Equity, Capital and other Interests

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Equity, Capital and other Interests [Abstract]

Equity, Capital and other Interests

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 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) Units) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

	2011
Common Shares
Common Shares outstanding at January 1,		290,197,242
Common Shares Issued:
Conversion of OP Units		324,649
Issuance of Common Shares		3,038,980
Exercise of share options		2,914,476
Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)		98,766
Restricted share grants, net		148,708
Common Shares Other:
Conversion of restricted shares to LTIP Units		(101,988	)
Common Shares outstanding at September 30,		296,620,833
Units
Units outstanding at January 1,		13,612,037
LTIP Units, net		120,112
Conversion of restricted shares to LTIP Units		101,988
Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares		(324,649	)
Units outstanding at September 30,		13,509,488
Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at September 30,		310,130,321
Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership		4.4	%

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 LTIP Units, are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of LTIP 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of September 30, 2011, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership have a redemption value of approximately $378.8 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 change in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (amounts in thousands):

	2011
Balance at January 1,	$	383,540
Change in market value		(16,023	)
Change in carrying value		11,281
Balance at September 30,	$	378,798

Net proceeds from EQR Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings are contributed by EQR to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the Preferred Shares issued in the equity offering). As a result, the net offering proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of ERPOP.

The Company’s declaration of trust authorizes it to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), with specific rights, preferences and other attributes as the Board of Trustees may determine, which may include preferences, powers and rights that are senior to the rights of holders of the Company’s Common Shares.

The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

			Annual		Amounts in thousands
	Redemption Date (1)		Dividend per Share (2)		September 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
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; 1,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010		12/10/26	$	4.145	$	50,000	$	50,000
6.48% Series N Cumulative Redeemable Preferred; liquidation value $250 per share; 600,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (3)		6/19/08	$	16.20		150,000		150,000
					$	200,000	$	200,000

(1) On or after the redemption date, redeemable preferred shares (Series K and N) 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 all series of Preferred Shares are payable quarterly at various pay dates. The dividend listed for Series N is a Preferred Share rate and the equivalent Depositary Share annual dividend is $1.62 per share.

(3) The Series N Preferred Shares have a corresponding depositary share that consists of ten times the number of shares and one-tenth the liquidation value and dividend per share.

Capital and Redeemable Limited Partners of ERP Operating Limited Partnership

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Units and in the limited partners’ Units for the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

	2011
General and Limited Partner Units
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,		303,809,279
Issued to General Partner:
Issuance of OP Units		3,038,980
Exercise of EQR share options		2,914,476
EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)		98,766
EQR restricted share grants, net		148,708
Issued to Limited Partners:
LTIP Units, net		120,112
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at September 30,		310,130,321
Limited Partner Units
Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,		13,612,037
Limited Partner LTIP Units, net		120,112
Conversion of EQR restricted shares to LTIP Units		101,988
Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares		(324,649	)
Limited Partner Units outstanding at September 30,		13,509,488
Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership		4.4	%

The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of September 30, 2011 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of LTIP Units. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of LTIP Units), 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 September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Limited Partner Units in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Limited Partner Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of September 30, 2011, the Redeemable Limited Partner Units have a redemption value of approximately $378.8 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 change in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (amounts in thousands):

	2011
Balance at January 1,	$	383,540
Change in market value		(16,023	)
Change in carrying value		11,281
Balance at September 30,	$	378,798

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

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

	Redemption Date (1)		Annual Dividend per Unit (2)		Amounts in thousands
					September 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
Preference Units:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,000,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010		12/10/26	$	4.145	$	50,000	$	50,000
6.48% Series N Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 600,000 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (3)		6/19/08	$	16.20		150,000		150,000
					$	200,000	$	200,000

(1) On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units (Series K and N) may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares.

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

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

Other

In September 2009, EQR announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell up to 17.0 million Common Shares from time to time over the next three years into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds from all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, EQR issued approximately 3.0 million Common Shares at an average price of $50.84 per share for total consideration of approximately $154.5 million through the ATM program. Concurrent with these transactions, ERPOP issued approximately 3.0 million OP Units to EQR. EQR has not issued any shares under this program since January 13, 2011. Including its February 2011 prospectus supplement which added approximately 5.7 million Common Shares, EQR has 10.0 million Common Shares remaining available for issuance under the ATM program as of September 30, 2011.

On June 16, 2011, the shareholders of EQR approved the Company’s 2011 Share Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The 2011 Plan reserved 12,980,741 Common Shares for issuance. In conjunction with the approval of the 2011 Plan, no further awards may be granted under the 2002 Share Incentive Plan. The 2011 Plan expires on June 16, 2021.

EQR has a share repurchase program authorized by the Board of Trustees under which it has authorization to repurchase up to $464.6 million of its shares as of September 30, 2011. No shares were repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company acquired all of its partner’s interest in three consolidated partially owned properties consisting of 1,351 apartment units for $12.8 million. In conjunction with these transactions, the Company reduced paid in capital (included in general partner’s capital in the Operating Partnership’s financial statements) by $4.8 million and Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties by $8.0 million.