The new standard is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016. The Company does not expect that this will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In February 2015, the FASB issued new consolidation guidance which makes changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. Among other changes, the new standard specifically eliminates the presumption in the current voting model that a general partner controls a limited partnership or similar entity unless that presumption can be overcome. Generally, only a single limited partner that is able to exercise substantive kick-out rights will consolidate. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2016 and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The new standard must be applied using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity/capital as of the beginning of the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period presented. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In April 2015, the FASB issued a new standard which requires companies to present debt financing costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the associated debt liability rather than as an asset, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts on the consolidated balance sheets.  The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2016 and early adoption is permitted.  The new standard must be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.  The Company does not expect that this will have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.

3.
Equity, Capital and Other Interests

Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests of Equity Residential

The following tables present the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and “Units” (which includes OP Units and restricted units (formerly known as Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units)) for the quarter ended March 31, 2015:

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2015
Common Shares
 
 
Common Shares outstanding at January 1,
 
362,855,454

Common Shares Issued:
 
 
Conversion of OP Units
 
154,050

Exercise of share options
 
770,012

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
 
30,151

Restricted share grants, net
 
158,753

Common Shares outstanding at March 31,
 
363,968,420

Units
 
 
Units outstanding at January 1,
 
14,298,691

Restricted units, net
 
333,304

Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares
 
(154,050
)
Units outstanding at March 31,
 
14,477,945

Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at March 31,
 
378,446,365

Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership
 
3.8
%
    
The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units, are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total plus the number of Common Shares. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.

The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging holder of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.

The Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares 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 Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units that are classified in permanent equity at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of March 31, 2015, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership have a redemption value of approximately $541.9 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange with the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 (amounts in thousands):

21

Table of Contents

 
 
2015
Balance at January 1,
 
$
500,733

Change in market value
 
41,763

Change in carrying value
 
(630
)
Balance at March 31,
 
$
541,866

Net proceeds from EQR Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings are contributed by EQR to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the Preferred Shares issued in the equity offering). As a result, the net offering proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of ERPOP.
The Company’s declaration of trust authorizes it to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), with specific rights, preferences and other attributes as the Board of Trustees may determine, which may include preferences, powers and rights that are senior to the rights of holders of the Company’s Common Shares.
The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts in thousands
 
 
Redemption
Date (1)
 
Annual
Dividend per
Share (2)
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;
100,000,000 shares authorized:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred; liquidation
value $50 per share; 803,600 shares issued and outstanding
at March 31, 2015 and 1,000,000 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2014 (3)
 
12/10/26
 

$4.145

 
$
40,180

 
$
50,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
40,180

 
$
50,000

 
(1)
On or after the redemption date, redeemable preferred shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or
in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.
(2)
Dividends on Preferred Shares are payable quarterly.
(3)
Effective January 26, 2015, the Company repurchased and retired 196,400 Series K Preferred Shares with a par value of $9.82 million for total cash consideration of approximately $12.7 million. As a result of this partial redemption, the Company incurred a cash charge of approximately $2.8 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preferred Shares.

Capital and Redeemable Limited Partners of ERP Operating Limited Partnership

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Units and in the limited partners’ Units for the quarter ended March 31, 2015:

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2015
General and Limited Partner Units
 
 
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,
 
377,154,145

Issued to General Partner:
 
 
Exercise of EQR share options
 
770,012

EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
 
30,151

EQR's restricted share grants, net
 
158,753

Issued to Limited Partners:
 
 
Restricted units, net
 
333,304

General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at March 31,
 
378,446,365

Limited Partner Units
 
 
Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,
 
14,298,691

Limited Partner restricted units, net
 
333,304

Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares
 
(154,050
)
Limited Partner Units outstanding at March 31,
 
14,477,945

Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership
 
3.8
%
The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of March 31, 2015 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), Limited Partners may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Limited Partner Units (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Limited Partner Units in total in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total plus the number of General Partner Units. Net income is allocated to the Limited Partner Units based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.
    
The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Limited Partner Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Limited Partner Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging limited partner.

The Limited Partner Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Limited Partner Units are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Limited Partner Units”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares 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 Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Limited Partner Units that are classified in permanent equity at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
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, 2015, the Redeemable Limited Partner Units have a redemption value of approximately $541.9 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange with the Redeemable Limited Partner Units.
The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 (amounts in thousands):
 
 
2015
Balance at January 1,
 
$
500,733

Change in market value
 
41,763

Change in carrying value
 
(630
)
Balance at March 31,
 
$
541,866


23

Table of Contents

EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares) to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the preferred shares issued in the equity offering).

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts in thousands
 
 
Redemption
Date (1)
 
Annual
Dividend per
Unit (2)
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Preference Units:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units;
liquidation value $50 per unit; 803,600 units issued and
outstanding at March 31, 2015 and 1,000,000 units
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 (3)
 
12/10/26
 

$4.145

 
$
40,180

 
$
50,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
40,180

 
$
50,000

 
(1)
On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares.
(2)
Dividends on Preference Units are payable quarterly.
(3)
Effective January 26, 2015, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 196,400 Series K Preference Units with a par value of $9.82 million for total cash consideration of approximately $12.7 million, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares. As a result of this partial redemption, the Operating Partnership incurred a cash charge of approximately $2.8 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preference Units.

Other

In September 2009, the Company announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell Common Shares from time to time into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Per the terms of ERPOP's partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds from all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). On July 30, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved an increase to the amount of shares which may be offered under the ATM program to 13.0 million Common Shares and extended the program maturity to July 2016. EQR has not issued any shares under this program since September 14, 2012.

Effective July 30, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved an increase and modification to the Company's share repurchase program to allow for the potential repurchase of up to 13.0 million Common Shares. No shares were repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015, EQR has remaining authorization to repurchase an additional 12,968,760 of its shares.

4.
Real Estate and Lease Intangibles

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Company’s investment in real estate (at cost) as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (amounts in thousands):

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Table of Contents

 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Land
 
$
6,357,580

 
$
6,295,404

Depreciable property:
 
 
 
 
Buildings and improvements
 
18,109,892

 
17,974,337

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
 
1,401,801

 
1,365,276

In-Place lease intangibles
 
512,804

 
511,891

Projects under development:
 
 
 
 
Land
 
423,359

 
466,764

Construction-in-progress
 
846,425

 
877,155

Land held for development:
 
 
 
 
Land
 
109,726

 
145,366

Construction-in-progress
 
34,271

 
39,190

Investment in real estate
 
27,795,858

 
27,675,383

Accumulated depreciation
 
(5,600,485
)
 
(5,432,805
)
Investment in real estate, net
 
$
22,195,373

 
$
22,242,578


The following table summarizes the carrying amounts for the Company's above and below market ground and retail lease intangibles as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (amounts in thousands):
Description
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ground lease intangibles – below market
 
Other Assets
 
$
178,251

 
$
178,251

Retail lease intangibles – above market
 
Other Assets
 
1,260

 
1,260

Lease intangible assets
 
 
 
179,511

 
179,511

Accumulated amortization
 
 
 
(10,050
)
 
(8,913
)
Lease intangible assets, net
 
 
 
$
169,461

 
$
170,598

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ground lease intangibles – above market
 
Other Liabilities
 
$
2,400

 
$
2,400

Retail lease intangibles – below market
 
Other Liabilities
 
5,270

 
5,270

Lease intangible liabilities
 
 
 
7,670

 
7,670

Accumulated amortization
 
 
 
(2,549
)
 
(2,258
)
Lease intangible liabilities, net
 
 
 
$
5,121

 
$
5,412


During the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company amortized approximately $1.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of above and below market ground lease intangibles which is included (net increase) in property and maintenance expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of above and below market retail lease intangibles which is included (net increase) in rental income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

The weighted average amortization period for above and below market ground lease intangibles and retail lease intangibles is 49.8 years and 2.8 years, respectively.

The following table provides a summary of the aggregate amortization expense for above and below market ground lease intangibles and retail lease intangibles for each of the next five years (amounts in thousands):

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Table of Contents

        
 
 
Remaining
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ground lease intangibles
 
$
3,241

 
$
4,321

 
$
4,321

 
$
4,321

 
$
4,321

 
$
4,321

Retail lease intangibles
 
(705
)
 
(896
)
 
(540
)
 
(71
)
 
(71
)
 
(71
)
Total
 
$
2,536

 
$
3,425

 
$
3,781

 
$
4,250

 
$
4,250

 
$
4,250


During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company acquired the entire equity interest in the following from an unaffiliated party (purchase price in thousands):
 
 
Properties
 
Apartment Units
 
Purchase Price
Land Parcel (one)
 

 

 
$
5,968

Total
 

 

 
$
5,968


During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company disposed of the following to unaffiliated parties (sales price in thousands):
 
 
Properties
 
Apartment Units
 
Sales Price
Rental Properties
 
3

 
550

 
$
145,400

Total
 
3

 
550

 
$
145,400


The Company recognized a net gain on sales of real estate properties of approximately $80.0 million on the above sales.

5.
Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate

In addition to the property that was subsequently acquired as discussed in Note 14, the Company has entered into separate agreements to acquire the following (purchase price in thousands):

 
 
Properties
 
Apartment Units
 
Purchase Price
Land Parcels (three)
 

 

 
$
25,132

Total
 

 

 
$
25,132


In addition to the property and office building that were subsequently disposed of as discussed in Note 14, the Company has entered into separate agreements to dispose of the following (sales price in thousands):

 
 
Properties
 
Apartment Units
 
Sales Price
Rental Properties
 
2

 
513

 
$
68,650

Land Parcel (one)
 

 

 
2,700

Total
 
2

 
513

 
$
71,350


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 Company has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties which are either consolidated or accounted for under the equity method of accounting (unconsolidated). The following tables and information summarize the Company’s investments in partially owned entities as of March 31, 2015 (amounts in thousands except for project and apartment unit amounts):


26

Table of Contents

 
Consolidated
 
Unconsolidated
 
Development Projects
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held for
and/or Under
Development
 
Operating
 
Total
 
Operating
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total projects (1)

 
19

 
19

 
3

 
3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total apartment units (1)

 
3,771

 
3,771

 
1,281

 
1,281

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet information at 3/31/15 (at 100%):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment in real estate
$
347,809

 
$
684,686

 
$
1,032,495

 
$
290,077

 
$
290,077

Accumulated depreciation
(991
)
 
(200,002
)
 
(200,993
)
 
(21,388
)
 
(21,388
)
Investment in real estate, net
346,818

 
484,684

 
831,502

 
268,689

 
268,689

Cash and cash equivalents

 
13,775

 
13,775

 
7,598

 
7,598

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 
51,363

 
51,363

 

 

Deposits – restricted
15,640

 
310

 
15,950

 
246

 
246

Deferred financing costs, net

 
2,052

 
2,052

 
7

 
7

Other assets
6,697

 
26,227

 
32,924

 
1,327

 
1,327

       Total assets
$
369,155

 
$
578,411

 
$
947,566

 
$
277,867

 
$
277,867

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable (2)
$

 
$
360,567

 
$
360,567

 
$
175,276

 
$
175,276

Accounts payable & accrued expenses
8,731

 
3,188

 
11,919

 
389

 
389

Accrued interest payable

 
1,283

 
1,283

 
691

 
691

Other liabilities
257

 
576

 
833

 
834

 
834

Security deposits
150

 
1,976

 
2,126

 
531

 
531

       Total liabilities
9,138

 
367,590

 
376,728

 
177,721

 
177,721

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned
Properties/Partners' equity
117,350

 
5,311

 
122,661

 
90,878

 
90,878

Company equity/General and Limited
Partners' Capital
242,667

 
205,510

 
448,177

 
9,268

 
9,268

       Total equity/capital
360,017

 
210,821

 
570,838

 
100,146

 
100,146

       Total liabilities and equity/capital
$
369,155

 
$
578,411

 
$
947,566

 
$
277,867

 
$
277,867




27

Table of Contents

 
Consolidated
 
Unconsolidated
 
Development Projects
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Held for
and/or Under
Development
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
Total
 
 
Total
Operating information for the quarter ended 3/31/15 (at 100%):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating revenue
$
250

 
$
22,688

 
$
22,938

 
$
7,813

 
$
7,813

Operating expenses
418

 
6,875

 
7,293

 
2,443

 
2,443

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net operating (loss) income
(168
)
 
15,813

 
15,645

 
5,370

 
5,370

Depreciation
991

 
5,520

 
6,511

 
3,076

 
3,076

General and administrative/other

 
15

 
15

 
56

 
56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating (loss) income
(1,159
)
 
10,278

 
9,119

 
2,238

 
2,238

Interest and other income

 
4

 
4

 

 

Other expenses

 
(50
)
 
(50
)
 

 

Interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expense incurred, net

 
(3,884
)
 
(3,884
)
 
(2,346
)
 
(2,346
)
Amortization of deferred financing costs

 
(89
)
 
(89
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) income before income and other taxes and (loss)
from investments in unconsolidated entities
(1,159
)
 
6,259

 
5,100

 
(109
)
 
(109
)
Income and other tax (expense) benefit

 
(35
)
 
(35
)
 
(18
)
 
(18
)
(Loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities

 
(377
)
 
(377
)
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(1,159
)
 
$
5,847

 
$
4,688

 
$
(127
)
 
$
(127
)

(1)
Project and apartment unit counts exclude all uncompleted development projects until those projects are substantially completed.
(2)
All debt is non-recourse to the Company.

