10-Q 1 ess-33116x10q.htm 10-Q 10-Q
                                            

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016

OR

o 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 001-13106

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Maryland (Essex Property Trust, Inc.)
California (Essex Portfolio, L.P.)
 
77-0369576 (Essex Property Trust, Inc.)
77-0369575 (Essex Portfolio, L.P.)
 
 
 
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1100 Park Place, Suite 200
San Mateo, California    94403
(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

(650) 655-7800
(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 reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes x   No o
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     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).
Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes x   No o
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     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. (Check one):


i


Essex Property Trust, Inc.:
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Essex Portfolio, L.P.:
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes o   No x
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     Yes o   No x
 
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 65,430,092 shares of Common Stock ($0.0001 par value) of Essex Property Trust, Inc. were outstanding as of April 28, 2016.
 

ii


EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the reports on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Essex Portfolio, L.P. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Essex” mean Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and references to “EPLP” mean Essex Portfolio, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”). References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively Essex, EPLP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Essex and/or EPLP.  References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively EPLP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EPLP.

Essex is the general partner of EPLP and as the sole general partner of EPLP, Essex has exclusive control of EPLP's day-to-day management.

The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) and Essex contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings to the Operating Partnership. In return for those contributions, Essex receives a number of OP Units (see definition below) in the Operating Partnership equal to the number of shares of common stock 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 the Operating Partnership, which is one of the reasons why the Company is structured in the manner outlined above. Based on the terms of EPLP's partnership agreement, OP Units can be exchanged with Essex common stock on a one-for-one basis. The Company maintains a one-for-one relationship between the OP Units of the Operating Partnership issued to Essex and shares of common stock.

The Company believes that combining the reports on Form 10-Q of Essex and EPLP 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 Essex consists of the same members as the management of EPLP.

All of the Company's property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and Essex has no material assets, other than its investment in EPLP. Essex's primary function is acting as the general partner of EPLP.  As general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, the Company consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements.  Essex also issues equity from time to time and guarantees certain debt of EPLP, as disclosed in this report. 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 the Company, which are contributed to the capital of the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) (on a one-for-one share of common stock 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 facilities, the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities and proceeds received from disposition of certain properties and joint ventures.

The Company believes it is important to understand the few differences between Essex and EPLP in the context of how Essex and EPLP operate as a consolidated company.  Stockholders' equity, partners' capital and noncontrolling interest 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 consolidated financial statements and as noncontrolling interest in Essex’s consolidated financial statements. The noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership's consolidated financial statements include the interest of unaffiliated partners in various consolidated partnerships and joint venture partners. The noncontrolling interest in the Company's  consolidated financial statements include (i) the same noncontrolling interest as presented in the Operating Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and (ii) limited partner OP Unitholders of the Operating Partnership. The differences between stockholders' equity and partners' capital result from differences in the equity issued at the Company and Operating Partnership levels.
 

iii


To help investors understand the significant 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 stockholders' equity or partners' capital, and earnings per share/unit, as applicable; and a combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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. 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.

The information furnished in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and comprehensive income, equity, capital, and cash flows of the Company and the Operating Partnership reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the aforementioned condensed consolidated financial statements for the interim periods and are normal and recurring in nature, except as otherwise noted.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations herein.  Additionally, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

iv


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page No.
 
 
 
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Essex Portfolio L.P. (Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 

1


Part I – Financial Information

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
ASSETS
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Real estate:
 
 
 
Rental properties:
 
 
 
Land and land improvements
$
2,573,923

 
$
2,522,842

Buildings and improvements
10,052,754

 
9,808,627

 
12,626,677

 
12,331,469

Less accumulated depreciation
(2,051,802
)
 
(1,949,892
)
 
10,574,875

 
10,381,577

Real estate under development
145,711

 
242,326

Co-investments
1,069,684

 
1,036,047

Real estate held for sale, net

 
26,879

 
11,790,270

 
11,686,829

Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
48,164

 
29,683

Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
32,319

 
93,372

Marketable securities
138,597

 
137,485

Notes and other receivables
18,198

 
19,285

Prepaid expenses and other assets
39,936

 
38,437

Total assets
$
12,067,484

 
$
12,005,091

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

Unsecured debt, net
$
2,936,463

 
$
3,088,680

Mortgage notes payable, net
2,252,057

 
2,215,077

Lines of credit, net
164,282

 
11,707

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
170,444

 
131,415

Construction payable
36,822

 
40,953

Dividends payable
111,409

 
100,266

Other liabilities
34,814

 
34,518

Cumulative redeemable 7.125% Series H preferred stock at liquidation value
73,750

 

Total liabilities
5,780,041

 
5,622,616

Commitments and contingencies


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interest
46,203

 
45,452

Equity:
 

 
 

Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 656,020,000 shares authorized; 65,426,726 and 65,379,359 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
6

 
6

   Cumulative redeemable 7.125% Series H preferred stock at liquidation value

 
73,750

Additional paid-in capital
7,010,181

 
7,003,317

Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings
(824,046
)
 
(797,329
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
(44,149
)
 
(42,011
)
Total stockholders' equity
6,141,992

 
6,237,733

Noncontrolling interest
99,248

 
99,290

Total equity
6,241,240

 
6,337,023

Total liabilities and equity
$
12,067,484

 
$
12,005,091


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

2



ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
Rental and other property
$
312,178

 
$
280,229

Management and other fees from affiliates
2,024

 
2,644

 
314,202

 
282,873

Expenses:
 

 
 

Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
60,071

 
55,618

Real estate taxes
34,419

 
31,553

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

General and administrative
9,182

 
10,545

Merger and integration expenses

 
2,388

Acquisition and investment related costs
828

 
547

 
214,207

 
207,558

Earnings from operations
99,995

 
75,315

Interest expense
(52,466
)
 
(47,546
)
Total return swap income
3,123

 

Interest and other income
5,208

 
4,199

Equity income in co-investments
15,068

 
4,311

Gain on sale of real estate and land
20,258

 
7,112

Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land
(4,279
)
 

Gain on remeasurement of co-investment

 
21,362

Net income
86,907

 
64,753

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(5,071
)
 
(4,076
)
Net income attributable to controlling interest
81,836

 
60,677

Dividends to preferred stockholders
(1,314
)
 
(1,314
)
Excess of redemption value of preferred stock over the carrying value
(2,541
)
 

Net income available to common stockholders
$
77,981

 
$
59,363

Comprehensive income
$
84,696

 
$
65,352

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(4,998
)
 
(4,091
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
$
79,698

 
$
61,261

Per share data:
 

 
 

Basic:
 

 
 

Net income available to common stockholders
$
1.19

 
$
0.92

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period
65,405,654

 
64,185,455

Diluted:
 

 
 

Net income available to common stockholders
$
1.19

 
$
0.92

Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period
65,557,639

 
64,394,680

Dividend per common share
$
1.60

 
$
1.44


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016
(Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands)
 
Series H
Preferred stock
 
Common stock
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
Distributions
in excess of accumulated earnings
 
Accumulated
other
comprehensive loss, net
 
Noncontrolling Interest
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2015
2,950

 
$
73,750

 
65,379

 
$
6

 
$
7,003,317

 
$
(797,329
)
 
$
(42,011
)
 
$
99,290

 
$
6,337,023

Net income

 

 

 

 

 
81,836

 

 
5,071

 
86,907

Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,445
)
 
(83
)
 
(2,528
)
Change in fair value of marketable securities

 

 

 

 

 

 
307

 
10

 
317

Issuance of common stock under:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Stock option and restricted stock plans, net

 

 
41

 

 
5,232

 

 

 

 
5,232

Sale of common stock, net

 

 

 

 
(134
)
 

 

 

 
(134
)
Equity based compensation costs

 

 

 

 
895

 

 

 
595

 
1,490

Reclassification of Series H preferred stock
(2,950
)
 
(73,750
)
 

 

 
2,541

 
(2,541
)
 

 

 
(73,750
)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 
(841
)
 

 

 
90

 
(751
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(5,465
)
 
(5,465
)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest

 

 
7

 

 
(829
)
 

 

 
(260
)
 
(1,089
)
Common and preferred stock dividends

 

 

 

 

 
(106,012
)
 

 

 
(106,012
)
Balances at March 31, 2016

 
$

 
65,427

 
$
6

 
$
7,010,181

 
$
(824,046
)
 
$
(44,149
)
 
$
99,248

 
$
6,241,240


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands) 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
86,907

