-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GofueRyogaWPkhQHdFygDaqsNRAefqdpNgSyoHZ67DEkY3T/9G4Gd3xcVjptnYmL Q0Q+jc7iJQyzGYoKgB/58g== 0001053059-05-000005.txt : 20050805 0001053059-05-000005.hdr.sgml : 20050805 20050805171423 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001053059-05-000005 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050805 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050805 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000920522 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 770369576 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13106 FILM NUMBER: 051003706 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 925 EAST MEADOW DR CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94303 BUSINESS PHONE: 6504943700 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 925 EAST MEADOW DRIVE CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94303 10-Q 1 body_10q.htm ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST 10-Q 6-30-05 ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST 10-Q 6-30-05




 
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 
FORM 10-Q


x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005

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. 
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Maryland
 
77-0369576
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

925 East Meadow Drive
Palo Alto, California 94303
(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

(650) 494-3700
(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. YES x NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes x No o

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:

23,086,853 shares of Common Stock as of August 1, 2005
 



 
 
LOGO
 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
FORM 10-Q

   
Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited):
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2005
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
     
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
     
Signature




"Essex" or the "Company" means Essex Property Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust incorporated in the State of Maryland, or where the context otherwise requires, Essex Portfolio, L.P., a limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership") in which Essex Property Trust, Inc. is the sole general partner.

The information furnished in the accompanying consolidated unaudited balance sheets, statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements for the interim periods.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to such consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations herein. Additionally, these unaudited 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, 2004.


 

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
 June 30,
 
 December 31,
 
   
 2005
 
 2004
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate:
           
Rental properties:
           
Land and land improvements
 
$
551,155
 
$
536,600
 
Buildings and improvements
   
1,914,049
   
1,834,594
 
           
     
2,465,204
   
2,371,194
 
Less accumulated depreciation
   
(361,877
)
 
(329,652
)
           
     
2,103,327
   
2,041,542
 
        Real estate investments held for sale, net of accumulated
             
        depreciation of $496 as of December 31, 2004
   
-
   
14,445
 
Investments
   
30,756
   
49,712
 
Real estate under development
   
27,311
   
38,320
 
           
     
2,161,394
   
2,144,019
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
   
33,076
   
10,644
 
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
   
13,609
   
21,255
 
Notes and other receivables from related parties
   
1,223
   
1,435
 
Notes and other receivables
   
8,149
   
9,535
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
18,312
   
19,591
 
Deferred charges, net
   
10,593
   
10,738
 
Total assets
 
$
2,246,356
 
$
2,217,217
 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
             
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
1,127,659
 
$
1,067,449
 
Lines of credit
   
185,535
   
249,535
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
38,158
   
29,997
 
Dividends payable
   
22,664
   
21,976
 
Other liabilities
   
12,350
   
11,853
 
Deferred gain
   
2,193
   
5,000
 
Total liabilities
   
1,388,559
   
1,385,810
 
Minority interests
   
233,083
   
240,130
 
Stockholders' equity:
             
Common stock, $.0001 par value, 655,682,178
             
authorized, 23,085,153 and
             
23,033,945 issued and outstanding
   
2
   
2
 
Cumulative redeemable preferred stock; $.0001 par value:
             
No shares issued and outstanding:
             
7.875% Series B 2,000,000 shares authorized
   
-
   
-
 
7.875% Series D 2,000,000 shares authorized
   
-
   
-
 
  7.8125% Series F 1,000,000 shares authorized,
             
1,000,000 and 1,000,000 shares issued and outstanding,
         
liquidation value
   
25,000
   
25,000
 
Excess stock, $.0001 par value, 330,000,000 shares
             
authorized and no shares issued and outstanding
   
-
   
-
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
654,370
   
646,744
 
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings
   
(53,063
)
 
(80,469
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(1,595
)
 
-
 
Total stockholders' equity
   
624,714
   
591,277
 
Commitments and contingencies
         
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
2,246,356
 
$
2,217,217
 
           
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


   
 Three Months Ended
 
 Six Months Ended
 
   
 June 30,
 
 June 30,
 
   
 2005
 
2004
 
 2005
 
2004
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rental and other property
 