Note:
The above tables exclude the Company's interests in unconsolidated joint ventures entered into with AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (“AVB”)in connection with the acquisition of certain real estate related assets from Archstone Enterprise LP (such assets are referred to herein as "Archstone"). These ventures own certain non-core Archstone assets that are held for sale and succeeded to certain residual Archstone liabilities/litigation, as well as responsibility for tax protection arrangements and third-party preferred interests in former Archstone subsidiaries. The preferred interests had an aggregate liquidation value of $72.6 million at March 31, 2015. The ventures are owned 60% by the Company and 40% by AVB.

The Company is the controlling partner in various consolidated partnership properties and development properties having a noncontrolling interest book value of $122.7 million at March 31, 2015. The Company does not have any variable interest entities.
    
Operating Properties

On February 27, 2013, in conjunction with the acquisition of Archstone, the Company acquired an interest in the Wisconsin Place joint venture. This project contains a mixed-use site located in Chevy Chase, Maryland consisting of residential, retail, office and accessory uses, including underground parking facilities. The Company has a 75% equity interest with an initial basis of $198.5 million in the 432 unit residential component. The Company is the managing member, was responsible for constructing the residential project and its partner does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, the entity that owns the residential component of this mixed-use site is required to be consolidated on the Company's balance sheet. Such entity also retains an unconsolidated interest in an entity that owns the land underlying the entire project and owns and operates the parking facility. The initial fair value of this investment is $56.5 million. The Company does not have any ownership interest in the retail and office components.

On February 27, 2013, in conjunction with the acquisition of Archstone, the Company acquired an interest in the Waterton Tenside joint venture. This venture was formed to develop and operate a 336 unit apartment property located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company has a 20% equity interest with an initial basis of $5.1 million. The partner is the managing member and developed the project. The project is encumbered by a non-recourse mortgage loan that has a current outstanding balance of $29.8 million, bears interest at 3.66% and matures December 1, 2018. The Company does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, the entity is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.


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The Company admitted an 80% institutional partner to two separate entities/transactions (Nexus Sawgrass in December 2010 and Domain in August 2011), each owning a developable land parcel, in exchange for $40.1 million in cash and retained a 20% equity interest in each of these entities. These projects are now unconsolidated. Details of these projects follow:

Nexus Sawgrass – This development project was completed and stabilized during the quarter ended September 30, 2014. Total project costs were approximately $78.6 million and construction was predominantly funded with a long-term, non-recourse secured loan from the partner. The mortgage loan has a maximum debt commitment of $48.7 million and a current unconsolidated outstanding balance of $48.6 million; the loan bears interest at 5.60% and matures January 1, 2021.
Domain – This development project was completed and stabilized during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Total project costs were approximately $155.8 million and construction was predominantly funded with a long-term, non-recourse secured loan from the partner. The mortgage loan has a maximum debt commitment of $98.6 million and a current unconsolidated outstanding balance of $96.8 million; the loan bears interest at 5.75% and matures January 1, 2022.

While the Company is the managing member of both of the joint ventures, was responsible for constructing both of the projects and had given certain construction cost overrun guarantees, the joint venture partner has significant participating rights and has active involvement in and oversight of the ongoing projects. The Company currently has no further funding obligations related to these projects.

Development Project

Prism at Park Ave South – In December 2011, the Company and Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) jointly acquired a vacant land parcel at 400 Park Avenue South in New York City. The Company's and Toll Brothers' allocated portions of the purchase price were approximately $76.1 million and $57.9 million, respectively. The Company is the managing member and Toll Brothers does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. Until the core and shell of the building is complete, the building and land will be owned jointly and are required to be consolidated on the Company's balance sheet. Thereafter, the Company will solely own and control the rental portion of the building (floors 2-22) and Toll Brothers will solely own and control the for sale portion of the building (floors 23-40). Once the master condominium association has been legally established, the Toll Brothers' portion of the property will be deconsolidated from the Company's balance sheet. The acquisition was financed through contributions by the Company and Toll Brothers of approximately $102.5 million and $75.7 million, respectively, which included the land purchase noted above, restricted deposits and taxes and fees. As of March 31, 2015, the Company's and Toll Brothers' consolidated contributions to the joint venture were approximately $339.4 million, of which Toll Brothers' noncontrolling interest balance totaled $117.4 million.

Other

On February 27, 2013, in connection with the acquisition of Archstone, subsidiaries of the Company and AVB entered into three limited liability company agreements (collectively, the “Residual JV”). The Residual JV owns certain non-core Archstone assets, such as interests in a three property portfolio of apartment buildings and succeeded to certain residual Archstone liabilities/litigation. The Residual JV is owned 60% by the Company and 40% by AVB and the Company's initial investment was $147.6 million. The Residual JV is managed by a Management Committee consisting of two members from each of the Company and AVB. Both partners have equal participation in the Management Committee and all significant participating rights are shared by both partners. As a result, the Residual JV is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company received approximately $19.0 million in distributions from the Residual JV as a result of the winddown/sale of remaining assets owned by the Residual JV and a partial litigation settlement received by the Residual JV. The Company's pro rata share of the distributions related to the winddown of the German dispositions that occurred in 2014 was approximately $2.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and $100.5 million cumulatively since the acquisition of Archstone. The Company's pro rata share of the proceeds related to the sale of certain remaining assets owned by the Residual JV and the partial litigation settlement received by the Residual JV were approximately $10.4 million and $6.6 million, respectively.
    
On February 27, 2013, in connection with the acquisition of Archstone, a subsidiary of the Company and AVB entered into a limited liability company agreement (the “Legacy JV”), through which they assumed obligations of Archstone in the form of preferred interests, some of which are governed by tax protection arrangements. At March 31, 2015, the remaining preferred interests had an aggregate liquidation value of $72.6 million, our share of which is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Obligations of the Legacy JV are borne 60% by the Company and 40% by AVB. The Legacy JV is managed by a Management Committee consisting of two members from each of the Company and AVB. Both partners have equal participation in the Management Committee and all significant participating rights are shared by both partners. As a result, the Legacy JV is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.


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Table of Contents

7.    Deposits – Restricted and Escrow Deposits – Mortgage

The following table presents the Company’s restricted deposits as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (amounts in thousands):

 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Tax-deferred (1031) exchange proceeds
 
$
136,602

 
$

Earnest money on pending acquisitions
 
2,830

 
580

Restricted deposits on real estate investments
 
17,636

 
24,701

Resident security and utility deposits
 
46,225

 
46,516

Other
 
507

 
506

Totals
 
$
203,800

 
$
72,303


The following table presents the Company’s escrow deposits as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (amounts in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Real estate taxes and insurance
 
$
2,691

 
$
2,235

Replacement reserves
 
3,490

 
3,431

Mortgage principal reserves/sinking funds
 
43,626

 
41,567

Other
 
852

 
852

Totals
 
$
50,659

 
$
48,085


8.    Debt

EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. EQR guarantees the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facility up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility.

Mortgage Notes Payable

As of March 31, 2015, the Company had outstanding mortgage debt of approximately $5.0 billion.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company:

Repaid $124.1 million of mortgage loans.

The Company recorded $0.1 million of write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as additional interest expense related to debt extinguishment of mortgages. The Company also recorded $1.4 million of write-offs of net unamortized premiums during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as a reduction of interest expense related to debt extinguishment of mortgages.

As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $700.5 million of secured debt subject to third party credit enhancement.

As of March 31, 2015, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding mortgage indebtedness were at various dates through May 1, 2061. At March 31, 2015, the interest rate range on the Company’s mortgage debt was 0.02% to 7.25%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s mortgage debt was 4.13%.

Notes

As of March 31, 2015, the Company had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $5.4 billion.

As of March 31, 2015, scheduled maturities for the Company’s outstanding notes were at various dates through 2044. At March 31, 2015, the interest rate range on the Company’s notes was 2.375% to 7.57%. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate on the Company’s notes was 5.01%.


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Table of Contents

Line of Credit and Commercial Paper

On January 11, 2013, the Company replaced its existing $1.75 billion facility with a $2.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing April 1, 2018. The Company has 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. The interest rate on advances under the facility will generally be LIBOR plus a spread (1.05% as of March 31, 2015) and the Company pays an annual facility fee (currently 15 basis points). Both the spread and the facility fee are dependent on the credit rating of the Company's long-term debt.

As of March 31, 2015, the amount outstanding on the revolving credit facility was $130.0 million and the amount available was $1.986 billion (net of $43.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of the $130.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and net of $340.9 million outstanding on the commercial paper program). During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate on the revolving credit facility was 1.02%.

On February 2, 2015, the Company entered into an unsecured commercial paper note program in the United States. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million on this program subject to market conditions. The notes will be sold under customary terms in the United States commercial paper note market and will rank pari passu with all of the Company's other unsecured senior indebtedness. As of March 31, 2015, there was a balance of $340.8 million on the commercial paper program ($340.9 million in principal outstanding net of an unamortized discount of $0.1 million). The notes bear interest at various floating rates with a weighted average of 0.53% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and a weighted average maturity of 14 days as of March 31, 2015.

9.
Derivative and Other Fair Value Instruments

The valuation of financial instruments requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Company, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Company bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Company seeks to manage these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments. The Company may also use derivatives to manage its exposure to foreign exchange rates or manage commodity prices in the daily operations of the business.

A three-level valuation hierarchy exists for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s derivative positions are valued using models developed by the respective counterparty as well as models developed internally by the Company that use as their basis readily observable market parameters (such as forward yield curves and credit default swap data). Employee holdings other than Common Shares within the supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) are valued using quoted market prices for identical assets and are included in other assets and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners are valued using the quoted market price of Common Shares. The fair values disclosed for mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its line of credit and commercial paper) were calculated using indicative rates provided by lenders of similar loans in the case of mortgage notes payable and the private unsecured debt (including its line of credit and commercial paper) and quoted market prices for each underlying issuance in the case of the public unsecured notes.


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Table of Contents

The carrying values of the Company’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its line of credit and commercial paper) were approximately $5.0 billion and $5.9 billion, respectively, at March 31, 2015. The fair values of the Company’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its line of credit and commercial paper) were approximately $5.0 billion (Level 2) and $6.3 billion (Level 2), respectively, at March 31, 2015. The carrying values of the Company's mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its line of credit) were approximately $5.1 billion and $5.8 billion, respectively, at December 31, 2014. The fair values of the Company’s mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (including its line of credit) were approximately $5.1 billion (Level 2) and $6.1 billion (Level 2), respectively, at December 31, 2014. The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments (other than mortgage notes payable, unsecured notes, line of credit, commercial paper and derivative instruments), including cash and cash equivalents and other financial instruments, approximate their carrying or contract values.

The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated derivative instruments at March 31, 2015 (dollar amounts are in thousands):

 
 
Fair Value
Hedges (1)
 
Forward
Starting
Swaps (2)
Current Notional Balance
 
$
450,000

 
$
450,000

Lowest Possible Notional
 
$
450,000

 
$
450,000

Highest Possible Notional
 
$
450,000

 
$
450,000

Lowest Interest Rate
 
2.375
%
 
1.935
%
Highest Interest Rate
 
2.375
%
 
3.191
%
Earliest Maturity Date
 
2019

 
2025

Latest Maturity Date
 
2019

 
2025

 
(1)
Fair Value Hedges – Converts outstanding fixed rate unsecured notes ($450.0 million 2.375% notes due July 1, 2019) to a floating interest rate of 90-Day LIBOR plus 0.61%.
(2)
Forward Starting Swaps – Designed to partially fix interest rates in advance of a planned future debt issuance. These swaps have mandatory counterparty terminations in 2016, and are targeted to 2015 issuances.