 
$
64,753

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

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

Amortization of discount on marketable securities and other investments
(3,756
)
 
(2,856
)
Amortization of (premium) discount and debt financing costs, net
(3,795
)
 
(6,530
)
Gain on sale of marketable securities
(740
)
 

Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments
(7,435
)
 

Income from early redemption of preferred equity investments

 
(469
)
Earnings from co-investments
(7,633
)
 
(3,842
)
Operating distributions from co-investments
9,753

 
6,055

Gain on the sale of real estate and land
(20,258
)
 
(7,112
)
Equity-based compensation
1,490

 
1,370

Gain on remeasurement of co-investments

 
(21,362
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
   Prepaid expenses, receivables and other assets
846

 
3,548

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
35,200

 
21,741

Other liabilities
324

 
346

Net cash provided by operating activities
200,610

 
162,549

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Additions to real estate:
 

 
 

Acquisitions of real estate and acquisition related capital expenditures
(110,309
)
 
(199,190
)
Redevelopment
(24,151
)
 
(19,140
)
Development acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development
(22,656
)
 
(90,925
)
Capital expenditures on rental properties
(5,688
)
 
(16,196
)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investments

 
(41,513
)
Proceeds from insurance for property losses
435

 
4,589

Proceeds from dispositions of real estate
48,008

 
74,485

Contributions to co-investments
(50,591
)
 
(48,650
)
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits
59,346

 
45,145

Purchases of marketable securities
(1,344
)
 
(7,250
)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
5,045

 
717

Non-operating distributions from co-investments
21,146

 
11,072

Net cash used in investing activities
(80,759
)
 
(286,856
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Borrowings under debt agreements
305,895

 
756,562

Repayment of debt
(309,903
)
 
(536,830
)
Additions to deferred charges
(1,037
)
 
(4,456
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
(134
)
 
174,592

Net proceeds from stock options exercised
5,232

 
15,613

Distributions to noncontrolling interest
(4,858
)
 
(3,574
)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest
(1,089
)
 
(2,154
)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid
(95,476
)
 
(83,663
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(101,370
)
 
316,090

Cash acquired in consolidation of co-investment

 
1,807

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
18,481

 
193,590

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
29,683

 
25,610


5


 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
48,164

 
$
219,200

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of $3.1 million and $4.3 million capitalized in 2016 and 2015, respectively
$
48,109

 
$
50,343

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Transfers between real estate under development to rental properties, net
$
107,643

 
$
162,345

Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments
$
2,338

 
$
1,562

Reclassifications to redeemable noncontrolling interest from additional paid in capital and noncontrolling interest
$
751

 
$
1,660

Debt assumed in connection with acquisition
$
48,832

 
$
114,435


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


6


ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except unit amounts)
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Real estate:
 
 
 
Rental properties:
 
 
 
Land and land improvements
$
2,573,923

 
$
2,522,842

Buildings and improvements
10,052,754

 
9,808,627

 
12,626,677

 
12,331,469

Less accumulated depreciation
(2,051,802
)
 
(1,949,892
)
 
10,574,875

 
10,381,577

Real estate under development
145,711

 
242,326

Co-investments
1,069,684

 
1,036,047

Real estate held for sale, net

 
26,879

 
11,790,270

 
11,686,829

Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
48,164

 
29,683

Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
32,319

 
93,372

Marketable securities
138,597

 
137,485

Notes and other receivables
18,198

 
19,285

Prepaid expenses and other assets
39,936

 
38,437

Total assets
$
12,067,484


$
12,005,091

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
 

 
 

Unsecured debt, net
$
2,936,463

 
$
3,088,680

Mortgage notes payable, net
2,252,057

 
2,215,077

Lines of credit, net
164,282

 
11,707

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
170,444

 
131,415

Construction payable
36,822

 
40,953

Distributions payable
111,409

 
100,266

Other liabilities
34,814

 
34,518

Cumulative redeemable 7.125% Series H preferred units at liquidation value
73,750

 

Total liabilities
5,780,041


5,622,616

Commitments and contingencies


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interest
46,203

 
45,452

Capital:
 

 
 

General Partner:
 
 
 
   Common equity (65,426,726 and 65,379,359 units issued and outstanding, respectively)
6,186,141

 
6,208,535

   Cumulative redeemable 7.125% Series H preferred stock (liquidation value of 73,750)

 
71,209

 
6,186,141


6,279,744

Limited Partners:
 
 
 
   Common equity (2,224,968 and 2,214,545 units issued and outstanding, respectively)
46,889

 
47,235

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(41,809
)
 
(39,598
)
Total partners' capital
6,191,221


6,287,381

Noncontrolling interest
50,019

 
49,642

Total capital
6,241,240


6,337,023

Total liabilities and capital
$
12,067,484


$
12,005,091


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

7


ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except unit and per unit amounts)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
Rental and other property
$
312,178

 
$
280,229

Management and other fees from affiliates
2,024

 
2,644

 
314,202

 
282,873

Expenses:
 

 
 

Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
60,071

 
55,618

Real estate taxes
34,419

 
31,553

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

General and administrative
9,182

 
10,545

Merger and integration expenses

 
2,388

Acquisition and investment related costs
828

 
547

 
214,207

 
207,558

Earnings from operations
99,995

 
75,315

Interest expense
(52,466
)
 
(47,546
)
Total return swap income
3,123

 

Interest and other income
5,208

 
4,199

Equity income in co-investments
15,068

 
4,311

Gain on sale of real estate and land
20,258

 
7,112

Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land
(4,279
)
 

Gain on remeasurement of co-investment

 
21,362

Net income
86,907

 
64,753

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(2,287
)
 
(2,013
)
Net income attributable to controlling interest
84,620

 
62,740

Preferred interest distributions
(1,314
)
 
(1,314
)
Excess of redemption value of preferred units over the carrying value
(2,541
)
 

Net income available to common unitholders
$
80,765

 
$
61,426

Comprehensive income
$
84,696

 
$
65,352

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(2,287
)
 
(2,013
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
$
82,409

 
$
63,339

Per unit data:
 

 
 

Basic:
 

 
 

Net income available to common unitholders
$
1.19

 
$
0.93

Weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period
67,633,519

 
66,369,769

Diluted:
 
 
 
Net income available to common unitholders
$
1.19

 
$
0.92

Weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period
67,785,504

 
66,578,994

Distribution per common unit
$
1.60

 
$
1.44


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

8


ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital for the three months ended March 31, 2016
(Dollars and units in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
General Partner
 
Limited Partners
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
Common Equity
 
 
 
Common Equity
 
 
Noncontrolling Interest
 
 
 
Units
 
Amount
 
 
Units
 
Amount
 
 
 
Total
Balances at December 31, 2015
65,379

 
$
6,208,535

 
$
71,209

 
2,215

 
$
47,235

 
$
(39,598
)
 
$
49,642

 
$
6,337,023

Net income

 
77,981

 
3,855

 

 
2,784

 

 
2,287

 
86,907

Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements

 

 

 

 

 
(2,528
)
 

 
(2,528
)
Change in fair value of marketable securities

 

 

 

 

 
317

 

 
317

Issuance of common units under:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

General partner's stock based compensation, net
41

 
5,232

 

 

 

 

 

 
5,232

Sale of common stock by general partner, net

 
(134
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(134
)
Equity based compensation costs

 
895

 

 
18

 
595

 

 

 
1,490

Reclassification of Series H preferred units

 

 
(73,750
)
 

 

 

 

 
(73,750
)
Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 
(841
)
 

 

 

 

 
90

 
(751
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,818
)
 
(1,818
)
Redemptions
7

 
(829
)
 

 
(8
)
 
(78
)
 

 
(182
)
 
(1,089
)
Distributions declared

 
(104,698
)
 
(1,314
)
 

 
(3,647
)
 

 

 
(109,659
)
Balances at March 31, 2016
65,427

 
$
6,186,141

 
$

 
2,225

 
$
46,889

 
$
(41,809
)
 
$
50,019

 
$
6,241,240



See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

9


ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
86,907

 
$
64,753

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

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

Amortization of discount on marketable securities and other investments
(3,756
)
 
(2,856
)
Amortization of (premium) discount and debt financing costs, net
(3,795
)
 
(6,530
)
Gain on sale of marketable securities
(740
)
 

Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments
(7,435
)
 

Income from early redemption of preferred equity investments

 
(469
)
Earnings from co-investments
(7,633
)
 
(3,842
)
Operating distributions from co-investments
9,753

 
6,055

Gain on the sales of real estate and land
(20,258
)
 