$
77,965
 
$
69,616
 
$
154,632
 
$
135,258
 
Management and other fees from affiliates
   
931
   
1,337
   
7,507
   
2,617
 
     
78,896
   
70,953
   
162,139
   
137,875
 
Expenses:
                 
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
   
18,988
   
17,681
   
37,606
   
33,821
 
Real estate taxes
   
6,610
   
6,110
   
13,451
   
11,568
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
20,043
   
17,526
   
39,622
   
35,367
 
Interest
   
18,153
   
15,081
   
36,300
   
29,391
 
Amortization of deferred financing costs
   
563
   
457
   
1,039
   
730
 
General and administrative
   
4,573
   
3,479
   
9,014
   
6,346
 
Legal settlement
   
1,500
   
-
   
1,500
   
-
 
     
70,430
   
60,334
   
138,532
   
117,223
 
                           
Gain on sale of real estate
   
5,276
   
-
   
6,391
   
-
 
Interest and other income
   
2,431
   
689
   
2,954
   
1,259
 
Equity income in co-investments
   
2,843
   
(5
)
 
17,554
   
1,095
 
Minority interests
   
(5,371
)
 
(5,543
)
 
(11,823
)
 
(11,079
)
Income from continuing operations before income
                 
  tax provision
   
13,645
   
5,760
   
38,683
   
11,927
 
Income tax provision
   
(1,100
)
 
(23
)
 
(1,201
)
 
(86
)
Income from continuing operations
   
12,545
   
5,737
   
37,482
   
11,841
 
                   
Discontinued operations (net of minority interests)
                         
Operating income (loss) from real estate sold
   
419
   
(37
)
 
1,693
   
309
 
Gain on sale of real estate
   
25,914
   
-
   
26,581
   
-
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
   
26,333
   
(37
)
 
28,274
   
309
 
Net income
   
38,878
   
5,700
   
65,756
   
12,150
 
Dividends to preferred stockholders - Series F
   
(488
)
 
(488
)
 
(977
)
 
(976
)
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
38,390
 
$
5,212
 
$
64,779
 
$
11,174
 
                   
Per common share data:
                         
Basic:
                         
Income from continuing operations available to
                         
common stockholders
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.23
 
$
1.58
 
$
0.48
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
   
1.14
   
(0.00
)
 
1.23
   
0.01
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
1.66
 
$
0.23
 
$
2.81
 
$
0.49
 
Weighted average number of common shares
                 
outstanding during the period
   
23,069,620
   
22,907,331
   
23,056,918
   
22,875,295
 
                   
Diluted:
                         
Income from continuing operations available to
                         
common stockholders
 
$
0.51
 
$
0.23
 
$
1.56
 
$
0.47
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
   
1.13
   
(0.00
)
 
1.21
   
0.01
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
1.64
 
$
0.23
 
$
2.77
 
$
0.48
 
Weighted average number of common shares
                 
outstanding during the period
   
23,372,873
   
23,128,951
   
23,363,756
   
23,094,750
 
                   
Dividend per common share
 
$
0.81
 
$
0.79
 
$
1.62
 
$
1.58
 
                   


See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and
Comprehensive Income for the six months ended
June 30, 2005
(Dollars and shares in thousands)


                               
 
      
   
Series F
          
 Additional
 
 Accumulated other
 
 Distributionsin excess of
      
   
Preferred stock
 
Common stock
 
 paid-in
 
 comprehensive
 
 accumulated
      
   
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 capital
 
 income
 
 earnings
 
 Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2004
   
1,000
   
25,000
   
23,034
   
2
   
646,744
   
-
   
(80,469
)
 
591,277
 
Issuance of common stock under
                                                 
stock-based compensation plans
   
-
   
-
   
51
   
-
   
2,117
   
-
   
-
   
2,117
 
Reallocation of minority interest (1)
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
5,509
   
