Organization, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (the "Company," which term, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to AvalonBay Communities, Inc. together with its subsidiaries), is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). The Company focuses on the development, redevelopment, acquisition, ownership and operation of multifamily communities primarily in New England, the New York/New Jersey metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California.

At June 30, 2017, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 264 operating apartment communities containing 76,158 apartment homes in 10 states and the District of Columbia, of which nine communities containing 2,900 apartment homes were under redevelopment. In addition, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 23 communities under development that are expected to contain an aggregate of 6,965 apartment homes when completed. The Company also owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in land or rights to land on which the Company expects to develop an additional 25 communities that, if developed as expected, will contain an estimated 8,329 apartment homes.

The interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Management believes the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments and eliminations, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for the interim periods, have been included.

Capitalized terms used without definition have meanings provided elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. All outstanding unvested restricted share awards contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends and participate in undistributed earnings with common shareholders and, accordingly, are considered participating securities that are included in the two-class method of computing basic earnings per share ("EPS"). Both the unvested restricted shares and other potentially dilutive common shares, and the related impact to earnings, are considered when calculating earnings per share on a diluted basis. The Company's earnings per common share are determined as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share data):



	For the three months ended						For the six months ended
	6/30/2017			6/30/2016			6/30/2017			6/30/2016
Basic and diluted shares outstanding
Weighted average common shares - basic	137,580,677			136,918,770			137,326,204			136,852,323
Weighted average DownREIT units outstanding	7,500			7,500			7,500			7,500
Effect of dilutive securities	584,974			511,463			519,921			550,564
Weighted average common shares - diluted	138,173,151			137,437,733			137,853,625			137,410,387

Calculation of Earnings per Share - basic
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	165,225		$	197,444		$	401,100		$	435,377
Net income allocated to unvested restricted shares	(468		)	(516		)	(1,122		)	(1,147		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders, adjusted	$	164,757		$	196,928		$	399,978		$	434,230

Weighted average common shares - basic	137,580,677			136,918,770			137,326,204			136,852,323

Earnings per common share - basic	$	1.20		$	1.44		$	2.91		$	3.17

Calculation of Earnings per Share - diluted
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	165,225		$	197,444		$	401,100		$	435,377
Add: noncontrolling interests of DownREIT unitholders in consolidated partnerships	10			10			21			20
Adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders	$	165,235		$	197,454		$	401,121		$	435,397

Weighted average common shares - diluted	138,173,151			137,437,733			137,853,625			137,410,387

Earnings per common share - diluted	$	1.20		$	1.44		$	2.91		$	3.17

All options to purchase shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

As discussed under "Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards," as of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the provision of ASU 2016-09 using the modified retrospective approach to recognize forfeitures as they occur. Prior to the adoption of this standard, the Company was required to estimate the forfeiture of stock options and recognized compensation cost net of the estimated forfeitures. The estimated forfeitures included in compensation cost were adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures at the end of the vesting period. This change in accounting principle had an immaterial effect on the Company's financial position and no adjustment to retained earnings or the Company's diluted shares outstanding, as prescribed under the modified retrospective approach, was required in the prior year period.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company enters into interest rate swap and interest rate cap agreements (collectively, "Hedging Derivatives") for interest rate risk management purposes and in conjunction with certain variable rate secured debt to satisfy lender requirements. The Company does not enter into Hedging Derivative transactions for trading or other speculative purposes. The Company assesses the effectiveness of qualifying cash flow and fair value hedges, both at inception and on an on-going basis. Hedge ineffectiveness is reported as a component of general and administrative expenses. The fair values of Hedging Derivatives that are in an asset position are recorded in prepaid expenses and other assets. The fair value of Hedging Derivatives that are in a liability position are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities. The Company does not present or disclose the fair value of Hedging Derivatives on a net basis. Fair value changes for derivatives that are not in qualifying hedge relationships are reported as a component of interest expense, net. For the Hedging Derivative positions that the Company has determined qualify as effective cash flow hedges, the Company has recorded the effective portion of cumulative changes in the fair value of Hedging Derivatives in other comprehensive income (loss). Amounts recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) will be reclassified into earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the hedged cash flow. The effective portion of the change in fair value of the Hedging Derivatives that the Company has determined qualified as effective fair value hedges is reported as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the corresponding debt being hedged.

Legal and Other Contingencies

Maplewood Casualty Loss

In February 2017, a fire occurred at the Company's Avalon Maplewood Development Community, located in Maplewood, NJ, which was under construction and not yet occupied. The Company believes that liabilities to third parties resulting from the fire will not be material and will, in any event, be substantially covered by insurance subject to a deductible. The Company has commenced reconstruction of the damaged and destroyed portions of the community. See Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," for further discussion of the casualty gains and losses associated with the Maplewood casualty loss.

Edgewater Casualty Loss

In January 2015, a fire occurred at the Company's Avalon at Edgewater apartment community located in Edgewater, New Jersey ("Edgewater"). Edgewater consisted of two residential buildings. One building, containing 240 apartment homes, was destroyed. The second building, containing 168 apartment homes, suffered minimal damage and has been repaired.

The Company has established protocols for processing claims from third parties who suffered losses as a result of the fire, and many third parties have contacted the Company's insurance carrier and settled their claims. See Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings," for further discussion of the lawsuits associated with the Edgewater casualty loss.