(7,112
)
Equity-based compensation
1,490

 
1,370

Gain on remeasurement of co-investments

 
(21,362
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Prepaid expense, receivables and other assets
846

 
3,548

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
35,200

 
21,741

Other liabilities
324

 
346

Net cash provided by operating activities
200,610

 
162,549

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Additions to real estate:
 

 
 

Acquisitions of real estate and acquisition related capital expenditures
(110,309
)
 
(199,190
)
Redevelopment
(24,151
)
 
(19,140
)
Development acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development
(22,656
)
 
(90,925
)
Capital expenditures on rental properties
(5,688
)
 
(16,196
)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investments

 
(41,513
)
Proceeds from insurance for property losses
435

 
4,589

Proceeds from dispositions of real estate
48,008

 
74,485

Contributions to co-investments
(50,591
)
 
(48,650
)
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits
59,346

 
45,145

Purchases of marketable securities
(1,344
)
 
(7,250
)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
5,045

 
717

Non-operating distributions from co-investments
21,146

 
11,072

Net cash used in investing activities
(80,759
)
 
(286,856
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Borrowings under debt agreements
305,895

 
756,562

Repayment of debt
(309,903
)
 
(536,830
)
Additions to deferred charges
(1,037
)
 
(4,456
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units
(134
)
 
174,592

Net proceeds from stock options exercised
5,232

 
15,613

Distributions to noncontrolling interest
(1,528
)
 
(221
)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest
(1,089
)
 
(2,154
)
Common and preferred units and preferred interest distributions paid
(98,806
)
 
(87,016
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(101,370
)
 
316,090

Cash acquired in consolidation of co-investment

 
1,807

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
18,481

 
193,590

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
29,683

 
25,610


10


 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
48,164

 
$
219,200

  
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of $3.1 million and $4.3 million capitalized in 2016 and 2015, respectively
$
48,109

 
$
50,343

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Transfers between real estate under development to rental properties, net
$
107,643

 
$
162,345

Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments
$
2,338

 
$
1,562

Reclassifications to redeemable noncontrolling interest from general partner capital and noncontrolling interest
$
751

 
$
1,660

  Debt assumed in connection with acquisition
$
48,832

 
$
114,435


See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

11


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

(1) Organization and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements present the accounts of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (“Essex” or the “Company”), which include the accounts of the Company and Essex Portfolio, L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Operating Partnership,” which holds the operating assets of the Company), prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented have been included and are normal and recurring in nature.  These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 include the accounts of the Company and the Operating Partnership. Essex is the sole general partner in the Operating Partnership, with a 96.7% general partnership interest as of March 31, 2016. Total Operating Partnership limited partnership units outstanding were 2,224,968 and 2,214,545 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and the redemption value of the units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $520.3 million and $530.2 million, as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company owned or had ownership interests in 244 stabilized apartment communities, aggregating 59,441 apartment homes, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred interest co-investments, (collectively, the “Communities”, and individually, a “Community”), two commercial buildings and seven active developments (collectively, the “Portfolio”).  The Communities are located in Southern California (primarily Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area) and the Seattle metropolitan areas.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities", which requires changes to the classification and measurement of investments in certain equity securities and to the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 "Leases", which requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. The guidance also requires disclosure regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The new standard must be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.


12


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

Marketable Securities

The Company reports its available for sale securities at fair value, based on quoted market prices (Level 1 for the common stock and investment funds and Level 2 for the unsecured bonds, as defined by the FASB standard for fair value measurements), and any unrealized gain or loss is recorded as other comprehensive income (loss).  Realized gains and losses, interest income, and amortization of purchase discounts are included in interest and other income on the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, marketable securities consisted primarily of investment-grade unsecured bonds, common stock, investments in mortgage backed securities, investment funds that invest in U.S. treasury or agency securities. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company classified its investments in mortgage backed securities, which mature through November 2019 and September 2020, as held to maturity, and accordingly, these securities are stated at their amortized cost.  As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, marketable securities consist of the following ($ in thousands):

 
March 31, 2016
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Carrying Value
Available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
Investment-grade unsecured bonds
$
9,603

 
$
154

 
$
9,757

Investment funds - U.S. treasuries
5,019

 
2

 
5,021

Common stock and stock funds
32,576

 
7,311

 
39,887

Held to maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage backed securities
83,932

 

 
83,932

Total - Marketable securities
$
131,130

 
$
7,467

 
$
138,597

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 
Carrying Value
Available for sale:
 

 
 

 
 

Investment-grade unsecured bonds
$
11,618

 
$
68

 
$
11,686

Investment funds - U.S. treasuries
3,675

 
(9
)
 
3,666

Common stock and stock funds
34,655

 
7,091

 
41,746

Held to maturity:
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage backed securities
80,387

 

 
80,387

Total - Marketable securities
$
130,335

 
$
7,150

 
$
137,485


The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the cost basis of a security sold and to reclassify amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income for securities sold. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the proceeds from sales of available for sale securities totaled $5.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively, which resulted in $0.7 million realized gains and no realized gains or losses, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," which provides new consolidation guidance and 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. The Company adopted ASU No. 2015-02 on

13


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

January 1, 2016. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the new standard, it determined that no change was required to its accounting for variable interest entities (“VIEs”). However, under the guidance of ASU No. 2015-02, 9 previously consolidated co-investments now meet the definition of a VIE and requires additional disclosure about these VIEs which the Company continues to consolidate as they were determined to be the primary beneficiary.

The Company continues to be the primary beneficiary and consolidates the Operating Partnership and 19 DownREIT limited partnerships (comprising eleven communities). Commencing on January 1, 2016, 9 other consolidated co-investments were determined to be VIEs and the Company continued to consolidate as they were determined to be the primary beneficiary. The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to the 9 consolidated co-investments and 19 DownREIT limited partnerships, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $904.4 million and $231.4 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2016 and $893.1 million and $231.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015. Noncontrolling interests in these entities was $55.0 million and $54.6 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company's financial risk in each VIE is limited to its equity investment in the VIE. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any other VIEs of which it was deemed to be the primary beneficiary and did not have any VIEs of which it was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

Equity-based Compensation

The cost of share and unit based compensation awards is measured at the grant date based on the estimated fair value of the awards.  The estimated fair value of stock options and restricted stock granted by the Company are being amortized over the vesting period.  The estimated grant date fair values of the long term incentive plan units (discussed in Note 13, “Equity Based Compensation Plans,” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015) are being amortized over the expected service periods.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Management believes that the carrying amounts of the outstanding balances under its lines of credit, and notes and other receivables approximate fair value as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, because interest rates, yields, and other terms for these instruments are consistent with yields and other terms currently available for similar instruments.  Management has estimated that the fair value of the Company’s $4.6 billion of fixed rate debt, including unsecured debt, at March 31, 2016 is approximately $4.8 billion and the Company’s variable rate debt at March 31, 2016 approximates its fair value based on the terms of existing mortgage notes payable, unsecured debt, and variable rate demand notes compared to those available in the marketplace.  Management believes that the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, construction payables, other liabilities, and dividends payable approximate fair value as of March 31, 2016 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. Marketable securities, except mortgage backed securities that are held to maturity, and derivatives are carried at fair value as of March 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2016, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $83.9 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $113.3 million.  At December 31, 2015, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $80.4 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $110.2 million.  The Company determines the fair value of the mortgage backed securities based on unobservable inputs (level 3 of the fair value hierarchy) considering the assumptions that market participants would make in valuing these securities.  Assumptions such as estimated default rates and discount rates are used to determine expected discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value.
 
Capitalization of Costs

The Company’s capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects were comprised primarily of employee compensation and totaled $3.2 million and $2.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company capitalizes leasing commissions associated with the lease-up of development communities and amortizes the costs over the life of the leases. The amounts capitalized for leasing commissions are immaterial for all periods presented.





14


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

Co-investments

The Company owns investments in joint ventures (“co-investments”) in which it has significant influence, but its ownership interest does not meet the criteria for consolidation in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Therefore, the Company accounts for co-investments using the equity method of accounting.  The equity method employs the accrual basis for recognizing the investor’s share of investee income or losses. In addition, distributions received from the investee are treated as a reduction in the investment account, not as income. The significant accounting policies of the Company’s co-investment entities are consistent with those of the Company in all material respects.