-
   
-
   
5,509
 
Comprehensive income:
                                                 
          Net income
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
65,756
   
65,756
 
          Change in fair value of cash flow hedges
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(1,595
)
 
-
   
(1,595
)
Comprehensive income
                                             
64,161
 
Common and preferred stock dividends declared
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(38,350
)
 
(38,350
)
Balances at June 30, 2005
   
1,000
 
$
25,000
   
23,085
 
$
2
 
$
654,370
 
$
(1,595
)
$
(53,063
)
$
624,714
 
                                     

 
(1) During the six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company recorded a true-up of the reallocation of minority interest as of December 31, 2004. This true-up was not material to stockholders’ equity at either June 30, 2005 or December 31, 2004.


See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)


   
 Six Months Ended
 
   
 June 30,
 
   
 2005
 
2004
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
66,629
 
$
59,448
 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:
             
Additions to real estate:
             
Acquisitions
   
(13,817
)
 
(118,614
)
Improvements to recent acquisitions
   
(2,273
)
 
(6,032
)
Redevelopment
   
(7,711
)
 
(2,452
)
Revenue generating capital expenditures
   
(115
)
 
(54
)
Other capital expenditures
   
(6,116
)
 
(4,380
)
Additions to real estate under development
   
(15,031
)
 
(8,184
)
Dispositions of real estate and investments
   
6,585
   
-
 
Change in restricted cash
   
7,646
   
(5,009
)
Additions to notes receivable from related parties and other receivables
   
(3,643
)
 
(171
)
Repayment of notes receivable from related parties and other receivables
   
5,005
   
1,496
 
Net distributions from (contributions to) limited partnerships
   
41,336
   
5,502
 
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
   
11,866
   
(137,898
)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:
             
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable and lines of credit
   
96,629
   
224,417
 
Repayment of mortgage notes payable and lines of credit
   
(99,840
)
 
(93,364
)
Additions to deferred charges
   
(885
)
 
(3,466
)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised
   
1,881
   
3,657
 
Contributions from minority interest partners
   
-
   
-
 
Distributions to minority interest partners
   
(11,545
)
 
(14,087
)
Redemption of minority interest limited partnership units
   
(4,466
)
 
(5,455
)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid
   
(37,837
)
 
(36,394
)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
   
(56,063
)
 
75,308
 
           
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
22,432
   
(3,142
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
10,644
   
14,768
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
33,076
 
$
11,626
 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
             
Cash paid for interest, net of $511 and $1,571 capitalized
             
in 2005 and 2004, respectively
 
$
35,600
 
$
27,224
 
           
Assumption of mortgage loans payable in conjunction with the purchases of real estate
 
$
-
 
$
134,456
 
           
Common stock issued pursuant to phantom stock plan
 
$
262
 
$
26
 
           
Issuance of Operating Partnership Units in connection with the purchase of real estate
 
$
-
 
$
1,729
 
           
Real estate investment transferred to rental property
 
$
-
 
$
4,068
 
               
Proceeds from disposition of real estate held by exchange facilitator
 
$
62,000
 
$
-
 
               

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
June 30, 2005 and 2004

(1)
Organization and Basis of Presentation 
 
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 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, 2004.
 
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
 
The unaudited consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 include the accounts of the Company and Essex Portfolio, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership", which holds the operating assets of the Company). See below for a description of entities consolidated by the Operating Partnership for all periods presented pursuant to its adoption of FIN 46 Revised. The Company is the sole general partner in the Operating Partnership, with a 90.5%, 90.3% and 90.9% general partnership interest as of June 30, 2005, December 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004 respectively.
 
As of June 30, 2005, the Company has ownership interests in 123 multifamily properties (containing 25,798 units), three office buildings (with approximately 166,340 square feet), three recreational vehicle parks (comprising 562 spaces) and one manufactured housing community (containing 157 sites), (collectively, the "Properties"). The Properties are located in Southern California (Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area), the Pacific Northwest (the Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon metropolitan areas) and other areas (Houston, Texas).
 