The following tables provide a summary of the fair value measurements for each major category of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the location within the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):


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Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
3/31/2015
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets/Liabilities
(Level 1)
 
Significant  Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level  3)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Hedges
 
Other Assets
 
$
6,438

 
$

 
$
6,438

 
$

Forward Starting Swaps
 
Other Assets
 
454

 

 
454

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
Other Assets
 
97,391

 
97,391

 

 

Total
 
 
 
$
104,283

 
$
97,391

 
$
6,892

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward Starting Swaps
 
Other Liabilities
 
$
26,014

 
$

 
$
26,014

 
$

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
Other Liabilities
 
97,391

 
97,391

 

 

Total
 
 
 
$
123,405

 
$
97,391

 
$
26,014

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests –
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership/Redeemable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Limited Partners
 
Mezzanine
 
$
541,866

 
$

 
$
541,866

 
$


 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
12/31/2014
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets/Liabilities
(Level 1)
 
Significant  Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level  3)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Hedges
 
Other Assets
 
$
1,596

 
$

 
$
1,596

 
$

Forward Starting Swaps
 
Other Assets
 
332

 

 
332

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
Other Assets
 
104,463

 
104,463

 

 

Total
 
 
 
$
106,391

 
$
104,463

 
$
1,928

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward Starting Swaps
 
Other Liabilities
 
$
14,104

 
$

 
$
14,104

 
$

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
Other Liabilities
 
104,463

 
104,463

 

 

Total
 
 
 
$
118,567

 
$
104,463

 
$
14,104

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests –
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Partnership/Redeemable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Limited Partners
 
Mezzanine
 
$
500,733

 
$

 
$
500,733

 
$

The following tables provide a summary of the effect of fair value hedges on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):


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Table of Contents

March 31, 2015
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
 
$
4,842

 
Fixed rate debt
 
Interest expense
 
$
(4,842
)
Total
 
 
 
$
4,842

 
 
 
 
 
$
(4,842
)
 
March 31, 2014
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
 
N/A
 
$

 
N/A
 
N/A
 
$

Total
 
 
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
$


The following tables provide a summary of the effect of cash flow hedges on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):
 
 
Effective Portion
 
Ineffective Portion
March 31, 2015
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
$
(11,788
)
 
Interest expense
 
$
(4,338
)
 
N/A
 
$

Total
 
$
(11,788
)
 
 
 
$
(4,338
)
 
 
 
$

 
 
 
Effective Portion
 
Ineffective Portion
March 31, 2014
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
 
$
(11,952
)
 
Interest expense
 
$
(4,129
)
 
N/A
 
$

Total
 
$
(11,952
)
 
 
 
$
(4,129
)
 
 
 
$


As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were approximately $179.7 million and $172.2 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss), respectively, related to derivative instruments. Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at March 31, 2015, the Company may recognize an estimated $22.2 million of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending March 31, 2016.


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Table of Contents

10.    Earning Per Share and Earnings Per Unit

Equity Residential

The following tables set forth the computation of net income per share – basic and net income per share – diluted for the Company (amounts in thousands except per share amounts):
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator for net income per share – basic:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
190,020

 
$
81,680

Allocation to Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership, net
 
(7,051
)
 
(3,053
)
Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Preferred distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares
 
(2,789
)
 

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares, net of Noncontrolling Interests
 
178,646

 
77,087

Discontinued operations, net of Noncontrolling Interests
 
196

 
1,012

Numerator for net income per share – basic
 
$
178,842

 
$
78,099

Numerator for net income per share – diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
190,020

 
$
81,680

Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Preferred distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares
 
(2,789
)
 

Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares
 
185,697

 
80,140

Discontinued operations, net
 
204

 
1,052

Numerator for net income per share – diluted
 
$
185,901

 
$
81,192

Denominator for net income per share – basic and diluted:
 
 
 
 
Denominator for net income per share – basic
 
363,098

 
360,470

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
OP Units
 
13,598

 
13,731

Long-term compensation shares/units
 
3,631

 
2,183

Denominator for net income per share – diluted
 
380,327

 
376,384

Net income per share – basic
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Net income per share – diluted
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Net income per share – basic:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares, net of Noncontrolling Interests
 
$
0.492

 
$
0.214

Discontinued operations, net of Noncontrolling Interests
 
0.001

 
0.003

Net income per share – basic
 
$
0.493

 
$
0.217

Net income per share – diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Common Shares
 
$
0.488

 
$
0.213

Discontinued operations, net
 
0.001

 
0.003

Net income per share – diluted
 
$
0.489

 
$
0.216


ERP Operating Limited Partnership

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


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Table of Contents

 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
190,020

 
$
81,680

Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Allocation to Preference Units
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Allocation to premium on redemption of Preference Units
 
(2,789
)
 

Income from continuing operations available to Units
 
185,697

 
80,140

Discontinued operations, net
 
204

 
1,052

Numerator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted
 
$
185,901

 
$
81,192

Denominator for net income per Unit – basic and diluted:
 
 
 
 
Denominator for net income per Unit – basic
 
376,696

 
374,201

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
Dilution for Units issuable upon assumed exercise/vesting of the Company’s long-term
compensation shares/units
 
3,631

 
2,183

Denominator for net income per Unit – diluted
 
380,327

 
376,384

Net income per Unit – basic
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Net income per Unit – diluted
 
$
0.49

 
$
0.22

Net income per Unit – basic:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Units
 
$
0.492

 
$
0.214

Discontinued operations, net
 
0.001

 
0.003

Net income per Unit – basic
 
$
0.493

 
$
0.217

Net income per Unit – diluted:
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available to Units
 
$
0.488

 
$
0.213

Discontinued operations, net
 
0.001

 
0.003

Net income per Unit – diluted
 
$
0.489

 
$
0.216


11.
Discontinued Operations

The Company has presented separately as discontinued operations in all periods the results of operations for all consolidated assets disposed of and all properties held for sale, if any, for properties sold in 2013 and prior years. The amounts included in discontinued operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 represent trailing activity for properties sold in 2013 and prior years. None of the properties sold during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 met the new criteria for reporting discontinued operations. See Note 2 for further discussion.

The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Company owned such assets for properties sold in 2013 and prior years during each of the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in thousands).


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Table of Contents

 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
Rental income
 
$
161

 
$
1,023

Total revenues
 
161

 
1,023

 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES (1)
 
 
 
 
Property and maintenance
 
(67
)
 
48

Real estate taxes and insurance
 
52

 
13

General and administrative
 
6

 
5

Total expenses
 
(9
)
 
66

 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued operating income
 
170

 
957

 
 
 
 
 
Interest and other income
 
49

 
35

Income and other tax (expense) benefit
 
(15
)
 
(11
)
 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued operations
 
204

 
981

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations
 

 
71

 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued operations, net
 
$
204

 
$
1,052

 
(1)
Includes expenses paid in the current period for properties sold in prior periods related to the Company’s period of ownership.

12.
Commitments and Contingencies

The Company, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws. Compliance by the Company with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Company. However, the Company cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on its current properties or on properties that it may acquire in the future.

The Company 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company. Accordingly, the Company is defending the suit vigorously. Due to the pendency of the Company’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 or a possible loss or a range of loss, and no amounts have been accrued at March 31, 2015. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that the suit, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company has established a reserve related to various litigation matters associated with its Massachusetts properties and periodically assesses the adequacy of the reserve and makes adjustments as necessary. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded a reduction to the reserve of approximately $1.0 million, resulting in a total reserve of approximately $5.0 million at March 31, 2015. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these litigation matters, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company 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 Company.

As of March 31, 2015, the Company has 15 consolidated projects (including Prism at Park Avenue South in New York City, which the Company is jointly developing with Toll Brothers as discussed below) totaling 5,273 apartment units in various stages of development with commitments to fund of approximately $1.3 billion and estimated completion dates ranging through September 30, 2017, as well as other completed development projects that are in various stages of lease up or are stabilized. Some of the projects are being developed solely by the Company, while others are being co-developed with various third party development partners. The development venture agreements with these partners are primarily deal-specific, with differing terms regarding profit-sharing, equity contributions, returns on investment, buy-sell agreements and other customary provisions. The Company is the "general" or "managing" partner of the development ventures.


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As of March 31, 2015, the Company has two completed unconsolidated development projects that are stabilized. Both projects were co-developed with the same third party development partner in different ventures. The development venture agreements with this partner are primarily deal-specific regarding profit-sharing, equity contributions, returns on investment, buy-sell agreements and other customary provisions. The Company currently has no further funding obligations related to these projects. While the Company is the managing member of both of the joint ventures, was responsible for constructing both of the projects and has given certain construction cost overrun guarantees, the joint venture partner has significant participating rights and has active involvement in and oversight of the ongoing projects. The buy-sell arrangements contain provisions that provide the right, but not the obligation, for the Company to acquire the partner’s interests or sell its interests at any time following the occurrence of certain pre-defined events (including at stabilization) described in the development venture agreements.
    
In December 2011, the Company and Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) jointly acquired a vacant land parcel at 400 Park Avenue South in New York City. The Company's and Toll Brothers' allocated portions of the purchase price were approximately $76.1 million and $57.9 million, respectively. The Company is the managing member and Toll Brothers does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. Until the core and shell of the building is complete, the building and land will be owned jointly and are required to be consolidated on the Company's balance sheet. Thereafter, the Company will solely own and control the rental portion of the building (floors 2-22) and Toll Brothers will solely own and control the for sale portion of the building (floors 23-40). Once the master condominium association has been legally established, the Toll Brothers' portion of the property will be deconsolidated from the Company's balance sheet. The acquisition was financed through contributions by the Company and Toll Brothers of approximately $102.5 million and $75.7 million, respectively, which included the land purchase noted above, restricted deposits and taxes and fees. As of March 31, 2015, the Company's and Toll Brothers' consolidated contributions to the joint venture were approximately $339.4 million, of which Toll Brothers' noncontrolling interest balance totaled $117.4 million.

13.
Reportable Segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses and about which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision maker decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a recurring basis at least quarterly.

The Company’s primary business is the acquisition, development and management of multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. The chief operating decision maker evaluates the Company's operating performance geographically by market and both on a same store and non-same store basis. The Company’s operating segments located in its core markets represent its reportable segments (with the aggregation of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego into the Southern California reportable segment). The Company's operating segments located in its non-core markets that are not material have also been aggregated in the tables presented below.

The Company’s fee and asset management and development (including its partially owned properties) activities are other business activities that do not constitute an operating segment and as such, have been aggregated in the "Other" category in the tables presented below.

All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Company’s total revenues during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The primary financial measure for the Company’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense (all as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income). The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of its operating performance because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company’s apartment 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, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as well as total assets and capital expenditures at March 31, 2015 (amounts in thousands):


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Quarter Ended March 31, 2015
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
 
Rental Income
 
Operating Expenses
 
NOI
 
Rental Income
 
Operating Expenses
 
NOI
Same store (1)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

  Boston
 
$
64,033

 
$
22,541

 
$
41,492

 
$
61,907

 
$
22,129

 
$
39,778

  Denver
 
28,997

 
7,460

 
21,537

 
26,612

 
7,461

 
19,151

  New York
 
116,070

 
46,113

 
69,957

 
111,186

 
45,834

 
65,352

  San Francisco
 
89,850

 
27,103

 
62,747

 
81,261

 
26,609

 
54,652

  Seattle
 
40,390

 
12,667

 
27,723

 
37,621

 
12,734

 
24,887

  South Florida
 
49,302

 
17,968

 
31,334

 
46,896

 
17,525

 
29,371

  Southern California
 
105,193

 
34,126

 
71,067

 
99,776

 
33,545

 
66,231

  Washington D.C.
 
112,627

 
38,539

 
74,088

 
111,804

 
37,809

 
73,995

  Non-core
 
25,572

 
10,027

 
15,545

 
24,731

 
9,814

 
14,917

Total same store
 
632,034

 
216,544

 
415,490

 
601,794

 
213,460

 
388,334

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-same store/other (2) (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Boston
 
922

 
229

 
693

 
1,028

 
210

 
818

  Seattle
 
4,579

 
1,298

 
3,281

 
107

 
146

 
(39
)
  South Florida
 
1,932

 
675

 
1,257

 
803

 
454

 
349

  Southern California
 
17,777

 
6,528

 
11,249

 
8,905

 
3,690

 
5,215

  Washington D.C.
 