Upon the acquisition of a controlling interest of a co-investment, the co-investment entity is consolidated and a gain or loss is recognized upon the remeasurement of co-investments in the condensed consolidated statement of income equal to the amount by which the fair value of the co-investment interest the Company previously owned exceeds its carrying value.  A majority of the co-investments, excluding the preferred equity investments, compensate the Company for its asset management services and some of these investments may provide promote income if certain financial return benchmarks are achieved. Asset management fees are recognized when earned, and promote fees are recognized when the earnings events have occurred and the amount is determinable and collectible. Any promote fees are reflected in equity income from co-investments.

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net by Component

Essex Property Trust, Inc.
(in thousands)
 
Change in fair
value and amortization
of swap settlements
 
Unrealized
gains on
available for sale
securities
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
(48,366
)
 
$
6,355

 
$
(42,011
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification
(4,444
)
 
307

 
(4,137
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
1,999

 

 
1,999

Other comprehensive loss
(2,445
)
 
307

 
(2,138
)
Balance at March 31, 2016
$
(50,811
)
 
$
6,662

 
$
(44,149
)

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, by Component

Essex Portfolio, L.P.
(in thousands):
 
Change in fair
value and amortization
of swap settlements
 
Unrealized
gains on
available for sale
securities
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
(46,087
)
 
$
6,489

 
$
(39,598
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification
(4,595
)
 
317

 
(4,278
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
2,067

 

 
2,067

Other comprehensive loss
(2,528
)
 
317

 
(2,211
)
Balance at March 31, 2016
$
(48,615
)
 
$
6,806

 
$
(41,809
)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss in connection with derivatives are recorded in interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on available for sale securities are included in interest and other income on the condensed consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income.




15


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to acquiring, developing, and assessing the carrying values of its real estate portfolio, its investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates, its notes receivables, and its qualification as a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”). The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could be different under different assumptions or conditions.



16


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

(2)  Significant Transactions During the First Quarter of 2016 and Subsequent Events

Significant Transactions

Acquisitions

In January 2016, the Company acquired Mio, a 103 unit apartment community, located in San Jose, CA for $51.3 million.

In March 2016, the Company acquired Form 15, a 242 apartment unit community, located in San Diego, CA for $97.4 million. In connection with this acquisition, the Company assumed $44.8 million in mortgage loans.

Both properties were acquired via like kind exchange with disposition proceeds.

The $148.7 million aggregate purchase price for the acquisitions listed above were included on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as follows: $35.6 million was included in land and land improvements, $112.2 million was included in buildings and improvements, and $0.9 million was recorded as acquired in-place lease value and was included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Dispositions

In January 2016, the Company sold its former headquarters office building, located in Palo Alto, CA for $18.0 million, resulting in a gain of $9.6 million.

In January 2016, a Company co-investment, BEXAEW, LLC sold The Heights, a 332 unit apartment community, located in Chino Hills, CA for $93.8 million, which resulted in a gain of $7.4 million for the Company, recorded in the statement of income as equity income in co-investments. BEXAEW, LLC used $50.3 million of proceeds to repay the loan on the property. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in the BEXAEW, LLC joint venture.

In February 2016, the Company sold Harvest Park, a 104 unit apartment community, located in Santa Rosa, CA, which was owned by the Company's wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary, for $30.5 million, resulting in a gain of $6.4 million, net of $4.3 million deferred tax on gain on sale of real estate.

Preferred Equity Investments

In March 2016, the Company made a commitment to fund a $47.1 million preferred equity investment in a limited liability company that owns 201 Lexington, a development located in Glendale, CA. As of March 31, 2016, $31.8 million of this commitment had been funded. This investment earns a 12.0% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in March 2020.

Private Placement Bond Redemption

In January 2016, the Company paid off $150.0 million in private placement unsecured bonds that had an interest rate of 4.36% and a stated maturity date of March 2016. This represented the total outstanding balance of these unsecured bonds.

Subsequent Events

In April 2016, the Company issued $450 million of 3.375% senior unsecured notes that mature in April 2026. The interest is paid semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2016 until the maturity date of April 15, 2026. The Company used the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under its unsecured lines of credit and for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

In April 2016, the Company redeemed all of the issued and outstanding 2,950,000 shares of the Company's 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for $25.00 per share. Since the notice of redemption was given in March 2016, the preferred stock was presented at redemption value as a liability as of March 31, 2016, and the excess of redemption value over carrying value was recorded as a charge to net income attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

17


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)


In April 2016, a Company co-investment, BEXAEW, LLC, sold Canyon Creek, a 200 apartment home community, located in Northridge, CA for $53.5 million. BEXAEW, LLC used $26.3 million of proceeds to repay the loan on the property. The Company has a 50% ownership interest in the BEXAEW, LLC joint venture.

(3) Co-investments

The Company has joint ventures and preferred equity investments in co-investments which are accounted for under the equity method.  The co-investments own, operate, and develop apartment communities. The carrying values of the Company's co-investments as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
 
Ownership Percentage
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Membership interest/Partnership interest in:
 
 
 
 
 
CPPIB
55
%
 
$
380,399

 
$
376,862

Wesco I, III and IV
50
%
 
216,485

 
218,902

BEXAEW
50
%
 
74,069

 
88,850

Palm Valley
50
%
 
68,340

 
68,525

Other
50%-55%

 
32,000

 
32,927

Total operating co-investments
 
 
771,293

 
786,066

Total development co-investments
50%-55%

 
158,408

 
143,669

Total preferred interest co-investments (includes related party investments of $35.9 million and $35.8 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)
 
 
139,983

 
106,312

Total co-investments
 
 
$
1,069,684

 
$
1,036,047

 
The combined summarized financial information of co-investments is as follows (in thousands).
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Combined balance sheets: (1)
 
 
 
Rental properties and real estate under development
$
3,323,201

 
$
3,360,360

Other assets
111,040

 
96,785

Total assets
$
3,434,241

 
$
3,457,145

Debt
$
1,475,295

 
$
1,499,601

Other liabilities
97,765

 
92,241

Equity (1)
1,861,181

 
1,865,303

Total liabilities and equity
$
3,434,241

 
$
3,457,145

Company's share of equity
$
1,069,684

 
$
1,036,047



18


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Combined statements of income: (1)
 
 
 
Property revenues
$
75,130

 
$
63,498

Property operating expenses
(25,821
)
 
(22,954
)
Net operating income
49,309

 
40,544

Gain on sale of real estate
17,495

 
14

Interest expense
(13,140
)
 
(11,316
)
General and administrative
(1,240
)
 
(1,606
)
Depreciation and amortization
(28,716
)
 
(25,381
)
Net income
$
23,708

 
$
2,255

Company's share of net income (2)
$
15,068

 
$
4,311

 
(1) Includes preferred equity investments held by the Company.
(2) Includes the Company's share of equity income from co-investments and preferred equity investments, gain on sales of co-investments, co-investment promote income and income from early redemption of preferred equity investments. Includes related party income of $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

(4) Notes and Other Receivables
 
Notes receivable, secured by real estate, and other receivables consist of the following as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Notes receivable, secured, bearing interest at 6.0%, due December 2016
$
3,219

 
$
3,219

Notes and other receivables from affiliates (1)
3,522

 
3,092

Other receivables
11,457

 
12,974

 
$
18,198

 
$
19,285

 
(1) The Company had $3.5 million and $3.1 million of short-term loans outstanding and due from various joint ventures as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. See Note 5, Related Party Transactions, for additional details.

(5) Related Party Transactions

The Company charges certain fees to its co-investments for asset management, property management, development, and redevelopment services. These fees from affiliates totaled $3.3 million and $5.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company. The Company netted development and redevelopment fees of $1.3 million and $3.1 million against general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company’s Chairman and founder, Mr. George Marcus, is the Chairman of the Marcus & Millichap Company (“MMC”), which is a parent company of a diversified group of real estate service, investment, and development firms. Mr. Marcus is also the Co-Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (“MMI”), and Mr. Marcus owns a controlling interest in MMI, a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE. 

In March 2015, a multifamily property, located in Anaheim, CA that was owned by an entity affiliated with MMC, in which the Company held a $13.7 million preferred equity investment, was sold. That investment of $13.7 million plus an additional $1.3 million in cash was invested as outlined in the next two paragraphs. Prior to the property sale, the $13.7 million preferred equity investment earned a 9.0% preferred return and was scheduled to mature in September 2020.


19


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

In June 2015, the Company made a $10.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Greentree Apartments, a 220 apartment community located in San Jose, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022.

In June 2015, the Company made a $5.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Sterling Cove Apartments, a 218 apartment community located in Concord, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in June 2022.