Fund Activities
 
Essex Apartment Value Fund, L.P. ("Fund I"), is an investment fund organized by the Company in 2001 to add value through rental growth and asset appreciation, utilizing the Company's development, redevelopment and asset management capabilities. An affiliate of the Company, Essex VFGP, L.P. ("VFGP"), is a 1% general partner and is a 20.4% limited partner. The Operating Partnership owns a 99% limited partnership interest in VFGP.
 
On September 27, 2004 the Company announced the final closing of partner equity commitments for Essex Apartment Value Fund II (“Fund II”). Fund II has eight institutional investors, including the Company, with combined partner equity commitments of $265.9 million. Essex has committed $75.0 million to Fund II, which represents a 28.2% interest as general partner and limited partner. Fund II expects to utilize leverage equal to approximately 65% of the estimated value of the underlying real estate. Fund II will invest in multifamily properties in the Company’s targeted West Coast markets with an emphasis on investment opportunities in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. Subject to certain exceptions, Fund II will be Essex’s exclusive investment vehicle until October 31, 2006, or when Fund II’s committed capital has been invested, whichever occurs first. Consistent with Fund I, Essex will record revenue for its asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services, and promote distributions should Fund II exceed certain financial return benchmarks.
 
Variable Interest Entities
 
In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46 Revised (FIN 46R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51”, the Company consolidates Essex Management Corporation (EMC), Essex Fidelity I Corporation (EFC), 17 Down REIT limited partnerships (comprising ten properties), an office building that is subject to loans made by the Company, and the multifamily improvements owned by a third party in which the Company owns the land underlying these improvements and from which the Company receives fees, including land lease, subordination and property management fees, and a joint venture to develop a building in Los Angeles, California. The Company consolidated these entities because it is deemed the primary beneficiary under FIN 46R. The Company's total assets and liabilities related to these variable interest entities (VIEs), net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $232.9 million and $155.5 million, respectively, at June 30, 2005 and $238.1 million and $155.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2004.
 
Interest holders in VIEs consolidated by the Company are allocated a priority of net income equal to the cash payments made to those interest holders for services rendered or distributions from cash flow. The remaining results of operations are generally allocated to the Company.
 
Properties consolidated in accordance with FIN 46R were encumbered by third party, non-recourse loans totaling $150.6 million and $151.3 million as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
 
As of June 30, 2005 the Company is involved with four VIEs, of which it is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Total assets and liabilities of these entities as of June 30, 2005 were approximately $113.6 million and $73.3 million, respectively. The Company does not have a significant exposure to loss resulting from its involvement with these unconsolidated VIEs.
 
    Stock-Based Compensation
 
Stock-based compensation expense under the fair value method was $115,000 and $191,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively and $249,000 and $327,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. There were 53,000 and 20,000 stock options granted during the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively and 117,800 and 20,000 stock options granted for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The average fair value of stock options granted was $9.37 and $7.11 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $9.96 and $7.11 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The fair value was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
Stock price
$71.00 - $84.39
 
$62.34
 
$69.11 - $84.39
 
$62.34
Risk-free interest rates
3.76% - 3.99%
 
3.94%
 
3.64% - 4.30%
 
3.94%
Expected lives
6 years
 
5 years
 
5-6 years
 
5 years
Volatility
18.35%
 
19.07%
 
18.09% -18.35%
 
19.07%
Dividend yield
4.28% - 4.42%
 
5.07%
 
4.28% - 5.13%
 
5.07%
 
 
Accounting Changes

(A) Depreciation 
 
Beginning in 2003, the Company implemented an upgrade to its subsidiary ledger for accounting for fixed assets. The Company completed this system upgrade in the first quarter of 2004. In conjunction with this system upgrade, the Company determined that cumulative depreciation expense generated by consolidated or equity method rental properties was understated by approximately $2.1 million through December 31, 2003 and this amount was recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
 
The Company does not believe that the correction is material to any previously reported financial statements and is not material to any consolidated earnings trends.
 