5,408

 
1,653

 
3,755

 
3,507

 
1,441

 
2,066

  Other (3)
 
1,954

 
5,509

 
(3,555
)
 
14,581

 
10,377

 
4,204

Total non-same store/other
 
32,572

 
15,892

 
16,680

 
28,931

 
16,318

 
12,613

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
664,606

 
$
232,436

 
$
432,170

 
$
630,725

 
$
229,778

 
$
400,947


(1)
Same store primarily includes all properties acquired or completed and stabilized prior to January 1, 2014, less properties subsequently sold, which represented 97,586 apartment units.
(2)
Non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2014, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2014.
(3)
Other includes development, other corporate operations and operations prior to sale for properties sold in 2014 and 2015 that do not meet the new discontinued operations criteria.

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Quarter Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
Total Assets
 
Capital Expenditures
Same store (1)
 
 

 
 

  Boston
 
$
1,908,859

 
$
3,505

  Denver
 
514,958

 
1,120

  New York
 
4,637,217

 
3,797

  San Francisco
 
2,700,366

 
5,638

  Seattle
 
1,088,728

 
3,524

  South Florida
 
1,126,085

 
2,942

  Southern California
 
2,787,871

 
6,020

  Washington D.C.
 
4,250,738

 
7,113

  Non-core
 
405,017

 
1,649

Total same store
 
19,419,839

 
35,308

 
 
 
 
 
Non-same store/other (2) (3)
 
 
 
 
  Boston
 
47,996

 
34

  Seattle
 
231,258

 
466

  South Florida
 
66,906

 
14

  Southern California
 
845,902

 
1,163

  Washington D.C.
 
242,360

 
1,143

  Other (3)
 
2,174,787

 
42

Total non-same store/other
 
3,609,209

 
2,862

Total
 
$
23,029,048

 
$
38,170


(1)
Same store primarily includes all properties acquired or completed and stabilized prior to January 1, 2014, less properties subsequently sold, which represented 97,586 apartment units.
(2)
Non-same store primarily includes properties acquired after January 1, 2014, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2014.
(3)
Other includes development, other corporate operations and capital expenditures for properties sold.

Note: Markets/Metro Areas aggregated in the above Southern California and Non-core segments are as follows:
(a) Southern California – Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.
(b) Non-core – Inland Empire, CA, New England (excluding Boston), Orlando and Phoenix.
The following table presents a reconciliation of NOI from our rental real estate specific to continuing operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Rental income
 
$
664,606

 
$
630,725

Property and maintenance expense
 
(124,560
)
 
(125,566
)
Real estate taxes and insurance expense
 
(86,432
)
 
(82,094
)
Property management expense
 
(21,444
)
 
(22,118
)
Total operating expenses
 
(232,436
)
 
(229,778
)
Net operating income
 
$
432,170

 
$
400,947


14.
Subsequent Events/Other

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to March 31, 2015, the Company:

Acquired one property consisting of 202 apartment units for $130.3 million;

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Sold one property consisting of 314 apartment units for $49.6 million;
Sold a 193,230 square foot office building for approximately $123.3 million which is adjacent to our Longfellow Place property located in Boston and acquired in 1999; and
Repaid $300.0 million of 6.584% unsecured notes at maturity.

Other

During the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company incurred charges of $0.1 million and none, respectively, related to property acquisition costs, such as survey, title and legal fees, on the acquisition of operating properties and $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related to the write-off of various pursuit and out-of-pocket costs for terminated acquisition, disposition and development transactions. These costs, totaling $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, are included in other expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Effective January 1, 2015, the Company has revised its executive compensation program. The long-term incentive portion of the revised program will be performance based and determined by the Company’s absolute and relative total shareholder return over a three year performance period.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company expensed approximately $2.3 million under the long-term incentive portion of the revised program, of which $0.3 million and $2.0 million was recorded to property management expense and general and administrative expense, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company settled a dispute with the seller/co-developer of a land parcel located in Florida and received $0.5 million, which is included in interest and other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.


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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 Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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 Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such information is inherently subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or supplement these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to the following:

We intend to actively acquire, develop and rehab multifamily properties for rental operations as market conditions dictate. We may also acquire multifamily properties that are unoccupied or in the early stages of lease up. We may be unable to lease up these apartment properties on schedule, resulting in decreases in expected rental revenues and/or lower yields due to lower occupancy and rates as well as higher than expected concessions or higher than expected operating expenses. We may not be able to achieve rents that are consistent with expectations for acquired, developed or rehabbed properties. We may underestimate the costs necessary to bring an acquired property up to standards established for its intended market position, to complete a development property or to complete a rehab. Additionally, we expect that other real estate investors with capital will compete with us for attractive investment opportunities or may also develop properties in markets where we focus our development and acquisition efforts. This competition (or lack thereof) may increase (or depress) prices for multifamily properties. We may not be in a position or have the opportunity in the future to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms. We have acquired in the past and intend to continue to pursue the acquisition of properties and portfolios of properties, including large portfolios, that could increase our size and result in alterations to our capital structure. The total number of apartment units under development, costs of development and estimated completion dates are subject to uncertainties arising from changing economic conditions (such as the cost of labor and construction materials), competition and local government regulation;
Debt financing and other capital required by the Company may not be available or may only be available on adverse terms;
Labor and materials required for maintenance, repair, capital expenditure or development may be more expensive than anticipated;
Occupancy levels and market rents may be adversely affected by national and local economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction and excess inventory of multifamily and single family housing, increasing portions of single family housing stock being converted to rental use, rental housing subsidized by the government, other government programs that favor single family rental housing or owner occupied housing over multifamily rental housing, governmental regulations, slow or negative employment growth and household formation, the availability of low-interest mortgages or the availability of mortgages requiring little or no down payment for single family home buyers, changes in social preferences and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Company's control; and
Additional factors as discussed in Part I of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly those under “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.

Forward-looking statements and related uncertainties are also included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Overview

Equity Residential (“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. 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 has elected to be taxed as a REIT. References

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to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively EQR, ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EQR and/or ERPOP. References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively ERPOP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by ERPOP.
EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2015 owned an approximate 96.2% ownership interest in, ERPOP. All of the Company’s property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and EQR has no material assets or liabilities other than its investment in ERPOP. EQR issues equity from time to time but does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company’s ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity.
The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois and the Company also operates property management offices in each of its core markets. As of March 31, 2015, the Company had approximately 3,500 employees who provided real estate operations, leasing, legal, financial, accounting, acquisition, disposition, development and other support functions.

Available Information

You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to any of those reports we file with the SEC free of charge at our website, www.equityresidential.com. These reports are made available at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the SEC. The information contained on our website, including any information referred to in this report as being available on our website, is not a part of or incorporated into this report.

Business Objectives and Operating and Investing Strategies
The Company invests in high quality apartment communities located in strategically targeted markets with the goal of maximizing our risk adjusted total return (operating income plus capital appreciation) on invested capital.
We seek to maximize the income and capital appreciation of our properties by investing in markets that are characterized by conditions favorable to multifamily property operations and appreciation. We are focused primarily on the six core coastal, high barrier to entry markets of Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Southern California (including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego), San Francisco and Seattle. These markets generally feature one or more of the following characteristics that allow us to increase rents:
High barriers to entry where, because of land scarcity or government regulation, it is difficult or costly to build new apartment properties, creating limits on new supply;
High home ownership costs;
Strong economic growth leading to job growth and household formation, which in turn leads to high demand for our apartments;
Urban core locations with an attractive quality of life leading to high resident demand and retention; and
Favorable demographics contributing to a larger pool of target residents with a high propensity to rent apartments.
Our operating focus is on balancing occupancy and rental rates to maximize our revenue while exercising tight cost control to generate the highest possible return to our shareholders. Revenue is maximized by attracting qualified prospects to our properties, cost-effectively converting these prospects into new residents and keeping our residents satisfied so they will renew their leases upon expiration. While we believe that it is our high-quality, well-located assets that bring our customers to us, it is the customer service and superior value provided by our on-site personnel that keeps them renting with us and recommending us to their friends.

We use technology to engage our customers in the way that they want to be engaged. Many of our residents utilize our web-based resident portal which allows them to sign and renew their leases, review their accounts and make payments, provide feedback and make service requests on-line.

Acquisitions and developments may be financed from various sources of capital, which may include retained cash flow, issuance of additional equity and debt, sales of properties and joint venture agreements. In addition, the Company 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

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in part, the recognition of taxable income or gain that might otherwise result from the sales. The Company may acquire land parcels to hold and/or sell based on market opportunities as well as options to buy more land in the future. The Company 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.
Over the past several years, the Company has done an extensive repositioning of its portfolio from low barrier to entry/non-core markets to high barrier to entry/core markets. Since 2005, the Company has sold over 166,000 apartment units primarily in its non-core markets for an aggregate sales price of approximately $16.2 billion, acquired over 67,000 apartment units primarily in its core markets for approximately $19.5 billion and began approximately $5.5 billion of development projects primarily in its core markets. We are currently seeking to acquire and develop assets primarily in the following six core coastal metropolitan areas: Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Southern California, San Francisco and Seattle. We also have investments (in the aggregate about 12.2% of our NOI at March 31, 2015) in the two core markets of South Florida and Denver but do not currently intend to acquire or develop new assets in these markets. Further, we are in the process of exiting Phoenix and Orlando and will use sales proceeds from these markets to acquire and/or develop new assets and for other corporate purposes.
As part of its strategy, the Company purchases completed and fully occupied apartment properties, partially completed or partially occupied properties and takes options on land or acquires land on which apartment properties can be constructed. We intend to hold a diversified portfolio of assets across our target markets. As of March 31, 2015, no single market/metropolitan area accounted for more than 17.6% of our NOI, though no guarantee can be made that NOI concentration may not increase in the future.
We endeavor to attract and retain the best employees by providing them with the education, resources and opportunities to succeed. We provide many classroom and on-line training courses to assist our employees in interacting with prospects and residents as well as extensively train our customer service specialists in maintaining our properties and improvements, equipment and appliances. We actively promote from within and many senior corporate and property leaders have risen from entry level or junior positions. We monitor our employees' engagement by surveying them annually and have consistently received high engagement scores.
We have a commitment to sustainability and consider the environmental impacts of our business activities. Sustainability and social responsibility are key drivers of our focus on creating the best apartment communities for residents to live, work and play. We have a dedicated in-house team that initiates and applies sustainable practices in all aspects of our business, including investment activities, development, property operations and property management activities. With its high density, multifamily housing is, by its nature, an environmentally friendly property type. Our recent acquisition and development activities have been primarily concentrated in pedestrian-friendly urban locations near public transportation. When developing and renovating our properties, we strive to reduce energy and water usage by investing in energy saving technology while positively impacting the experience of our residents and the value of our assets. We continue to implement a combination of irrigation, lighting, HVAC and renewable energy improvements at our properties that will reduce energy and water consumption. The Company was recently named as the 2014 North American Residential – Large Cap Sector Leader by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark ("GRESB") survey, a globally recognized analysis of the sustainability indicators of approximately 650 real estate portfolios worldwide. For additional information regarding our sustainability efforts, see our December 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report at our website, www.equityresidential.com.

Current Environment

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company acquired one land parcel for $6.0 million and no operating properties. We believe our access to capital, our ability to execute large, complex transactions and our ability to efficiently stabilize large scale lease up properties provides us with a competitive advantage, which was demonstrated in the acquisition of Archstone in 2013. The Company currently budgets consolidated rental acquisitions of approximately $500.0 million during the year ending December 31, 2015 to be funded with proceeds from rental dispositions (see discussion below).
    
The Company started construction on one project representing 449 apartment units totaling approximately $290.2 million of development costs during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The Company significantly increased its development starts in 2014 as compared to the past few years, and while construction activity will remain elevated in 2015, starts should return to more normalized levels (approximately $500.0 million on average annually). The Company has budgeted approximately $1.0 billion of combined new apartment construction starts on land currently owned during the years ending December 31, 2015 and 2016, with approximately $450.0 million occurring in 2015 and the balance occurring in 2016. We currently budget spending approximately $625.0 million on development costs during the year ending December 31, 2015. We expect that this capital will be primarily sourced with excess operating cash flow, debt offerings and borrowings on our revolving credit facility and/or commercial paper program.