In August 2015, the Company made a $5.0 million preferred equity investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns Alta Vista Apartments, a 92 apartment community located in Los Angeles, CA. This investment will earn a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in August 2022.

In January 2013, the Company invested $8.6 million as a preferred equity interest investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns an apartment development in Redwood City, CA. In March 2015, the Company's preferred interest investment was prepaid and the Company recognized a gain of $0.5 million as a result of the prepayment.

As described in Note 4, the Company has provided short-term bridge loans to affiliates.  As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $3.5 million and $3.1 million, respectively, of short-term loans remained outstanding due from joint venture affiliates and is classified within notes and other receivables in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(6) Debt
 
The Company does not have indebtedness as debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership.  The Company guarantees the Operating Partnership’s unsecured debt including the revolving credit facilities for the full term of such debt.

Debt consists of the following ($ in thousands):
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
Weighted Average
Maturity
In Years
Unsecured bonds private placement - fixed rate
$
314,003

 
$
463,891

 
4.4
Term loan - variable rate
224,551

 
224,467

 
0.7
Bonds public offering - fixed rate
2,397,909

 
2,400,322

 
6.5
Unsecured debt, net (1)
2,936,463

 
3,088,680

 
 
Lines of credit, net (2)
164,282

 
11,707

 

Mortgage notes payable, net (3)
2,252,057

 
2,215,077

 
5.6
Total debt, net
$
5,352,802

 
$
5,315,464

 
 
Weighted average interest rate on fixed rate unsecured and unsecured private placement bonds
3.6
%
 
3.6
%
 
 
Weighted average interest rate on variable rate term loan
2.4
%
 
2.4
%
 
 
Weighted average interest rate on lines of credit
1.8
%
 
1.9
%
 
 
Weighted average interest rate on mortgage notes payable
4.4
%
 
4.4
%
 
 

(1) Includes unamortized premium and discounts of $11.3 million and $14.3 million and reduced by unamortized debt issuance costs of $14.8 million and $15.6 million, as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.
(2) Lines of credit, net, includes unamortized debt issuance costs of $4.1 million and $3.3 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
(3) Includes unamortized premium of $64.5 million and $64.8 million and reduced by unamortized debt issuance costs of $8.1 million and $8.0 million, as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The aggregate scheduled principal payments of the Company’s outstanding debt as of March 31, 2016 are as follows (excluding lines of credit) (in thousands):

20


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

Remaining in 2016
$
222,803

2017
564,851

2018
321,328

2019
661,954

2020
693,868

Thereafter
2,670,852

 
$
5,135,656




21


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

(7) Segment Information

The Company's segment disclosures present the measure used by the chief operating decision makers for purposes of assessing each segment's performance. Essex's chief operating decision makers are comprised of several members of its executive management team who use NOI to assess the performance of the business for the Company's reportable operating segments. NOI represents total property revenue less direct property operating expenses.

The executive management team evaluates the Company's operating performance geographically. The Company defines its reportable operating segments as the three geographical regions in which its communities are located: Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro.

Excluded from segment revenues and net operating income are management and other fees from affiliates and interest and other income. Non-segment revenues and net operating income included in the following schedule also consist of revenue generated from commercial properties.  Other non-segment assets include real estate under development, co-investments, cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, notes and other receivables, prepaid expenses, and other assets.

The revenues and net operating income for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
Southern California
$
141,492

 
$
123,455

Northern California
112,733

 
102,427

Seattle Metro
52,074

 
48,654

Other real estate assets
5,879

 
5,693

Total property revenues
$
312,178

 
$
280,229

Net operating income:
 
 
 
Southern California
$
96,453

 
$
83,088

Northern California
80,711

 
72,516

Seattle Metro
35,689

 
33,129

Other real estate assets
4,835

 
4,325

Total net operating income
217,688

 
193,058

Depreciation and amortization
(109,707
)
 
(106,907
)
Interest expense
(52,466
)
 
(47,546
)
Total return swap income
3,123

 

Management and other fees from affiliates
2,024

 
2,644

General and administrative
(9,182
)
 
(10,545
)
Merger and integration expenses

 
(2,388
)
Acquisition and investment related costs
(828
)
 
(547
)
Interest and other income
5,208

 
4,199

Gain on sale of real estate and land
20,258

 
7,112

Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land
(4,279
)
 

Equity income in co-investments
15,068

 
4,311

Gain on remeasurement of co-investment

 
21,362

Net income
$
86,907

 
$
64,753



22


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

Total assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Southern California
$
4,875,525

 
$
4,912,264

Northern California
3,892,121

 
3,749,072

Seattle Metro
1,698,550

 
1,613,175

Other real estate assets
108,679

 
107,066

Net reportable operating segment - real estate assets
10,574,875

 
10,381,577

Real estate under development
145,711

 
242,326

Co-investments
1,069,684

 
1,036,047

Real estate held for sale, net

 
26,879

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash
80,483

 
123,055

Marketable securities
138,597

 
137,485

Notes and other receivables
18,198

 
19,285

Other non-segment assets
39,936

 
38,437

Total assets
$
12,067,484

 
$
12,005,091

 
(8) Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit
 
(Amounts in thousands, except share and unit data)

Essex Property Trust, Inc.
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Income
 
Weighted-
average
Common
Shares
 
Per
Common
Share
Amount
 
Income
 
Weighted-
average
Common
Shares
 
Per
Common
Share
Amount
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income available to common stockholders
$
77,981

 
65,405,654

 
$
1.19

 
$
59,363

 
64,185,455

 
$
0.92

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 
151,985

 
 

 

 
209,225

 
 

Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income available to common stockholders
$
77,981

 
65,557,639

 
$
1.19

 
$
59,363

 
64,394,680

 
$
0.92


Weighted average convertible limited partnership units of 2,227,865 and 2,184,314, which include vested Series Z Incentive Units, Series Z-1 Incentive Units, 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan Units, and 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan Units, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were not included in the determination of diluted EPS because they were anti-dilutive. The related income allocated to these convertible limited partnership units, which includes vested Series Z-1 units, aggregated $2.8 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, excludes 958,972 DownREIT units as they are anti-dilutive.
 
Stock options of 77,200 and zero for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the assumed proceeds per share of these options plus the average unearned compensation were greater than the average market price of the common stock for the years ended and, therefore, were anti-dilutive.


23


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)


Essex Portfolio, L.P.

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
Income
 
Weighted-
average
Common Units
 
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
 
Income
 
Weighted-
average
Common Units
 
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income available to common unitholders
$
80,765

 
67,633,519

 
$
1.19

 
$
61,426

 
66,369,769

 
$
0.93

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 
151,985

 
 

 

 
209,225

 
 

Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income available to common unitholders
$
80,765

 
67,785,504

 
$
1.19

 
$
61,426

 
66,578,994

 
$
0.92


 
Stock options of 77,200 and zero for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the assumed proceeds per share of these options plus the average unearned compensation were greater than the average market price of the common stock for the years ended and, therefore, were anti-dilutive. Additionally, excludes 958,972 DownREIT units as they are anti-dilutive.
 
(9) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

As of March 31, 2016, the Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $225 million that effectively fixed the interest rate on the $225 million unsecured term loan at 2.4%. These derivatives qualify for hedge accounting.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company has interest rate caps, which are not accounted for as hedges, totaling a notional amount of $20.7 million that effectively limit the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by providing a ceiling on the underlying variable interest rate for $20.7 million of the Company’s tax exempt variable rate debt.

As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate carrying value of the interest rate swap contracts was a liability of $1.0 million, and is included in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The aggregate carrying value of the interest rate cap was zero on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Hedge ineffectiveness related to cash flow hedges, which is included in interest expense on the condensed consolidated income statements, net was not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Additionally, the Company has entered into total return swaps that effectively convert $257.3 million of mortgage notes payable to a floating interest rate based on SIFMA plus a spread. The total return swaps provide fair market value protection on the mortgage notes payable to our counterparties during the initial period of the total return swap until the Company's option to call the mortgage notes at par can be exercised. The Company can currently call the total return swaps with $114.4 million of the outstanding debt at par, while the call option on the total return swaps relating to $142.9 million of outstanding debt can be exercised starting on January 1, 2017. These derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting and had a carrying and fair value of $13 thousand and $4 thousand at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. These total return swaps are scheduled to mature between September 2021 and November 2022. Realized gains of $3.1 million and zero are reported in the condensed consolidated income statements as total return swap income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.