(B) New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In June 2005, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) consensus on Issue No. 04-5 “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partner Have Certain Rights.”This consensus establishes the presumption that general partners in a limited partnership control that limited partnership regardless of the extent of the general partners’ ownership interest in the limited partnership. The consensus further establishes that the rights of the limited partners can overcome the presumption of control by the general partners, if the limited partners have either (a) the substantive ability to dissolve (liquidate) the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partners without cause or (b) substantive participating rights. Whether the presumption of control is overcome is a matter of judgment based on the facts and circumstances, for which the consensus provides additional guidance. This consensus is currently applicable to the Company for new or modified partnerships, and will otherwise be applicable to existing partnerships in 2006. This consensus applies to limited partnerships or similar entities, such as limited liability companies that have governing provisions that are the functional equivalent of a limited partnership. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this consensus on its consolidation policies.
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123 revised, “Share-Based Payment”. This statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, and supercedes APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. The Statement requires companies to recognize in the income statement the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity based compensation issued to employees. This Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of this Statement on our future results of operations.
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets an amendment of APB No. 29”. This Statement amends APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Non-monetary Transactions” to eliminate the exception for non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of non-monetary assets that do not have commercial substance. That exception required that some non-monetary exchanges be recorded on a carryover basis versus this Statement, which requires that an entity record a non-monetary exchange at fair value and recognize any gain or loss if the transaction has commercial substance. This Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 153 will have a material impact on our financial position, net earnings or cash flows.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain other reclassifications have been made to prior periods in order to conform them to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications have no impact on reported earnings, total assets or total liabilities.
 
(2) Significant Transactions for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2005
 
(A) Acquisitions

On June 21, 2005, the Company acquired Mission Hills Apartments, a 282-unit apartment community, located in Oceanside, California, for approximately $50.5 million. The property is unencumbered. The Company utilized the proceeds from the sale of Eastridge, a 188-unit apartment community located in San Ramon, California to fund the transaction.
 
(B) Dispositions

 On June 21, 2005, the Company sold Eastridge Apartments, a 188-unit apartment community located in San Ramon, California for a contract price of approximately $47.5 million. The Company acquired Eastridge in 1996 for $19.2 million. In conjunction with the sale, the Company deferred $2.2 million of the gain on the sale of Eastridge because an affiliate of Essex originated a participating loan to the buyer in the amount of approximately $2.2 million, which allows the Company to financially participate in the buyer’s condominium conversion plan.
 
(C) Development Communities
 
The Company defines development communities as new apartment properties that are being constructed or are newly constructed, which are in a phase of lease-up and have not yet reached stabilized operations. As of June 30, 2005, the Company had ownership interests in two development communities (excluding development projects owned by the Essex Apartment Value Fund, L.P. described below), aggregating 475 multifamily units. The estimated total cost is $114.3 million with $95.0 million remaining to be expended.
 
 
(D)
Redevelopment Communities
 
The Company defines redevelopment communities as existing properties owned or recently acquired, which have been targeted for investment by the Company with the expectation of increased financial returns through property improvement. Redevelopment communities typically have some apartment units that are not available for rent and, as a result, may have less than stabilized operations. At June 30, 2005, the Company had ownership interests in six redevelopment communities, aggregating 1,905 multifamily units with estimated redevelopment costs of $33.9 million, of which approximately $23.1 million remains to be expended.
 
(E) Debt

On April 15, 2005, the Company obtained two non-recourse mortgage loans on previously unencumbered properties in the aggregate amount of $32.9 million with fixed interest rates of 5.44% for 10-year terms that mature on May 1, 2014.

On May 19, 2005, the Company obtained three non-recourse mortgage loans in the aggregate amount of $12.9 million, secured by second deeds of trusts, with an average interest rate of 5.32% and maturity dates ranging from May 1, 2009 to January 1, 2013.

(F) Equity
 
On May 17, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.48828 per share, which represents an annual distribution of $1.9531 per share on its 7.8125% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. Distributions are or will be payable on September 1, 2005 to shareholders of record as of August 17, 2005.
 