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The Company expects to continue to sell non-core assets and reduce its exposure to non-core markets as we believe these assets will have lower long-term returns and that we can sell them for prices that we believe are favorable. The Company sold three consolidated rental properties consisting of 550 apartment units for $145.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The Company currently budgets consolidated rental dispositions of approximately $500.0 million during the year ending December 31, 2015, which includes the Company's three remaining properties in the Orlando market.

We currently have access to multiple sources of capital including the equity markets as well as both the secured and unsecured debt markets. In June 2014, the Company completed a $450.0 million unsecured five year note offering with a coupon of 2.375% and an all-in effective interest rate of approximately 2.52% as well as a $750.0 million unsecured thirty year note offering with a coupon of 4.5% and an all-in effective interest rate of approximately 4.57%. The Company used the proceeds from these offerings to repay its $750.0 million unsecured term loan facility that was scheduled to mature on January 11, 2015 and to repay the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility. In February 2015, the Company entered into a $500.0 million commercial paper program, which will allow for daily, weekly or monthly borrowings at low floating rates of interest. We believe this commercial paper program will allow the Company to continue to reduce its already low cost of capital and expect to use the program to replace a portion of the amount that we would otherwise have outstanding under our revolving line of credit. The Company has budgeted $950.0 million of secured or unsecured debt offerings during 2015, excluding usage of the commercial paper program.

We believe that cash and cash equivalents, securities readily convertible to cash, current availability on our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, debt offerings and disposition proceeds for 2015 will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our funding obligations relating to asset acquisitions, debt maturities and existing development projects through 2015. We expect that our remaining longer-term funding requirements will be met through some combination of new borrowings, equity issuances, property dispositions, joint ventures and cash generated from operations.

There is significant uncertainty surrounding the futures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the “Government Sponsored Enterprises” or “GSEs”). Through their lender originator networks, the GSEs are significant lenders both to the Company and to buyers of the Company's properties. The GSEs have a mandate to support multifamily housing through their financing activities. Any changes to their mandates, further reductions in their size or the scale of their activities or loss of key personnel could have a significant impact on the Company and may, among other things, lead to lower values for our assets and higher interest rates on our borrowings. Longer term, reductions in GSE lending are not currently anticipated, although there can be no assurances that the GSEs' regulator will not mandate reductions in volume or increases in loan pricing in the future. Such reductions in GSE volume or increases in GSE loan pricing could provide a competitive advantage to us by making the cost of financing multifamily properties more expensive for other multifamily owners that are more reliant on the GSEs while the Company continues to have access to cheaper capital in the public and private debt and equity markets. Over time, we expect that other lenders, including banks, the commercial mortgage-backed securities market and life insurance companies, will become larger sources of debt capital to the multifamily market because multifamily properties are attractive to lenders due to their relatively stable cash flows.
We expect continued growth in revenue (anticipated 2015 same store increase ranging from 4.3% to 4.7%, which is an increase over the original guidance range of 3.75% to 4.50% that we provided in February 2015) and NOI (anticipated 2015 same store NOI increase ranging from 4.8% to 5.8%, which is an increase over the original guidance range of 4.0% to 5.0% that we provided in February 2015) and are optimistic that the strong demand and continued strength in occupancy levels experienced thus far in 2015 will continue for the rest of the year. In addition, improving labor markets, robust household formation and declining single family home ownership levels should keep demand for rental housing high and produce above trend growth for 2015.
    
All of our markets are generally performing well, except for Washington D.C. As noted above, demand for our apartments has been strong, with high occupancy and low turnover due in part to declines in move outs to buy new homes. In general, new supply continues to be absorbed in an orderly fashion with lease-ups occurring faster than expected and only minimal impact on rents at nearby stabilized assets. During 2015, we currently anticipate three groupings of same store revenue growth, with San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, South Florida and Orange County producing 5% or higher, New York, San Diego and Boston producing 3% to 5% (although Boston might be in the high 2% range) and Washington D.C. producing flat to slightly positive growth, with a possibility of achieving up to 1% growth after a year of negative same store revenue results in 2014. Washington D.C., which is our largest market, has seen record absorption despite anemic job growth in 2014 and thus far in 2015. We expect slow improvement in the Washington D.C. market over the course of 2015 as compared to the negative same store revenue performance in 2014, but growth will still lag the remainder of the Company's portfolio due to continuing substantial deliveries of new supply in the market combined with modest job growth due to weakness in government hiring and spending. Despite the issues noted in Washington D.C., our business in general continues to perform well because of the combined forces of demographics, household formations and increasing consumer preference for the flexibility of rental housing, all of which should ensure a continued strong demand for rental housing.

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The Company anticipates that 2015 same store expenses will increase 2.5% to 3.5%, with increases in real estate taxes expected to approximate 5.1% for the full year 2015. The anticipated increase in real estate taxes is primarily due to rate and value increases in certain states and municipalities, reflecting those states' and municipalities' continued economic challenges and the dramatic improvement in apartment values and fundamentals as well as the continued burn off of 421a tax abatements in New York City. We expect full year utility costs to decline approximately 1.0% due to significant declines in natural gas, electricity and heating oil, partially offset by higher costs for water, sewer and trash. With an improving labor market and the staffing of Archstone properties fully optimized, we anticipate same store payroll costs to grow 2.0% to 3.0% in 2015 over 2014.

We believe that the Company is well-positioned as of March 31, 2015 because our properties are geographically diverse, are approximately 95.5% occupied (96.1% on a same store basis) and the long-term demographic picture is positive. We believe certain market areas, especially Washington D.C., downtown Boston and Cambridge and Seattle, will see substantial near term multifamily supply; yet total new supply levels for our core markets remain within historical ranges. We believe over the longer term that our core markets will absorb future supply without material marketwide disruption because of the high occupancy levels we currently experience and increasing household formations. We have seen evidence of this in Seattle as supply has been absorbed and rental rates continue to grow. We believe our strong balance sheet and ample liquidity will allow us to fund our debt maturities and development costs in the near term, and should also allow us to take advantage of investment opportunities in the future.

The current environment information presented above is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Results of Operations

In conjunction with our business objectives and operating strategy, the Company continued to invest in apartment properties located in our high barrier to entry/core markets and primarily sell properties in our low barrier to entry/non-core markets during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 as follows:

Sold three consolidated apartment properties consisting of 550 apartments units for $145.4 million at a weighted average cap rate (see definition below) of 5.3% generating an unlevered internal rate of return ("IRR"), inclusive of indirect management costs, of 11.9%.

The Company's primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental income less direct property operating expenses (including real estate taxes and insurance) as well as an allocation of indirect property management costs. The Company believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of its operating performance because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Company's apartment communities. The cap rate is generally the first year NOI yield (net of replacements) on the Company's investment.
    
Properties that the Company owned and were stabilized (see definition below) for all of both of the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (the “First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties”), which represented 97,586 apartment units, impacted the Company's results of operations. The First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The following tables provide a rollforward of the apartment units included in Same Store Properties and a reconciliation of apartment units included in Same Store Properties to those included in Total Properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2015:

 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31, 2015
 
 
Properties
Apartment
Units
Same Store Properties at December 31, 2014
 
365

97,911

2013 acquisitions, excluding Archstone
 
1

322

2015 dispositions
 
(3
)
(550
)
Lease-up properties stabilized
 
1

188

Properties removed from same store (1)
 
(1
)
(285
)
Same Store Properties at March 31, 2015
 
363

97,586



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Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31, 2015
 
 
Properties
Apartment
Units
Same Store
 
363

97,586

 
 
 
 
Non-Same Store:
 
 
 
2014 acquisitions
 
4

1,011

2014 acquisitions not yet stabilized (2)
 
2

342

2013 acquisitions not yet stabilized (2)
 
2

613

2013 acquisitions not managed by the Company (3)
 
3

853

2013 acquisitions not consolidated
 
1

336

   Lease-up properties not yet stabilized (2)
 
10

2,703

Properties removed from same store (1)
 
1

285

   Other
 
1

1

Total Non-Same Store
 
24

6,144

Military Housing (not consolidated)
 
2

5,063

Total Properties and Apartment Units
 
389

108,793


Note: Properties are considered "stabilized" when they have achieved 90% occupancy for three consecutive months. Properties are included in Same Store when they are stabilized for all of the current and comparable periods presented.

(1)
Represents one property containing 285 apartment units which was removed from the same store portfolio due to a major renovation in which significant portions of the property are being taken offline for extended time periods. As of March 31, 2015, the property had 74 apartment units removed from service and an occupancy of only 69.8%. This property will not return to the same store portfolio until it is stabilized for all of the current and comparable periods presented.
(2)
Includes properties in various stages of lease-up and properties where lease-up has been completed but the properties were not stabilized for the comparable periods presented.
(3)
Includes three properties containing 853 apartment units acquired on February 27, 2013 in conjunction with the acquisition of Archstone that are owned by the Company but the entire projects are master leased to a third party corporate housing provider and the Company earns monthly net rental income.

The Company’s acquisition, disposition and completed development activities also impacted overall results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. The impacts of these activities are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

Comparison of the quarter ended March 31, 2015 to the quarter ended March 31, 2014

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company reported diluted earnings per share/unit of $0.49 compared to $0.22 per share/unit in the same period of 2014. The difference is primarily due to approximately $79.9 million in higher gains on property sales in 2015 vs. 2014.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, income from continuing operations increased approximately $108.3 million when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The increase in continuing operations is discussed below.

Revenues from the First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties increased $30.2 million primarily as a result of an increase in average rental rates charged to residents, higher occupancy and a decrease in turnover. Expenses from the First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties increased $3.1 million primarily due to increases in real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance expenses and on-site payroll costs, partially offset by lower utility costs. The following tables provide comparative same store results and statistics for the First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties:
 

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First Quarter 2015 vs. First Quarter 2014
Same Store Results/Statistics for 97,586 Same Store Apartment Units
$ in thousands (except for Average Rental Rate)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Results
 
Statistics
Description
 
Revenues
 
Expenses
 
NOI
 
Average
Rental
Rate (1)
 
Occupancy
 
Turnover
Q1 2015
 
$
632,034

 
$
216,544

 
$
415,490

 
$
2,252

 
95.9
%
 
11.2
%
Q1 2014
 
$
601,794

 
$
213,460

 
$
388,334

 
$
2,164

 
95.1
%
 
11.3
%
Change
 
$
30,240

 
$
3,084

 
$
27,156

 
$
88

 
0.8
%
 
(0.1
%)
Change
 
5.0
%
 
1.4
%
 
7.0
%
 
4.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Average rental rate is defined as total rental revenues divided by the weighted average occupied apartment units for the period.
     
The following table provides comparative same store operating expenses for the First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties:
 
First Quarter 2015 vs. First Quarter 2014
Same Store Operating Expenses for 97,586 Same Store Apartment Units
$ in thousands
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actual
Q1 2015
 
Actual
Q1 2014
 
$
Change
 
%
Change
 
% of Actual
Q1 2015
Operating
Expenses
Real estate taxes
 
$
75,356

 
$
71,697

 
$
3,659

 
5.1
%
 
34.8
%
On-site payroll (1)
 
45,491

 
43,684

 
1,807

 
4.1
%
 
21.0
%
Utilities (2)
 
32,688

 
37,622

 
(4,934
)
 
(13.1
%)
 
15.1
%
Repairs and maintenance (3)
 
26,334

 
24,218

 
2,116

 
8.7
%
 
12.2
%
Property management costs (4)
 
18,961

 
18,054

 
907

 
5.0
%
 
8.7
%
Insurance
 
5,405

 
6,050

 
(645
)
 
(10.7
%)
 
2.5
%
Leasing and advertising
 
2,587

 
2,511

 
76

 
3.0
%
 
1.2
%
Other on-site operating expenses (5)
 
9,722

 
9,624

 
98

 
1.0
%
 
4.5
%
 
 


 


 


 
 
 
 
Same store operating expenses
 
$
216,544

 
$
213,460

 
$
3,084

 
1.4
%
 
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, apartment unit turnover costs including interior painting, routine landscaping, security, exterminating, fire protection, snow removal, elevator, roof and parking lot repairs and other miscellaneous building repair 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 on-site operating expenses – Includes ground lease costs and administrative costs such as office supplies, telephone and data charges and association and business licensing fees.
    