Three class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company on behalf of occupants of the destroyed building and consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The Company has agreed with class counsel to the terms of a settlement which provides a claims process (with agreed upon protocols for instructing the adjuster as to how to evaluate claims) and, if needed, an arbitration process to determine damage amounts to be paid to individual claimants covered by the class settlement. In July 2017 the District Court granted final approval of the settlement and all claims are required to be submitted to the independent claims adjuster by September 11, 2017. A total of 66 units (consisting of residents who did not previously settle their claims and who did not opt out of the class settlement) are included in the class action settlement and bound by its terms. A fourth class action, being heard in the same federal court, was filed against the Company on behalf of residents of the second Edgewater building that suffered minimal damage. In addition to the class action lawsuits described above, 20 lawsuits representing approximately 150 individual plaintiffs have been filed and are currently pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey Bergen County - Law Division. All of these state court cases, except for one that was recently filed, have been consolidated by the court. All of these plaintiffs, except for two, formally opted out of the class action settlement described above and have decided to continue their individual actions. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the extent of damages claimed in all of the suits. The 19 consolidated lawsuits currently have a trial date of October 2, 2017. There are also five subrogation lawsuits that have been filed against the Company by insurers of Edgewater residents who obtained renters insurance; it is the Company's position that in the majority of the applicable leases the residents waived subrogation rights. One of these lawsuits has been dismissed on that basis and the other four have been consolidated and are currently pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. The District Court denied the Company's motions seeking dismissal on this basis. The Company will reassess the viability of this defense after conducting additional discovery.

Having settled many third party claims through the insurance claims process, the Company currently believes that any potential remaining liability to third parties (including any potential liability to third parties determined in accordance with the class settlement described above) will not be material to the Company and will in any event be substantially covered by the Company's insurance policies. However, the Company can give no assurances in this regard and continues to evaluate this matter. See Note 5, "Investments in Real Estate Entities," and Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings," for further discussion of the casualty gains and losses and lawsuits associated with the Edgewater casualty loss.

Other Matters

The Company is involved in various other claims and/or administrative proceedings unrelated to the Edgewater casualty loss that arise in the ordinary course of its business. While no assurances can be given, the Company does not currently believe that any of these other outstanding litigation matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Real Estate, Policy

Acquisitions of Investments in Real Estate

The Company accounts for acquisitions of investments in real estate in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the initial measurement, which requires the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree to be recognized at fair value. Typical assets and liabilities acquired include land, building, furniture, fixtures and equipment, debt and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above or below market leases and in-place leases. In making estimates of fair values for purposes of allocating purchase price, the Company utilizes various sources, including its own analysis of recently acquired and existing comparable properties in its portfolio and other market data. Consideration for acquisitions is typically in the form of cash unless otherwise disclosed. For an acquisition of a business, the allocation of the purchase price is based on the fair value of the net assets, and for an asset acquisition, the allocation of the purchase price is based on the relative fair value of the net assets. Subsequent to the adoption of ASU 2017-01 on October 1, 2016, the Company expects that acquisitions of individual operating communities will generally be viewed as asset acquisitions.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts in prior years' notes to financial statements to conform to current year presentations as a result of changes in held for sale classification and disposition activity.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. This ASU clarifies the scope of the nonfinancial asset guidance and the derecognition of all businesses and nonprofit activities (except those related to conveyances of oil and gas mineral rights or contracts with customers). In addition, the amendments eliminate the exception in the financial asset guidance for transfers of investments (including equity method investments) in real estate entities and supersede the guidance in the Exchanges of a Nonfinancial Asset for a Noncontrolling Ownership Interest. The amendments also provide guidance on the accounting of partial sales of nonfinancial assets and contributions of nonfinancial assets to a joint venture or other noncontrolled investee. The new standard allows for either a retrospective or modified retrospective approach. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2018 and allows for early adoption. The Company is assessing whether the new standard will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU addresses eight specific cash flow issues including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, distributions received from equity method investees and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The new standard requires a retrospective approach. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2018 and allows for early adoption. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017. The new standard did not have a material effect on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as equity or liability, statement of cash flows classification and policy election options for forfeitures. Upon adoption of the standard, the Company elected to account for forfeitures when they occur instead of estimating the forfeitures. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017, using the modified retrospective approach. The new standard did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or earnings per share as discussed in "Earnings per Common Share."

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, amending the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. The guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2019 and allows for early adoption. The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief.

ASU 2016-02 provides for transition relief, which includes not electing to (i) reassess whether any expired or existing contract is a lease or contains a lease, (ii) reassess the lease classification of any expired or existing leases and (iii) expense any capitalized initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company anticipates adoption of the standard to have a material impact on its financial position resulting from the recognition of the right to use asset and corresponding lease obligation for its long-term ground leases, currently accounted for as operating leases. The Company will continue to assess the impact of the new standard.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers-Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of the new revenue recognition standard until the first quarter of 2018. Subsequently, the FASB has issued multiple ASUs clarifying ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2015-14. Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is probable. Revenue is generally recognized net of allowances and any taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The majority of the Company's revenue is derived from rental income, which is scoped out from this standard and will be accounted for under ASU 2016-02, Leases, discussed above. The Company's other revenue streams, which are being evaluated under this ASU, include but are not limited to management fees, other income from residents determined not to be within the scope of ASU 2016-02 and gains and losses from real estate dispositions. The Company will continue to assess the impact of the new standard and anticipates adoption as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach.

Change in Accounting Principle

As of January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, as discussed above. The guidance requires payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation to be presented separately as a financing activity on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and was adopted retrospectively.

The impact of the change in accounting principle for the six months ended June 30, 2016 on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is (i) a reduction in decrease in accrued expenses, other liabilities and accrued interest payable of $7,659,000, and (ii) an associated increase in net cash provided by operating activities, as well as (iii) an increase in payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation of $7,659,000, and (iv) an associated increase in net cash used in financing activities. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation were $10,441,000.