Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity of the General Partner and Partners' Capital of the Partnership

General Partner

The General Partner periodically uses the public equity markets to fund the development and acquisition of additional rental properties or to pay down debt. The proceeds of these offerings are contributed to the Partnership in exchange for an additional interest in the Partnership.

During 2015, the General Partner issued 233,000 common shares pursuant to its at the market equity program, generating gross proceeds of approximately $5.0 million and, after deducting commissions and other costs, net proceeds of approximately $4.5 million. The proceeds from these offerings were contributed to the Partnership and used for general corporate purposes.

During 2014, pursuant to the share repurchase plan approved by our board of directors, the General Partner repurchased 750,243 preferred shares from among our remaining outstanding series. The preferred shares repurchased had a total redemption value of approximately $18.8 million and were repurchased for $17.7 million. In conjunction with the repurchases, approximately $618,000 of initial issuance costs, the ratable portion of such costs associated with the repurchased shares, were charged against income attributable to common shareholders. As the result of these repurchases, an adjustment of approximately $483,000 was included as an increase to net income attributable to common shareholders.

In August 2014, the General Partner redeemed all 384,530 shares of its outstanding 6.625% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series J Shares"). The cash redemption price for the Series J Shares was $96.1 million, or $250 per share, plus dividends accrued through the date of redemption. Original offering costs of $3.2 million were included as a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders in conjunction with the redemption of these shares.

In December 2014, the General Partner redeemed all 597,579 shares of its outstanding 6.5% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series K Shares") and all 733,597 shares of its outstanding 6.6% Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series L Shares"). The cash redemption price for the Series K Shares and the Series L Shares was $149.4 million and $183.4 million respectively, or $250 per share, plus dividends accrued through the date of redemption. Original offering costs of $5.0 million and $6.0 million were included as a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders for the Series K Shares and Series L Shares respectively, in conjunction with the redemption of these shares.

During 2014, the General Partner issued 16.4 million common shares pursuant to its at the market equity program, generating gross proceeds of approximately $292.3 million and, after deducting commissions and other costs, net proceeds of approximately $289.1 million. The proceeds from these offerings were used for share redemptions and general corporate purposes, which include the funding of development costs.

In April 2014, the General Partner's shareholders approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of the General Partner's common stock from 400 million to 600 million.

In January 2013, the General Partner completed a public offering of 41.4 million common shares at an issue price of $14.25 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $590.0 million and, after deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering costs, net proceeds of approximately $571.9 million. A portion of the net proceeds from this offering were used to repay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Partnership's existing revolving credit facility, which had an outstanding balance of $285.0 million at December 31, 2012, and the remaining proceeds were used to redeem all of the General Partner's outstanding 8.375% Series O Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series O Shares") and for general corporate purposes.

Throughout 2013, the General Partner issued 4.8 million shares of common stock pursuant to its at the market equity program, generating gross proceeds of approximately $79.3 million and, after deducting commissions and other costs, net proceeds of approximately $77.8 million. The proceeds from these offerings were used for general corporate purposes, which include the funding of development costs.

In February 2013, the General Partner redeemed all of the outstanding shares of its Series O Shares at their liquidation amount of $178.0 million. Original offering costs of $5.9 million were included as a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders in conjunction with the redemption of these shares.

Partnership

For each common share or preferred share that the General Partner issues, the Partnership issues a corresponding Common Unit or Preferred Unit, as applicable, to the General Partner in exchange for the contribution of the proceeds from the stock issuance. Similarly, when the General Partner redeems or repurchases common shares or preferred shares, the Partnership redeems the corresponding Common Units or Preferred Units held by the General Partner at the same price.