The following table presents a reconciliation of operating income per the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income to NOI for the First Quarter 2015 Same Store Properties:
 

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Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(Amounts in thousands)
Operating income
 
$
218,171

 
$
199,259

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Non-same store operating results
 
(16,680
)
 
(12,613
)
Fee and asset management revenue
 
(1,765
)
 
(2,717
)
Fee and asset management expense
 
1,321

 
1,662

Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

General and administrative
 
19,922

 
17,576

Same store NOI
 
$
415,490

 
$
388,334

    
For properties that the Company acquired prior to January 1, 2014 and expects to continue to own through December 31, 2015, the Company anticipates the following same store results for the full year ending December 31, 2015:
 
2015 Same Store Assumptions
Physical occupancy
95.9%
Revenue change
4.3% to 4.7%
Expense change
2.5% to 3.5%
NOI change
4.8% to 5.8%
The Company anticipates consolidated rental acquisitions of $500.0 million and consolidated rental dispositions of $500.0 million and expects that acquisitions will have a 1.00% lower cap rate than dispositions for the full year ending December 31, 2015.

These 2015 assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

Non-same store operating results increased approximately $4.1 million and consist primarily of properties acquired in calendar years 2014 and 2015 as well as operations from the Company’s development properties. This increase primarily resulted from:

Development and newly stabilized development properties in lease-up of $7.3 million;
Operating properties acquired in 2014 of $4.4 million;
Other miscellaneous properties (including three master-leased properties from the acquisition of Archstone) of $0.3 million; and
Was partially offset by the lost NOI from 2014 and 2015 dispositions and a decrease in operating activities from other miscellaneous operations.

See also Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s segment disclosures.

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses, decreased approximately $0.6 million or 57.9% primarily as a result of lower revenue earned on management of the Company's military housing ventures at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force base and lower fees earned on management of the Company's unconsolidated development joint ventures, partially offset by lower expenses.

Property management expenses from continuing operations include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Company’s properties as well as management fees paid to any third party management companies. These expenses decreased approximately $0.7 million or 3.0%. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in payroll-related costs and education/conferences fees.

Depreciation expense from continuing operations, which includes depreciation on non-real estate assets, increased approximately $9.4 million or 5.1% primarily as a result of additional depreciation expense on properties acquired in 2014, development properties placed in service and capital expenditures for all properties owned, partially offset by no depreciation or a partial period of depreciation expense during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 for properties sold in 2015 and 2014.


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General and administrative expenses from continuing operations, which include corporate operating expenses, increased approximately $2.3 million or 13.3% primarily due to an increase in payroll-related costs, including an additional $2.0 million related to the Company's revised executive compensation program. The Company anticipates that general and administrative expenses will approximate $51.0 million to $53.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2015, excluding approximately $8.0 million in additional costs related to the Company's revised executive compensation program. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Interest and other income from continuing operations decreased approximately $0.5 million or 80.2% primarily due to the settlement of a dispute with the seller/co-developer of a land parcel during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 that did not reoccur in 2015. The Company anticipates that interest and other income will approximate $0.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2015. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Other expenses from continuing operations decreased approximately $0.7 million primarily due to a reduction in the reserve for a litigation matter, partially offset by an increase in the expensing of overhead (pursuit cost write-offs) as a result of a more active focus on sourcing new development opportunities and an increase in property acquisition costs incurred in conjunction with the Company's 2014 and 2015 acquisitions.

Interest expense from continuing operations, including amortization of deferred financing costs, decreased approximately $4.6 million or 4.0% primarily as a result of the repayment of $500.0 million of 5.25% unsecured notes in September 2014, the repayment of the Company's $750.0 million unsecured term loan facility, mortgage payoffs and higher capitalized interest, partially offset by interest expense on $1.2 billion of unsecured notes that closed in June 2014. During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company capitalized interest costs of approximately $15.3 million as compared to $12.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. This capitalization of interest primarily relates to consolidated projects under development. The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was 4.64% as compared to 4.69% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The Company anticipates that interest expense from continuing operations will approximate $442.8 million to $455.1 million and capitalized interest will approximate $55.0 million to $61.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2015. The above assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

Income and other tax expense from continuing operations decreased approximately $0.2 million or 82.1% primarily due to the timing of all other taxes. The Company anticipates that income and other tax expense will approximate $1.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2015. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

Income from investments in unconsolidated entities increased by $4.4 million primarily due to a partial litigation settlement received by the Company's joint ventures with AVB, partially offset by certain indirect costs incurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 by the Company's joint ventures with AVB that did not occur during the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Net gain on sales of real estate properties increased approximately $80.0 million as a result of the sale of three consolidated apartment properties during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 that did not meet the new criteria for reporting discontinued operations as compared to no property sales during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. See Notes 2 and 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Net loss on sales of land parcels was consistent between the periods under comparison.

Discontinued operations, net decreased approximately $0.8 million or 80.6% between the periods under comparison. This decrease is primarily due to the Company's adoption of the new discontinued operations standard effective January 1, 2014. None of the properties sold during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 met the new criteria for reporting discontinued operations and as a result, the amounts included in discontinued operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 represent trailing activity for properties sold in 2013 and prior years.  See Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

EQR issues public equity from time to time and guarantees certain debt of ERPOP. EQR does not have any indebtedness as all debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership.
As of January 1, 2015, the Company had approximately $40.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and it had $2.12 billion available under its revolving credit facility (net of $43.8 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and net of $333.0 million outstanding). After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance at March 31, 2015 was approximately

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$49.4 million and the amount available on its revolving credit facility was $1.986 billion (net of $43.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of $130.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and net of $340.9 million outstanding on the commercial paper program).
During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company generated proceeds from various transactions, which included the following:

Disposed of three consolidated properties, receiving net proceeds of approximately $142.9 million;
Received approximately $19.0 million in distributions from the Residual JV as a result of the winddown/sale of remaining assets owned by the Residual JV and a partial litigation settlement received by the Residual JV; and
Issued approximately 0.8 million Common Shares related to share option exercises and ESPP purchases and received net proceeds of $34.1 million, which were contributed to the capital of the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis).

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the above proceeds along with net cash flow from operations and availability on the Company's revolving line of credit and commercial paper program were primarily utilized to:

Acquire one land parcel for approximately $6.7 million;
Invest $146.2 million primarily in development projects;
Repay $124.1 million of mortgage loans; and
Repurchase and retire 196,400 Series K Preferred Shares for total cash consideration of approximately $12.7 million, inclusive of $0.1 million of prorated dividends (See Note 3).

In September 2009, EQR announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell Common Shares from time to time into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds from all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). 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. On July 30, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved an increase to the amount of shares which may be offered under the ATM program to 13.0 million Common Shares and extended the program maturity to July 2016. EQR has not issued any shares under this program since September 14, 2012. Through April 30, 2015, EQR has cumulatively issued approximately 16.7 million Common Shares at an average price of $48.53 per share for total consideration of approximately $809.9 million.

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. Effective July 30, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved an increase and modification to the Company's share repurchase program to allow for the potential repurchase of up to 13.0 million shares. EQR repurchased approximately $1.8 million (31,240 shares at a price of $56.87 per share) of its Common Shares (all related to the vesting of employees' restricted shares) during the quarter ended March 31, 2014. No open market repurchases have occurred since 2008. As of April 30, 2015, EQR has remaining authorization to repurchase an additional 12,968,760 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 Company may from time to time seek to repurchase and retire its outstanding debt in open market or privately negotiated transactions.

The Company’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedules as of March 31, 2015 are as follows:


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Debt Summary as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts (1)
 
% of Total
 
Weighted
Average
Rates (1)
 
Weighted
Average
Maturities
(years)
Secured
 
$
4,957,876

 
45.7
%
 
4.13
%
 
7.4

Unsecured
 
5,901,632

 
54.3
%
 
4.68
%
 
7.2

Total
 
$
10,859,508

 
100.0
%
 
4.43
%
 
7.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Rate Debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured – Conventional
 
$
4,221,811

 
38.9
%
 
4.73
%
 
5.8

Unsecured – Public
 
4,974,750

 
45.8
%
 
5.39
%
 
8.1

Fixed Rate Debt
 
9,196,561

 
84.7
%
 
5.08
%
 
7.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating Rate Debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured – Conventional
 
7,985

 
0.1
%
 
0.11
%
 
18.8

Secured – Tax Exempt
 
728,080

 
6.7
%
 
0.63
%
 
16.0

Unsecured – Public (2)
 
456,056

 
4.2
%
 
0.89
%
 
4.3

Unsecured – Revolving Credit Facility
 
130,000

 
1.2
%
 
1.02
%
 
3.0

Unsecured – Commercial Paper Program
 
340,826

 
3.1
%
 
0.53
%
 
                          (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floating Rate Debt
 
1,662,947

 
15.3
%
 
0.77
%
 
8.5

Total
 
$
10,859,508

 
100.0
%
 
4.43
%
 
7.3


(1)
Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
(2)
Fair value interest rate swaps convert the $450.0 million 2.375% notes due July 1, 2019 to a floating interest rate of 90-Day LIBOR plus 0.61%.
(3)
As of March 31, 2015, the weighted average maturity on the Company's outstanding commercial paper was 14 days.
Note: The Company capitalized interest of approximately $15.3 million and $12.8 million during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Note: The Company recorded approximately $0.5 million and $1.1 million of net debt discount/deferred derivative settlement amortization as additional interest expense during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Debt Maturity Schedule as of March 31, 2015
(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)
2015
 
$
344,995

 
$
340,900

(2)
$
685,895

 
6.3
%
 
6.43
%
 
3.53
%
2016
 
1,132,141

 

 
1,132,141

 
10.4
%
 
5.31
%
 
5.31
%
2017
 
1,346,252

 
456

 
1,346,708

 
12.4
%
 
6.16
%
 
6.16
%
2018
 
83,854

 
227,659

(3)
311,513

 
2.9
%
 
5.61
%
 
2.17
%
2019
 
806,113

 
477,204

 
1,283,317

 
11.8
%
 
5.48
%
 
3.75
%
2020
 
1,678,020

 
809

 
1,678,829

 
15.5
%
 
5.49
%
 
5.49
%
2021
 
1,194,624

 
856

 
1,195,480

 
11.0
%
 
4.63
%
 
4.63
%
2022
 
228,273

 
905

 
229,178

 
2.1
%
 
3.16
%
 
3.17
%
2023
 
1,331,497

 
956

 
1,332,453

 
12.3
%
 
3.74
%
 
3.74
%
2024
 
2,497

 
1,011

 
3,508

 
0.0
%
 
4.97
%
 
5.14
%
2025+
 
1,022,417

 
673,977

 
1,696,394

 
15.6
%
 
4.97
%
 
3.16
%
Premium/(Discount)
 
25,878

 
(61,786
)
 
(35,908
)
 
(0.3
%)
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total
 
$
9,196,561

 
$
1,662,947

 
$
10,859,508

 
100.0
%
 
5.12
%
 
4.41
%

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Table of Contents


(1)
Net of the effect of any derivative instruments. Weighted average rates are as of March 31, 2015.
(2)
Represents the principal outstanding on the Company's unsecured commercial paper program. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million on the program subject to market conditions.
(3)
Includes $130.0 million outstanding on the Company's unsecured revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2015, there was approximately $1.986 billion available on this facility (net of $43.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of the $130.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and net of $340.9 million outstanding on the commercial paper program).
The following table provides a summary of the Company’s unsecured debt as of March 31, 2015:
 
Unsecured Debt Summary as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coupon
Rate
 
Due
Date
 
 
Face
Amount
 
Unamortized
Premium/
(Discount)
 
Net
Balance
Fixed Rate Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.584%
 
04/13/15
  
 
$
300,000

 
$

 
$
300,000

 
 
5.125%
 
03/15/16
  
 
500,000

 
(49
)
 
499,951

 
 
5.375%
 
08/01/16
  
 
400,000

 
(247
)
 
399,753

 
 
5.750%
 
06/15/17
  
 
650,000

 
(1,144
)
 
648,856

 
 
7.125%
 
10/15/17
  
 
150,000

 
(165
)
 
149,835

 
 
2.375%
 
07/01/19
(1)
 
450,000

 
(382
)
 
449,618

Fair Value Derivative Adjustments
 
 
 
 
(1)
 
(450,000
)
 
382

 
(449,618
)
 
 
4.750%
 
07/15/20
  
 
600,000

 
(2,404
)
 
597,596

 
 
4.625%
 
12/15/21
 
 
1,000,000

 
(2,540
)
 
997,460

 
 
3.000%
 
04/15/23
 
 
500,000

 
(3,560
)
 
496,440

 
 
7.570%
 
08/15/26
  
 
140,000

 

 
140,000

 
 
4.500%
 
07/01/44
 
 
750,000

 
(5,141
)
 
744,859

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,990,000

 
(15,250
)
 
4,974,750

Floating Rate Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
07/01/19
(1)
 
450,000

 
(382
)
 
449,618

Fair Value Derivative Adjustments
 
 
 
07/01/19
(1)
 
6,438

 

 
6,438

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
456,438

 
(382
)
 
456,056

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Line of Credit and Commercial Paper:
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
 
LIBOR+1.05%
 
04/01/18
(2)(3) 
 
130,000

 

 
130,000

Commercial Paper Program
 
(4)
 
(4)
(2)
 
340,900

 
(74
)
 
340,826

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
470,900

 
(74
)
 
470,826

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Unsecured Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
5,917,338

 
$
(15,706
)
 
$
5,901,632


(1)
Fair value interest rate swaps convert the $450.0 million 2.375% notes due July 1, 2019 to a floating interest rate of 90-Day LIBOR plus 0.61%.
(2)
Facility/program is private. All other unsecured debt is public.
(3)
Represents the Company's $2.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing April 1, 2018. The interest rate on advances under the credit facility will generally be LIBOR plus a spread (1.05% as of March 31, 2015) and an annual facility fee (currently 15 basis points). Both the spread and the facility fee are dependent on the credit rating of the Company's long-term debt. As of March 31, 2015, there was approximately $1.986 billion available on this facility (net of $43.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of the $130.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and net of $340.9 million outstanding on the commercial paper program).
(4)
Represents the Company's unsecured commercial paper program. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million on this program subject to market conditions. The notes bear interest at various floating rates with a weighted average of 0.53% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and a weighted average maturity of 14 days as of March 31, 2015.
 

