Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

The Company has adopted written related party transaction guidelines that are intended to cover transactions in which the Company (including entities it controls) is a party and in which any "related person" has a direct or indirect interest. A "related person" means any person who is or was (since the beginning of the last fiscal year) a Company director, director nominee, or executive officer, any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons. A related person may be considered to have an indirect interest in a transaction if he or she (i) is an owner, director, officer or employee of or otherwise associated with another company that is engaging in a transaction with the Company, or (ii) otherwise, through one or more entities or arrangements, has an indirect financial interest in or personal benefit from the transaction.

The related person transaction review and approval process is intended to determine, among any other relevant issues, the dollar amount involved in the transaction; the nature and value of any related person’s direct or indirect interest (if any) in the transaction; and whether or not (i) a related person’s interest is material, (ii) the transaction is fair, reasonable, and serves the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, and (iii) whether the transaction or relationship should be entered into, continued or ended.

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 Chairman of and owns a controlling interest in Marcus & Millichap, Inc. ("MMI"), a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE that underwent its initial public offering in 2013. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, there were no brokerage commission fees paid by the Company to MMI and its affiliates related to real estate transactions.

The Company charges certain fees relating to its co-investments for asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services. These fees from affiliates totaled $12.7 million, $14.1 million, and $10.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company. The Company netted development and redevelopment fees of $1.8 million, $3.0 million, and $1.1 million against general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

As described in Note 5, Notes and Other Receivables, the Company has provided short-term loans to affiliates. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $6.1 million and $7.0 million, respectively, of short-term loans remained outstanding due from joint venture affiliates and are classified within notes and other receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

In August 2022, the Company funded an $11.2 million preferred equity investment in an entity whose sponsor includes an affiliate of MMC. The entity owns three multifamily communities located in Azusa, CA. The investment initially accrues interest based on a 9.5% preferred return and is scheduled to mature in August 2027.

In February 2022, the Company provided a $32.8 million related party bridge loan to BEX II in connection with the payoff of a debt related to one of its properties located in Southern California. The note receivable was scheduled to mature in March 2022, but was subsequently paid off in April 2022.

In January 2022, the Company provided a $100.7 million related party bridge loan to Wesco VI in connection with the acquisition of Vela. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.64% and was scheduled to mature in February 2022, but was paid off in January 2022. Additionally, the Company received cash of $121.3 million in January 2022 for the payoff of the remaining related party bridge loans to Wesco VI as detailed below.

In November 2021, the Company provided a $48.4 million related party bridge loan in connection with the purchase of an interest in a single asset entity owning an apartment home community in Vista, CA. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.36% and was scheduled to mature in February 2022 but was paid off in January 2022.

In November 2021, the Company provided a $61.9 million related party bridge loan to Wesco VI in connection with the acquisition of The Rexford. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.36% and was scheduled to mature in February 2022, but was paid off in January 2022.

In October 2021, the Company provided a $30.3 million related party bridge loan to Wesco VI in connection with the acquisition of Monterra in Mill Creek. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.30% and was scheduled to mature in April 2022, but was paid off in January 2022.

In September 2021, the Company provided a $29.2 million related party bridge loan to Wesco VI in connection with the acquisition of Martha Lake Apartments. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.15% and was scheduled to mature in December 2021. In December 2021, the maturity date of the note receivable was extended to March 2022, and in January 2022, the note receivable was paid off.

In March 2021, the Company provided a $52.5 million related party bridge loan to Wesco I in connection with the payoff of a debt related to one of its properties located in Southern California. The note receivable accrued interest at 2.55% and was paid off in July 2021.

In February 2019, the Company funded a $24.5 million preferred equity investment in an entity whose sponsor is an affiliate of MMC, which owns a multifamily development community located in Mountain View, CA. The investment initially accrued interest based on an 11.0% preferred return which was reduced to 9.0% upon completion and lease-up of the project. The investment was scheduled to mature in February 2024, but was paid off in December 2023.

In October 2018, the Company funded an $18.6 million preferred equity investment in an entity whose sponsor is an affiliate of MMC. The entity wholly owns a 268-unit apartment home community development located in Burlingame, CA. The investment initially accrued interest based on a 12.0% preferred return which was reduced to 9.0% upon completion and lease-up of the project. In April 2023, the investment's maturity date was extended from April 2024 to May 2026 with the investment accruing interest based on an 11.0% preferred return. In April 2023, the Company received cash of $11.2 million for the partial redemption of this preferred equity investment.

In May 2018, the Company made a commitment to fund a $26.5 million preferred equity investment in an entity whose sponsors include an affiliate of MMC. The entity wholly owns a 400 apartment home community located in Ventura, CA. This investment accrued interest based on a 10.25% initial preferred return. The investment was scheduled to mature in May 2023. In November 2021, the Company received cash of $18.3 million, for the partial redemption of this preferred equity investment resulting in a remaining total commitment of $13.0 million, and the maturity was extended to December 2028. As of December 31, 2023, $10.0 million of this commitment had been funded and the Company continues to accrue interest based on a 9.0% preferred return. The remaining committed amount is expected to be funded if and when requested by the sponsors.