24


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)

(10) Commitments and Contingencies

To the extent that an environmental matter arises or is identified in the future that has other than a remote risk of having a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company will disclose the estimated range of possible outcomes associated with it, and, if an outcome is probable, accrue an appropriate liability for that matter. The Company will consider whether any such matter results in an impairment of value on the affected property and, if so, impairment will be recognized. The Company is subject to various lawsuits in the normal course of its business operations. We believe that, with respect to such matters we are currently a party to, the ultimate disposition of any such matter will not result in a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Item 2: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere herein and with the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
 
The Company is a self-administered and self-managed REIT that acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages apartment communities in selected residential areas located primarily in the West Coast of the United States. Essex owns all of its interests in its real estate investments, directly or indirectly, through the Operating Partnership. Essex is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and, as of March 31, 2016, had an approximately 96.7% general partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The Company’s investment strategy has two components: constant monitoring of existing markets, and evaluation of new markets to identify areas with the characteristics that underlie rental growth. The Company’s strong financial condition supports its investment strategy by enhancing its ability to quickly shift acquisition, development, redevelopment, and disposition activities to markets that will optimize the performance of the portfolio.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had ownership interests in 244 stabilized apartment communities, comprising 59,441 apartment homes, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred equity interest co-investments, and the Company also had ownership interests in two operating commercial buildings with approximately 140,564 square feet and seven active developments.  The Company’s apartment communities are predominately located in the following major regions:

Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura counties)
Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area)
Seattle Metro (Seattle metropolitan area)

As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s development pipeline was comprised of two consolidated projects under development, five unconsolidated joint venture projects under development, and various consolidated predevelopment projects all aggregating 2,551 apartment homes, with total incurred costs of $0.5 billion, and estimated remaining project costs of $0.9 billion for total estimated project costs of $1.4 billion.

The Company’s consolidated apartment communities are as follows:
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
As of March 31, 2015
 
Apartment Homes
 
%
 
Apartment Homes
 
%
Southern California
23,949

 
49
%
 
22,829

 
48
%
Northern California
14,865

 
30
%
 
14,789

 
31
%
Seattle Metro
10,239

 
21
%
 
10,216

 
21
%
Total
49,053

 
100
%
 
47,834

 
100
%

Co-investments, including Wesco I, LLC ("Wesco I"), Wesco III, LLC ("Wesco III"), Wesco IV, LLC (“Wesco IV”), Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board ("CPPIB" or "CPP"), Palm Valley, and BEXAEW, LLC (“BEXAEW”) communities,

25


developments under construction, and preferred equity interest co-investment communities are not included in the table presented above for both periods.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

The Company’s average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities or “Quarterly Same-Property” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and 2015) was 96.0% and 96.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Financial occupancy is defined as the percentage resulting from dividing actual rental revenue by total potential rental revenue. Actual rental revenue represents contractual rental revenue pursuant to leases without considering delinquency and concessions. Total potential rental revenue represents the value of all apartment homes, with occupied apartment homes valued at contractual rental rates pursuant to leases and vacant apartment homes valued at estimated market rents.  We believe that financial occupancy is a meaningful measure of occupancy because it considers the value of each vacant apartment home at its estimated market rate.

Market rates are determined using the recently signed effective rates on new leases at the property and are used as the starting point in the determination of the market rates of vacant apartment homes. The Company may increase or decrease these rates based on the supply and demand in the apartment community’s market. The Company will check the reasonableness of these rents based on its position within the market and compare the rents against the asking rents by comparable properties in the market. Financial occupancy may not completely reflect short-term trends in physical occupancy and financial occupancy rates and the Company's calculation of financial occupancy may not be comparable to financial occupancy disclosed by other REITs.

The Company does not take into account delinquency and concessions to calculate actual rent for occupied apartment homes and market rents for vacant apartment homes. The calculation of financial occupancy compares contractual rates for occupied apartment homes to estimated market rents for unoccupied apartment homes, and thus the calculation compares the gross value of all apartment homes excluding delinquency and concessions. For apartment communities that are development properties in lease-up without stabilized occupancy figures, the Company believes the physical occupancy rate is the appropriate performance metric. While an apartment community is in the lease-up phase, the Company’s primary motivation is to stabilize the property which may entail the use of rent concessions and other incentives, and thus financial occupancy, which is based on contractual revenue is not considered the best metric to quantify occupancy.

The regional breakdown of the Company’s Quarterly Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Southern California
96.0
%
 
96.0
%
Northern California
96.1
%
 
96.2
%
Seattle Metro
95.8
%
 
96.2
%

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the Quarterly Same-Properties:
 
 
Number of
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
Dollar
 
Percentage
Property Revenues ($ in thousands)
 
Properties
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
 
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarterly Same-Property:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern California
 
92

 
$
127,101

 
$
119,823

 
$
7,278

 
6.1
%
Northern California
 
54

 
100,571

 
92,219

 
8,352

 
9.1

Seattle Metro
 
50

 
52,073

 
48,655

 
3,418

 
7.0

Total Quarterly Same-Property revenues
 
196

 
279,745

 
260,697

 
19,048

 
7.3

Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues
 
 

 
32,433

 
19,532

 
12,901

 
66.1

Total property revenues
 
 

 
$
312,178

 
$
280,229

 
$
31,949

 
11.4
%


26


Quarterly Same-Property Revenues increased by $19.0 million or 7.3% to $279.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $260.7 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of 7.4% in average rental rates from $1,878 per apartment home in the first quarter of 2015 to $2,017 per apartment home in the first quarter of 2016. 

Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $12.9 million or 66.1% to $32.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $19.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to revenue generated by the acquisition or consolidation of ten communities, net of dispositions, since January 1, 2015.

Management and other fees from affiliates decreased by $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the first quarter of 2015. The decrease is primarily due to the loss of asset and management fees in the first quarter of 2016, as compared to the first quarter of 2015, associated with the consolidation of The Huxley, The Dylan, and Reveal during the first quarter of 2015 and the sale of certain communities.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $4.5 million to $60.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $55.6 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to the acquisition or consolidation of ten communities, net of dispositions, since January 1, 2015. Quarterly Same-Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes, increased by $2.7 million or 5.1% for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in management fees and a $0.9 million increase in maintenance and repairs.

Real estate taxes increased by $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015 due primarily to the acquisition or consolidation of ten communities, net of dispositions, since January 1, 2015. Quarterly Same-Property real estate taxes increased by $0.6 million or 2.1% for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015 primarily due to increases in property tax due to increases in tax rates and property valuations.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2016, due to the acquisition or consolidation of ten communities, net of dispositions, since January 1, 2015. 

Merger and integration expenses include, but are not limited to, advisor fees, legal, and accounting fees related to the merger with BRE and related integration activity. There were no merger and integration expenses for the first quarter of 2016 and $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2015. 

Interest expense increased $4.9 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to the $500.0 million senior unsecured notes due on April 1, 2025 issued in March 2015 which resulted in $4.4 million interest expense for the first quarter of 2016 and $0.7 million for the first quarter of 2015. In addition, capitalized interest decreased $1.2 million in 2016 compared to 2015, which was due to a decrease in development costs as compared to the same period in 2015.

Total return swap income of $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 consists of monthly settlements related to the Company's total return swap contracts that were entered into during 2015 in connection with $257.3 million of fixed rate tax-exempt mortgage notes payable. There was no total return swap income for the first quarter of 2015.
 
Interest and other income increased by $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015 primarily due to an increase of $1.3 million in income from marketable securities and other income and $0.7 million in income from the sale of a marketable security partially offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in insurance income.

Equity income in co-investments increased $10.8 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015 primarily due to $7.4 million in income on the gain on sale of a co-investment community during the first quarter of 2016.

Gain on sale of real estate and land increased by $13.1 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015 due to a $10.7 million gain on the sale of Harvest Park before tax expense and a $9.6 million gain on the sale of the Company's former headquarters office building during the first quarter of 2016 versus $7.1 million in gains on the sales of Pinnacle South Mountain and two commercial buildings during the first quarter of 2015.

Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land of $4.3 million for the first quarter of 2016 was recorded due to the sale of Harvest Park, which was owned by our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary. There was no current tax expense on the sale of real estate and land for the first quarter of 2016, because Harvest Park was sold in a like-kind exchange transaction.