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EQR and ERPOP currently have an active universal shelf registration statement for the issuance of equity and debt securities that automatically became effective upon filing with the SEC on July 30, 2013 and expires on July 30, 2016. In July 2013, the Board of Trustees also approved an increase to the amount of shares which may be offered under the ATM program to 13.0 million Common Shares and extended the program maturity to July 2016. Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds of all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis) or preference units (on a one-for-one preferred share per preference unit basis).

The Company’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of March 31, 2015 is presented in the following table. The Company calculates the equity component of its market capitalization as the sum of (i) the total outstanding Common Shares and assumed conversion of all Units at the equivalent market value of the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and (ii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preferred shares outstanding.
 
Equity Residential 
Capital Structure as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands except for share/unit and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured Debt
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,957,876

 
45.7
%
 
 
Unsecured Debt
 
 
 
 
 
5,901,632

 
54.3
%
 
 
Total Debt
 
 
 
 
 
10,859,508

 
100.0
%
 
26.9
%
Common Shares (includes Restricted Shares)
 
363,968,420

 
96.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Units (includes OP Units and Restricted Units)
 
14,477,945

 
3.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Shares and Units
 
378,446,365

 
100.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Share Price at March 31, 2015
 
$
77.86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29,465,834

 
99.9
%
 
 
Perpetual Preferred Equity (see below)
 
 
 
 
 
40,180

 
0.1
%
 
 
Total Equity
 
 
 
 
 
29,506,014

 
100.0
%
 
73.1
%
Total Market Capitalization
 
 
 
 
 
$
40,365,522

 
 
 
100.0
%

Equity Residential
Perpetual Preferred Equity as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands except for share and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series
 
Redemption
Date
 
Outstanding
Shares
 
Liquidation
Value
 
Annual
Dividend
Per Share
 
Annual
Dividend
Amount
Preferred Shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.29% Series K (1)
 
12/10/26
 
803,600

 
$
40,180

 
$
4.145

 
$
3,331

Total Perpetual Preferred Equity
 
 
 
803,600

 
$
40,180

 
 
 
$
3,331


(1)
Effective January 26, 2015, the Company repurchased and retired 196,400 Series K Preferred Shares with a par value of $9.82 million for total cash consideration of approximately $12.7 million. As a result of this partial redemption, the Company incurred a cash charge of approximately $2.8 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preferred Shares.

The Operating Partnership’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of March 31, 2015 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 the Company’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and (ii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preference units outstanding.
 

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ERP Operating Limited Partnership 
Capital Structure as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secured Debt
 
 
 
$
4,957,876

 
45.7
%
 
 
Unsecured Debt
 
 
 
5,901,632

 
54.3
%
 
 
Total Debt
 
 
 
10,859,508

 
100.0
%
 
26.9
%
Total outstanding Units
 
378,446,365

 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Share Price at March 31, 2015
 
$
77.86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29,465,834

 
99.9
%
 
 
Perpetual Preference Units (see below)
 
 
 
40,180

 
0.1
%
 
 
Total Equity
 
 
 
29,506,014

 
100.0
%
 
73.1
%
Total Market Capitalization
 
 
 
$
40,365,522

 
 
 
100.0
%
 
ERP Operating Limited Partnership
Perpetual Preference Units as of March 31, 2015
(Amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series
 
Redemption
Date
 
Outstanding
Units
 
Liquidation
Value
 
Annual
Dividend
Per Unit
 
Annual
Dividend
Amount
Preference Units:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.29% Series K (1)
 
12/10/26
 
803,600

 
$
40,180

 
$
4.145

 
$
3,331

Total Perpetual Preference Units
 
 
 
803,600

 
$
40,180

 
 
 
$
3,331


(1)
Effective January 26, 2015, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 196,400 Series K Preference Units with a par value of $9.82 million for total cash consideration of approximately $12.7 million, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares. As a result of this partial redemption, the Operating Partnership incurred a cash charge of approximately $2.8 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preference Units.
The Company generally expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility and commercial paper program. Under normal operating conditions, the Company considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating requirements and payments of distributions.

The Company has a flexible dividend policy which it believes will generate payouts closely aligned with the actual annual operating results of the Company’s core business and provide transparency to investors. Beginning in 2014, the Company began paying its annual dividend based on 65% of the midpoint of the range of Normalized FFO guidance customarily provided as part of the Company's fourth quarter earnings release. The Company expects the 2015 annual dividend payout will be $2.21 per share and the Company intends to pay four quarterly dividends of $0.5525 per share in 2015. All future dividends remain subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking. While our current dividend policy makes it less likely we will over-distribute, it will also lead to a dividend reduction more quickly should operating results deteriorate. However, whether due to changes in the dividend policy or otherwise, there may be times when the Company experiences shortfalls in its coverage of distributions, which may cause the Company 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 Company's financial condition may be adversely affected and it may not be able to maintain its current distribution levels. The Company believes that its expected 2015 operating cash flow will be sufficient to cover capital expenditures and distributions.

The Company also expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as lump sum unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions, financing of construction and development activities through the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities, including additional OP Units, proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties and joint ventures and cash generated from operations after all distributions. In addition, the Company has significant unencumbered properties available to secure additional mortgage borrowings in the event that the public capital markets are unavailable or the cost of alternative sources of capital is too high. The fair value of and cash flow from these unencumbered properties are in excess

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of the requirements the Company must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes, line of credit and commercial paper program. Of the $27.8 billion in investment in real estate on the Company’s balance sheet at March 31, 2015, $19.5 billion or 70.2% was unencumbered. However, there can be no assurances that these sources of capital will be available to the Company in the future on acceptable terms or otherwise.

As of April 30, 2015, ERPOP’s long-term credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), Moody’s and Fitch for its outstanding senior debt was A-, Baa1 (positive outlook) and A-, respectively. As of April 30, 2015, EQR’s long-term equity ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch for its outstanding preferred equity was BBB, Baa2 (positive outlook) and BBB, respectively. The long-term credit ratings listed above reflect the one-level upgrades by S&P and Fitch effective April 30, 2015 and April 28, 2015, respectively. As a result of the S&P upgrade, the interest rate spread on advances under the Company's revolving credit facility was lowered from 1.05% down to 0.95% effective April 30, 2015. As of April 30, 2015, ERPOP's short-term credit ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch for its outstanding commercial paper was A-2, P-2 and F-2, respectively. EQR does not have short-term credit ratings.

On January 11, 2013, the Company replaced its existing $1.75 billion facility with a $2.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility maturing April 1, 2018. The Company has 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. The interest rate on advances under the facility will generally be LIBOR plus a spread (1.05% as of March 31, 2015; lowered to 0.95% effective April 30, 2015) and the Company pays an annual facility fee (currently 15 basis points). Both the spread and the facility fee are dependent on the credit rating of the Company’s long-term debt.

As of April 30, 2015, the amount outstanding on the revolving credit facility was $431.0 million and the amount available was $1.527 billion (net of $42.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit, net of the $431.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility and net of $500.0 million outstanding on the commercial paper program). This facility may, among other potential uses, be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short-term liquidity requirements.
On February 2, 2015, the Company entered into an unsecured commercial paper note program in the United States. The Company may borrow up to a maximum of $500.0 million on this program subject to market conditions. The notes will be sold under customary terms in the United States commercial paper note market and will rank pari passu with all of the Company's other unsecured senior indebtedness. As of April 30, 2015, the amount outstanding on the commercial paper program was $500.0 million. The notes bear interest at various floating rates with a weighted average of 0.61% and a weighted average maturity of 25 days, both as of April 30, 2015.

See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the events which occurred subsequent to March 31, 2015.

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 apartment unit). These include:
flooring such as carpets, hardwood, vinyl 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.
All replacements are depreciated over a five to ten-year estimated useful life. We expense as incurred all make-ready maintenance and turnover costs such as cleaning, interior painting of individual apartment units and the repair of any replacement item noted above.

Building improvements (outside the apartment unit). These include:
roof replacement and major repairs;
paving or major resurfacing of parking lots, curbs and sidewalks;

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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 fifteen-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, 2015, our actual improvements to real estate totaled approximately $38.2 million. This includes the following (amounts in thousands except for apartment unit and per apartment unit amounts):

Capital Expenditures to Real Estate
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
Apartment
Units (1)
 
Replacements
 (2)
 
Avg. Per
Apartment
Unit
 
Building
Improvements (3)
 
Avg. Per
Apartment
Unit
 
Total
 
Avg. Per
Apartment
Unit
Same Store Properties (4)
 
97,586

 
$
21,633

 
$
222

 
$
13,675

 
$
140

 
$
35,308

 
$
362

Non-Same Store Properties (5)
 
4,863

 
67

 
14

 
2,753

 
577

 
2,820

 
591

Other (6)
 

 
23

 
 
 
19

 
 
 
42

 
 
Total
 
102,449

 
$
21,723

 
 
 
$
16,447

 
 
 
$
38,170

 
 
 
(1)
Total Apartment Units – Excludes 1,281 unconsolidated apartment units and 5,063 military housing apartment units for which repairs and maintenance expenses and capital expenditures to real estate are self-funded and do not consolidate into the Company's results.
(2)
Replacements – Includes new expenditures inside the apartment units such as appliances, mechanical equipment, fixtures and flooring, including carpeting. Replacements for same store properties also include $13.1 million spent in the first quarter of 2015 on apartment unit renovations/rehabs (primarily kitchens and baths) on 1,432 same store apartment units (equating to approximately $9,100 per apartment unit rehabbed) designed to reposition these assets for higher rental levels in their respective markets.
(3)
Building Improvements – Includes roof replacement, paving, amenities and common areas, building mechanical equipment systems, exterior painting and siding, major landscaping, vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.
(4)
Same Store Properties – Primarily includes all properties acquired or completed and stabilized prior to January 1, 2014, less properties subsequently sold.
(5)
Non-Same Store Properties – Primarily includes all properties acquired during 2014 and 2015, plus any properties in lease-up and not stabilized as of January 1, 2014. Per apartment unit amounts are based on a weighted average of 4,775 apartment units.
(6)
Other – Primarily includes expenditures for properties sold and properties under development.

For 2015, the Company estimates that it will spend approximately $1,850 per apartment unit of capital expenditures, inclusive of apartment unit renovation/rehab costs, or $1,250 per apartment unit excluding apartment unit renovation/rehab costs on its same store properties. In 2015, the Company expects to spend approximately $60.0 million for all unit renovation/rehab costs (primarily on same store properties) at a weighted average cost of $9,000 per apartment unit rehabbed. These anticipated amounts represent an increase in the cost per unit over 2014, which is primarily driven by increases in planned renovation/rehab efforts in 2015 with plans to continue to create value from our properties by doing those rehabs that meet our investment parameters. The above assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Company’s property management offices and its corporate offices, were approximately $0.5 million. The Company expects to fund approximately $4.0 million in total non-real estate capital additions for the remainder of 2015. The above assumption is based on current expectations and is forward-looking.

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





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Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes. The Company seeks to manage these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments. The Company may also use derivatives to manage its exposure to foreign exchange rates or manage commodity prices in the daily operations of the business.

The Company has a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors. When viewed in conjunction with the underlying and offsetting exposure that the derivatives are designed to hedge, the Company has not sustained a material loss from these instruments nor does it anticipate any material adverse effect on its net income or financial position in the future from the use of derivatives it currently has in place.

See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments at March 31, 2015.

Other

Total distributions paid in April 2015 amounted to $209.0 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which included certain distributions declared during the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Company has various unconsolidated interests in certain joint ventures, some of which were acquired in the acquisition of Archstone on February 27, 2013. The Company does not believe that these unconsolidated investments have a materially different impact on its liquidity, cash flows, capital resources, credit or market risk than its other consolidated operating and/or other activities.

Operating Properties

On February 27, 2013, in conjunction with the acquisition of Archstone, the Company acquired an interest in the Waterton Tenside joint venture. This venture was formed to develop and operate a 336 unit apartment property located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company has a 20% equity interest with an initial basis of $5.1 million. The partner is the managing member and developed the project. The project is encumbered by a non-recourse mortgage loan that has a current outstanding balance of $29.8 million, bears interest at 3.66% and matures December 1, 2018. The Company does not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. As a result, the entity is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.

The Company admitted an 80% institutional partner to two separate entities/transactions (Nexus Sawgrass in December 2010 and Domain in August 2011), each owning a developable land parcel, in exchange for $40.1 million in cash and retained a 20% equity interest in each of these entities. These projects are now unconsolidated. Details of these projects follow:

Nexus Sawgrass – This development project was completed and stabilized during the quarter ended September 30, 2014. Total project costs were approximately $78.6 million and construction was predominantly funded with a long-term, non-recourse secured loan from the partner. The mortgage loan has a maximum debt commitment of $48.7 million and a current unconsolidated outstanding balance of $48.6 million; the loan bears interest at 5.60% and matures January 1, 2021.
Domain – This development project was completed and stabilized during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Total project costs were approximately $155.8 million and construction was predominantly funded with a long-term, non-recourse secured loan from the partner. The mortgage loan has a maximum debt commitment of $98.6 million and a current unconsolidated outstanding balance of $96.8 million; the loan bears interest at 5.75% and matures January 1, 2022.

While the Company is the managing member of both of the joint ventures, was responsible for constructing both of the projects and had given certain construction cost overrun guarantees, the joint venture partner has significant participating rights and has active involvement in and oversight of the ongoing projects. The Company currently has no further funding obligations related to these projects. The Company's strategy with respect to these ventures was to reduce its financial risk related to the development of the properties.





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Other

On February 27, 2013, in connection with the acquisition of Archstone, subsidiaries of the Company and AVB entered into three limited liability company agreements (collectively, the “Residual JV”). The Residual JV owns certain non-core Archstone assets, such as interests in a three property portfolio of apartment buildings and succeeded to certain residual Archstone liabilities/litigation. The Residual JV is owned 60% by the Company and 40% by AVB and the Company's initial investment was $147.6 million. The Residual JV is managed by a Management Committee consisting of two members from each of the Company and AVB. Both partners have equal participation in the Management Committee and all significant participating rights are shared by both partners. As a result, the Residual JV is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.
    
During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company received approximately $19.0 million in distributions from the Residual JV as a result of the winddown/sale of remaining assets owned by the Residual JV and a partial litigation settlement received by the Residual JV. The Company's pro rata share of the distributions related to the winddown of the German dispositions that occurred in 2014 was approximately $2.0 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and $100.5 million cumulatively since the acquisition of Archstone. The Company's pro rata share of the proceeds related to the sale of certain remaining assets owned by the Residual JV and the partial litigation settlement received by the Residual JV were approximately $10.4 million and $6.6 million, respectively.

On February 27, 2013, in connection with the acquisition of Archstone, a subsidiary of the Company and AVB entered into a limited liability company agreement (the “Legacy JV”), through which they assumed obligations of Archstone in the form of preferred interests, some of which are governed by tax protection arrangements. At March 31, 2015, the remaining preferred interests had an aggregate liquidation value of $72.6 million, our share of which is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Obligations of the Legacy JV are borne 60% by the Company and 40% by AVB. The Legacy JV is managed by a Management Committee consisting of two members from each of the Company and AVB. Both partners have equal participation in the Management Committee and all significant participating rights are shared by both partners. As a result, the Legacy JV is unconsolidated and recorded using the equity method of accounting.

As of March 31, 2015, the Company has 15 consolidated projects (including Prism at Park Avenue South in New York City which the Company is jointly developing with Toll Brothers – see Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion) totaling 5,273 apartment units in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through September 30, 2017, as well as other completed consolidated and unconsolidated development projects that are in various stages of lease up or are stabilized. The development agreements currently in place are discussed in detail in Note 12 of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

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

The Company’s contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter have not changed materially from the amounts and disclosures included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company utilizes a number

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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 Company 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 Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate, for indicators of 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 Company’s ability to hold and its intent with regard to each asset. Future events could occur which would cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted.

Depreciation of Investment in Real Estate

The Company depreciates the building component of its investment in real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building improvements over a 5-year to 15-year estimated useful life and both the furniture, fixtures and equipment and replacement components over a 5-year to 10-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 Company’s policy with respect to capitalization vs. expensing of fixed asset/repair and maintenance costs. In addition, the Company capitalizes an allocation of the payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend their time on the execution and supervision of major capital and/or renovation projects. These costs are reflected on the balance sheets as increases to depreciable property.
    
For all development projects, the Company uses its professional judgment in determining whether such costs meet the criteria for capitalization or must be expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes interest, real estate taxes and insurance and payroll and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend 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 sheets as construction-in-progress for each specific property. The Company 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.

During the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized $6.2 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend their time on the execution and supervision of development activities as well as major capital and/or renovation projects.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments

The valuation of financial instruments requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Company, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Company bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, Funds From Operations ("FFO") available to Common Shares and Units / Units and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units increased $33.7 million, or 12.7%, and $33.3 million, or 12.6%, respectively, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2014.
    
The following is the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s reconciliation of net income to FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

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Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
 
$
190,224

 
$
82,732

Net (income) attributable to Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties
 
(643
)
 
(504
)
Preferred/preference distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares/Preference Units
 
(2,789
)
 

Net income available to Common Shares and Units / Units
 
185,901

 
81,192

 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
194,521

 
185,167

Depreciation – Non-real estate additions
 
(1,261
)
 
(1,188
)
Depreciation – Partially Owned Properties
 
(1,079
)
 
(1,068
)
Depreciation – Unconsolidated Properties
 
1,228

 
1,603

Net (gain) on sales of real estate properties
 
(79,951
)
 

Discontinued operations:
 
 
 
 
Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations
 

 
(71
)
FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (1) (3) (4)
 
299,359

 
265,635

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Asset impairment and valuation allowances
 

 

Property acquisition costs and write-off of pursuit costs
 
(4,825
)
 
474

Debt extinguishment (gains) losses, including prepayment penalties, preferred
 
 
 
 
share/preference unit redemptions and non-cash convertible debt discounts
 
1,473

 

(Gains) losses on sales of non-operating assets, net of income and other tax expense (benefit)
 
1,658

 
9

Other miscellaneous non-comparable items
 
1,337

 
(463
)
Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (2) (3) (4)
 
$
299,002

 
$
265,655

 
 
 
 
 
FFO (1) (3)
 
$
303,039

 
$
266,671

Preferred/preference distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Premium on redemption of Preferred Shares/Preference Units
 
(2,789
)
 

FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (1) (3) (4)
 
$
299,359

 
$
265,635

 
 
 
 
 
Normalized FFO (2) (3)
 
$
299,893

 
$
266,691

Preferred/preference distributions
 
(891
)
 
(1,036
)
Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units (2) (3) (4)
 
$
299,002

 
$
265,655


(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 and impairment write-downs of depreciable operating properties, 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 Company commences the conversion of apartment units to condominiums, it simultaneously discontinues depreciation of such property.

(2)
Normalized funds from operations (“Normalized FFO”) begins with FFO and excludes:
the impact of any expenses relating to non-operating asset impairment and valuation allowances;
property acquisition and other transaction costs related to mergers and acquisitions and pursuit cost write-offs;
gains and losses from early debt extinguishment, including prepayment penalties, preferred share/preference unit redemptions and the cost related to the implied option value of non-cash convertible debt discounts;
gains and losses on the sales of non-operating assets, including gains and losses from land parcel and condominium sales, net of the effect of income tax benefits or expenses; and
other miscellaneous non-comparable items.

(3)
The Company believes that FFO and FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the operating performance of a real estate company, because they are recognized measures of performance by the real estate industry and by excluding gains or losses related to 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

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to Common Shares and Units / Units can help compare the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to different companies. The Company also believes that Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are helpful to investors as supplemental measures of the operating performance of a real estate company because they allow investors to compare the Company’s operating performance to its performance in prior reporting periods and to the operating performance of other real estate companies without the effect of items that by their nature are not comparable from period to period and tend to obscure the Company’s actual operating results. FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units do not represent net income, net income available to Common Shares / Units or net cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units should not be exclusively considered as alternatives to net income, net income available to Common Shares / Units or net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP or as a measure of liquidity. The Company’s calculation of FFO, FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units, Normalized FFO and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units may differ from other real estate companies due to, among other items, variations in cost capitalization policies for capital expenditures and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such other real estate companies.

(4)
FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units and Normalized FFO available to Common Shares and Units / Units are calculated on a basis consistent with net income available to Common Shares / Units and reflects adjustments to net income for preferred distributions and premiums on redemption of preferred shares/preference units in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain restrictions, the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their OP Units for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s and the Operating Partnership's market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, to the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. 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 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative and other fair value instruments.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Equity Residential

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:
Effective as of March 31, 2015, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:
There were no changes to the internal control over financial reporting of the Company identified in connection with the Company’s evaluation referred to in Item 4(a) above that occurred during the first quarter of 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ERP Operating Limited Partnership

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:
Effective as of March 31, 2015, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of EQR, of the effectiveness of the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in its Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

(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 2015 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 Company and the Operating Partnership do not believe that there have been any material developments in the legal proceedings that were discussed in Part I, Item 3 of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s and the Operating Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

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

(a) Unregistered Common Shares Issued in the Quarter Ended March 31, 2015 - Equity Residential

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, EQR issued 154,050 Common Shares in exchange for 154,050 OP Units held by various limited partners of the Operating Partnership. OP Units are generally exchangeable into Common Shares on a one-for-one basis or, at the option of the Operating Partnership, the cash equivalent thereof, at any time one year after the date of issuance. These shares were either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as these were transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. In light of the manner of the sale and information obtained by EQR from the limited partners in connection with these transactions, EQR believes it may rely on these exemptions.

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.
Other Information

None.

Item 6.
Exhibits – See the Exhibit Index.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 6, 2015
 
By:
 
/s/ Mark J. Parrell
 
 
 
 
 
Mark J. Parrell
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 6, 2015
 
By:
 
/s/ Ian S. Kaufman
 
 
 
 
 
Ian S. Kaufman
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
BY: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
ITS GENERAL PARTNER
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 6, 2015
 
By:
 
/s/ Mark J. Parrell
 
 
 
 
 
Mark J. Parrell
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 6, 2015
 
By:
 
/s/ Ian S. Kaufman
 
 
 
 
 
Ian S. Kaufman
 
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal 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 numbers for our Exchange Act filings referenced below are 1-12252 (Equity Residential) and 0-24920 (ERP Operating Limited Partnership).
 
Exhibit
  
Description
  
Location
 
 
 
 
 
10.1*
 
Form of 2015 Performance Award Agreement.
 
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
12
 
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.
 
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
  
Equity Residential – Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
31.2
  
Equity Residential – Certification of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
31.3
  
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
31.4
  
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
32.1
  
Equity Residential – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
32.2
  
Equity Residential – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
32.3
  
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
32.4
  
ERP Operating Limited Partnership – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Mark J. Parrell, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
  
Attached herein.
 
 
 
 
 
101
  
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The following materials from Equity Residential’s and ERP Operating Limited Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2015, formatted in XBRL: (i) consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows, (iv) consolidated statement of changes in equity (Equity Residential), (v) consolidated statement of changes in capital (ERP Operating Limited Partnership) and (vi) notes to consolidated financial statements.
  
Attached herein.

*Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements filed as exhibits to this report are identified by an asterisk.