27


Gain on remeasurement of co-investment of $21.4 million for the first quarter of 2015 were due to a remeasurement of the Company's investments, caused by the Company's purchase of the joint venture partner's remaining membership interest in The Huxley and The Dylan co-investments. There were no gains on remeasurement of co-investments for the first quarter of 2016.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had $48.2 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $138.6 million in marketable securities, of which $54.7 million were available for sale. We believe that cash flows generated by our operations, existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balances, availability under existing lines of credit, access to capital markets and the ability to generate cash from the disposition of real estate are sufficient to meet all of our reasonably anticipated cash needs during the next twelve months.  The timing, source and amounts of cash flows provided by financing activities and used in investing activities are sensitive to changes in interest rates and other fluctuations in the capital markets environment, which can affect our plans for acquisitions, dispositions, development and redevelopment activities.

Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), Moody’s Investor Service, and Standard and Poor's (“S&P”) credit agencies rate Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Essex Portfolio, L.P. BBB+/Stable, Baa2/Positive, and BBB/Positive, respectively.

The Company has two lines of unsecured credit aggregating $1.03 billion.  The Company has a $1.0 billion unsecured line of credit, and as of March 31, 2016, there was $165.0 million outstanding on the line. The underlying interest rate is based on a tiered rate structure tied to the Company's credit ratings and was LIBOR plus 0.90% as of March 31, 2016.  This facility matures in December 2019 with one 18-month extension, exercisable at the Company’s option. The Company has a working capital unsecured line of credit agreement for $25.0 million.  This facility matures in January 2018.  As of March 31, 2016, there was $3.4 million outstanding on the $25.0 million unsecured line. The underlying interest rate on the $25.0 million line is based on a tiered rate structure tied to the Company's credit ratings and was LIBOR plus 0.90% as of March 31, 2016.

In April 2016, the Company issued $450 million of 3.375% senior unsecured notes that mature in April 2026. The interest is paid semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2016 until the maturity date of April 15, 2026. The Company used the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under its unsecured lines of credit and for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

In April 2016, the Company redeemed all of the issued and outstanding 2,950,000 shares of the Company's 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock for $25.00 per share.

The Company has entered into equity distribution agreements with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co, Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., BNB Paribas Securities Corp., Capital One Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Jefferies LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., and UBS Securities LLC. The Company has not issued any shares pursuant to its equity distribution program, during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and through April 28, 2016.

Essex pays quarterly dividends from cash available for distribution.  Until it is distributed, cash available for distribution is invested by the Company primarily in investment grade securities held available for sale or is used by the Company to reduce balances outstanding under its line of credit. 

Development and Predevelopment Pipeline

The Company defines development activities as new properties that are being constructed, or are newly constructed and, in the case of development communities, are in a phase of lease-up and have not yet reached stabilized operations. As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s development pipeline was comprised of two consolidated projects under development and five unconsolidated joint venture projects under development, all aggregating 2,551 apartment homes, with total incurred costs of $0.5 billion, and estimated remaining project costs of approximately $0.9 billion, $682 million of which represents the Company's estimated remaining costs, for total estimated project costs of $1.4 billion.

The Company expects to fund the development and predevelopment pipeline by using a combination of some or all of the following sources: its working capital, amounts available on its lines of credit, net proceeds from public and private equity and debt issuances, and proceeds from the disposition of assets, if any.

Redevelopment Pipeline

The Company defines redevelopment communities as existing properties owned or recently acquired, which have been targeted for additional investment by the Company with the expectation of increased financial returns through property improvement.

28


During redevelopment, apartment homes may not be available for rent and, as a result, may have less than stabilized operations. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had ownership interests in five major redevelopment communities aggregating 1,313 apartment homes with estimated redevelopment costs of $159.8 million, of which approximately $72.0 million remains to be expended. The Company has the ability to cease funding of the redevelopment pipeline as needed.

Derivative Activity

The Company uses interest rate swaps, interest rate cap, and total return swap contracts to manage certain interest rate risks. The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves. The fair values of interest rate swaps and total return swaps are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts). The variable cash payments (or receipts) are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements.

Alternative Capital Sources

The Company utilizes co-investments as an alternative source of capital for acquisitions of both operating and development communities. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had an interest in 1,476 apartment homes of communities actively under development with joint ventures for total estimated costs of $823 million. Total estimated remaining costs total approximately $439 million, of which the Company estimates that our remaining investment in these development joint ventures will be approximately $222 million. In addition, the Company had an interest in 10,388 apartment homes of operating communities with joint ventures for a total book value of $771.3 million as of March 31, 2016.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company defines critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that require the Company’s management to exercise their most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates relate principally to the following key areas: (i) accounting for business combinations (ii) consolidation under applicable accounting standards for entities that are not wholly owned; (iii) assessing the carrying values of our real estate properties and investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates; and (iv) internal cost capitalization. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current market conditions, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may differ from those estimates made by management.

The Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates have not changed materially from the information reported in Note 2, “Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
  
Forward Looking Statements
 
Certain statements in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q which are not historical facts may be considered forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s expectations as to the total projected costs of predevelopment, development and redevelopment projects, beliefs as to our ability to meet our cash needs during the next twelve months and to fund the Company’s development and redevelopment pipeline, the expected impact of lawsuits on the Company, and statements regarding the Company's financing activities.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to, that the Company will fail to achieve its business objectives, that the total projected costs of current predevelopment, development and redevelopment projects exceed expectations, that such development and redevelopment projects will not be completed, that development and redevelopment projects and acquisitions will fail to meet expectations, that estimates of future income from an acquired property may prove to be inaccurate, that future cash flows will be inadequate to meet operating requirements, that there may be a downturn in the markets in which the Company's properties are located, that the terms of any

29


refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness, and that lawsuits will be more costly than anticipated, as well as those risks, special considerations, and other factors referred to in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and those risk factors and special considerations set forth in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information.

Funds from Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders
 
Funds from Operations Attributable to Common Stockholders and Unitholders ("FFO") is a financial measure that is commonly used in the REIT industry.  The Company presents funds from operations as a supplemental operating performance measure. FFO is not used by the Company as, nor should it be considered to be, an alternative to net earnings computed under GAAP as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash from operating activities computed under GAAP as an indicator of the Company’s ability to fund its cash needs.
 
FFO is not meant to represent a comprehensive system of financial reporting and does not present, nor does it intend to present, a complete picture of the Company's financial condition and operating performance. The Company believes that net earnings computed under GAAP is the primary measure of performance and that FFO is only meaningful when it is used in conjunction with net earnings. The Company considers FFO and FFO excluding non-recurring items and acquisition costs (referred to as “Core FFO”) to be useful financial performance measurements of an equity REIT because, together with net income and cash flows, FFO provides investors with an additional basis to evaluate operating performance and ability of a REIT to incur and service debt and to fund acquisitions and other capital expenditures and ability to pay dividends. Further, the Company believes that its consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, provide the most meaningful picture of its financial condition and its operating performance.
 
In calculating FFO, the Company follows the definition for this measure published by the National Association of REITs (“NAREIT”), which is a REIT trade association. The Company believes that, under the NAREIT FFO definition, the two most significant adjustments made to net income are (i) the exclusion of historical cost depreciation and (ii) the exclusion of gains and losses (including impairment charges on depreciable real estate) from the sale of previously depreciated properties. The Company agrees that these two NAREIT adjustments are useful to investors for the following reason:
 
(a)
historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes, through depreciation charges, that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. NAREIT stated in its White Paper on Funds from Operations “since real estate asset values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors have considered presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves.” Consequently, NAREIT’s definition of FFO reflects the fact that real estate, as an asset class, generally appreciates over time and depreciation charges required by GAAP do not reflect the underlying economic realities.

(b)
REITs were created as a legal form of organization in order to encourage public ownership of real estate as an asset class through investment in firms that were in the business of long-term ownership and management of real estate.  The exclusion, in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, of gains and losses (including impairment charges on depreciable real estate) from the sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets allows investors and analysts to readily identify the operating results of the long-term assets that form the core of a REIT’s activity and assists in comparing those operating results between periods.

Management believes that it has consistently applied the NAREIT definition of FFO to all periods presented.  However, there is judgment involved and other REITs’ calculation of FFO may vary from the NAREIT definition for this measure, and thus their disclosure of FFO may not be comparable to the Company’s calculation.

The following table sets forth the Company’s calculation of FFO and Core FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands except for share and per share data):


30


Essex Property Trust, Inc.
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net income available to common stockholders
$
77,981

 
$
59,363

Adjustments:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

Gains not included in Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders and unitholders
(27,693
)
 
(28,474
)
Deferred tax expense on sale of real estate and land - taxable REIT subsidiary activity
4,279

 

Depreciation add back from unconsolidated co-investments
12,023

 
11,917

Noncontrolling interest related to Operating Partnership units
2,784

 
2,063

Depreciation attributable to third party ownership and other
6

 
(249
)
Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders and unitholders
$
179,087

 
$
151,527

Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders and unitholders per share - diluted
$
2.64

 
$
2.27

Non-core items:
 

 
 

Merger and integration expenses

 
2,388

Acquisition and investment related costs
828

 
547

Gain on sale of marketable securities
(740
)
 

Income from early redemption of preferred equity investments

 
(469
)
Excess of redemption value of preferred stock over carrying value
2,541

 
 
Other non-core adjustments

 
(1,375
)
Core Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders and unitholders
$
181,716

 
$
152,618

Core Funds from Operations attributable to common stockholders and unitholders per share-diluted
$
2.68

 
$
2.29

Weighted average number shares outstanding diluted (1)
67,866,703

 
66,641,225


(1)
Assumes conversion of all outstanding operating partnership interests in the Operating Partnership and excludes 740,146 DownREIT units for which the Operating Partnership has the ability and intention to redeem the DownREIT limited partnership units for cash and does not consider them to be common stock equivalents.

Net Operating Income (“NOI”)

Same-property net operating income (“NOI”) is considered by management to be an important supplemental performance measure to earnings from operations included in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The presentation of same-property NOI assists with the presentation of the Company’s operations prior to the allocation of depreciation and any corporate-level or financing-related costs. NOI reflects the operating performance of a community and allows for an easy comparison of the operating performance of individual communities or groups of communities.  In addition, because prospective buyers of real estate have different financing and overhead structures, with varying marginal impacts to overhead by acquiring real estate, NOI is considered by many in the real estate industry to be a useful measure for determining the value of a real estate asset or group of assets.  The Company defines same-property NOI as same-property revenue less same-property operating expenses, including property taxes.  Please see the reconciliation of earnings from operations to same-property NOI, which in the table below is the NOI for stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the periods presented (in thousands):


31


 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Earnings from operations
$
99,995

 
$
75,315

Adjustments:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
109,707

 
106,907

Management and other fees from affiliates
(2,024
)
 
(2,644
)
General and administrative
9,182

 
10,545

Merger and integration expenses

 
2,388

Acquisition and investment related costs
828

 
547

NOI
217,688

 
193,058

Less: Non-same property NOI
(22,199
)
 
(13,349
)
Same-property NOI
$
195,489

 
$
179,709


Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

Interest Rate Hedging Activities

The Company’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements or other identified risks. To accomplish this objective, the Company uses interest rate swaps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy. As of March 31, 2016, the Company has entered into seven interest rate swap contracts to mitigate the risk of changes in the interest-related cash outflows on its $225.0 million variable rate five-year unsecured term debt.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company also had $291.7 million of variable rate indebtedness, of which $20.7 million is subject to interest rate cap protection. All of the Company's interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges as of March 31, 2016.  The following table summarizes the notional amount, carrying value, and estimated fair value of the Company’s cash flow hedge derivative instruments used to hedge interest rates as of March 31, 2016.  The notional amount represents the aggregate amount of a particular security that is currently hedged at one time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rates, or market risks.  The table also includes a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the impact on the Company’s derivative instruments from an increase or decrease in 10-year Treasury bill interest rates by 50 basis points, as of March 31, 2016.

 
 
 
 
 
Carrying and
 
Estimated Carrying Value
 
Notional
 
Maturity
 
Estimated
 
50
 
-50
(in thousands)
Amount
 
Date Range
 
Fair Value
 
Basis Points
 
Basis Points
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Interest rate swaps
$
225,000

 
2016-2017
 
$
(996
)
 
$
(306
)
 
$
(1,674
)
Interest rate caps
20,674

 
2018-2019
 

 
5

 

Total cash flow hedges
$
245,674

 
2016-2019
 
$
(996
)
 
$
(301
)
 
$
(1,674
)

Additionally, the Company has entered into total return swap contracts, with an aggregate notional amount of $257.3 million that effectively converts $257.3 million of fixed mortgage notes payable to a floating interest rate based on SIFMA plus a spread and has a carrying value of $13 thousand at March 31, 2016. These derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Interest Rate Sensitive Liabilities

The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of its lines of credit and long-term tax exempt variable rate debt and unsecured term debt. The Company’s interest rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower its overall borrowing costs. To achieve its objectives the Company borrows primarily at fixed rates and may enter into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, caps, and treasury locks in order to mitigate its interest rate risk on a related financial instrument. The Company does not enter into derivative or interest rate transactions for speculative purposes.


32


The Company’s interest rate risk is monitored using a variety of techniques. The table below presents the principal amounts and weighted average interest rates by year of expected maturity to evaluate the expected cash flows.
 
For the Years Ended
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
Fair value
(in thousands, except for interest rates)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed rate debt
$
22,765

 
539,356

 
320,786

 
651,362

 
693,221

 
2,391,457

 
$
4,618,947

 
$
4,817,212

Average interest rate
4.6
%
 
3.3
%
 
5.5
%
 
4.3
%
 
5.0
%
 
3.8
%
 
4.1
%
 
 

Variable rate debt
$
200,038

(1) 
25,495

(1) 
3,928

 
175,592

 
647

 
279,395

(2) (3) 
$
685,095

 
$
680,211

Average interest rate
2.3
%
 
2.3
%
 
1.7
%
 
1.8
%
 
1.0
%
 
0.9
%
 
1.6
%
 
 

 
(1)
$225.0 million is subject to interest rate swap agreements.
(2)
$20.7 million is subject to interest rate caps.
(3)
$257.3 million is subject to total return swaps.

The table incorporates only those exposures that exist as of March 31, 2016; it does not consider those exposures or positions that could arise after that date. As a result, the Company's ultimate realized gain or loss, with respect to interest rate fluctuations and hedging strategies would depend on the exposures that arise prior to settlement.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

As of March 31, 2016, Essex carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).  Based upon that evaluation, Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by Essex in the reports that Essex files or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such disclosure controls and procedures were also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to Essex’s management, including Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in Essex’s internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Essex’s internal control over financial reporting.

Essex Portfolio, L.P.

As of March 31, 2016, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in the reports that the Operating Partnership files or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such disclosure controls and procedures were also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
 

33


Part II -- Other Information

Item 1: Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various lawsuits in the normal course of its business operations.  Such lawsuits could, but are not expected to, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A: Risk Factors

There were no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities; Essex Portfolio, L.P.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Operating Partnership issued partnership units in private placements in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, in the amounts and for the consideration set forth below:

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, Essex Property Trust, Inc. issued an aggregate of 47,367 of its common stock upon the exercise of stock options, vesting of restricted stock awards, and the exchange of Operating Partnership limited partnership units by limited partners into shares of common stock. Essex Property Trust, Inc. contributed the proceeds from the option exercises during the three months ended March 31, 2016 to our Operating Partnership in exchange for an aggregate of 47,367 common operating partnership units ("common units"), as required by the Operating Partnership’s partnership agreement.

Item 5: Other Information

None.


34


Item 6: Exhibits
 
A. Exhibits
 
10.1
Form of Equity Distribution Agreement between Essex Property Trust, Inc. and various entities, dated March 8, 2016, attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report of From 8-K, filed on March 9, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
12.1
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
 
31.1
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
31.2
Certification of Angela L. Kleiman, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
31.3
Certification of Michael J. Schall,  Principal Executive Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
31.4
Certification of Angela L. Kleiman, Principal Financial Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.1
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.2
Certification of Angela L. Kleiman, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.3
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Principal Executive Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
32.4
Certification of Angela L. Kleiman, Principal Financial Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

35


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
                    
 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date: May 3, 2016
 
 
 
By:  /S/ ANGELA L. KLEIMAN
 
 
 
Angela L. Kleiman
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer)

 
Date: May 3, 2016
 
 
 
By:  /S/ JOHN FARIAS
 
 
 
John Farias
 
Group Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

 
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
By Essex Property Trust, Inc., its general partner
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date: May 3, 2016
 
 
 
By:  /S/ ANGELA L. KLEIMAN
 
 
 
Angela L. Kleiman
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer)

 
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
By Essex Property Trust, Inc., its general partner
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date: May 3, 2016
 
 
 
By:  /S/ JOHN FARIAS
 
 
 
John Farias
 
Group Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


36