On May 17, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.81 per common share, which was payable on July 15, 2005 to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2005. On an annualized basis, the dividend represents a distribution of $3.24 per common share.
 
 
(G)
The Essex Apartment Value Fund ("Fund I")

To-date, the Company has sold all sixteen apartment communities, aggregating 4,646 units, which were provided for in the purchase and sale agreement with United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. (UDR) for the agreed upon contract price of approximately $756 million. Fund I owns one remaining asset that is currently being marketed for sale - Kelvin Avenue, a land parcel, which is permitted for the development of a 132-unit multifamily community, located in Irvine, California.

(H) The Essex Apartment Value Fund II (“Fund II”)

On June 2, 2005, Fund II acquired Tower @ 801, a 173-unit high-rise apartment community, located in downtown Seattle, Washington, for approximately $31.9 million. Tower @ 801 is a 25-story apartment community with a subterranean parking structure that was developed in 1970. The building is noteworthy for its circular design and views.

(3)
Investments

The following table details the Company's investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting (dollars in thousands):

 
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in joint ventures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct and indirect LLC member interests of approximately 49.9%
 
 
 
 
 
in Newport Beach South, LLC
 
$
-
 
$
11,524
 
Limited partnership interest of 20.4% and general partner
   
   
 
interest of 1% in Essex Apartment Value Fund, L.P (Fund I)
   
7,137
   
14,140
 
Limited partnership interest of 27.2% and general partner
   
   
 
interest of 1% in Essex Apartment Value Fund II, L.P (Fund II)
   
16,813
   
17,242
 
Preferred limited partnership interests in Mountain Vista
   
   
 
Apartments (A)
   
6,806
   
6,806
 
Total investments
 
$
30,756
 
$
49,712
 
 
   
   
 

 
(A)  
The preferred limited partnership interest is held in an entity that includes an affiliate of The Marcus & Millichap Company (“TMMC”). TMMC’s Chairman is also the Chairman of the Company.
 
The combined summarized financial information of investments, which are accounted for under the equity method, are as follows (dollars in thousands).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate and real estate under development
 
$
306,833
 
$
322,233
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets
 
 
25,795
 
 
36,709
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
332,628
 
$
358,942
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
181,533
 
$
203,171
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
 
55,452
 
 
21,276
 
 
 
 
 
 
Partners' equity
 
 
96,036
 
 
134,495
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and partners' equity
 
$
333,021
 
$
358,942
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company's share of equity
 
$
30,756
 
$
49,712
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
Statements of operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total property revenues
 
$
6,354
 
$
15,997
 
$
13,854
 
$
33,354
Total gain on the sales of real estate
 
 
    4,422
 
 
-
 
 
33,008
 
 
-
Total expenses
 
 
7,336
 
 
17,498
 
 
14,388
 
 
32,913
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net income (loss)
 
$
3,440 
 
$
(1,501)
 
$
32,474
 
$
441
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company's share of net income (loss)
 
$
2,843
 
$
(5)
 
$
17,554
 
$
1,095
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
(4)
Related Party Transactions
 
Notes and other receivables from related parties as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
Related party receivables, unsecured:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans to officers made prior to July 31, 2002, secured, bearing interest at 8%,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
due beginning April 2006
 
$
625
 
$
625
 
Related party receivables, substantially due on demand
 
 
598
 
 
810
 
Total notes and other receivable from related parties
 
$
1,223
 
$
1,435
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related party receivables consist primarily of accrued interest income on notes receivable from joint venture investees and loans to officers, and advances and accrued management fees from joint venture investees.
 
Management and other fees from affiliates includes property management, asset management, development and redevelopment fees from the Company’s investees of $690,000 and $1,337,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and $2,393,000 and $2,617,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and promote income from the Company’s investees of $241,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and $5,114,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005.

 
(5)
Segment Information

The Company defines its reportable operating segments as the three geographical regions in which its properties are located: Southern California, Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Excluded from segment revenues are properties outside of these regions, 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, recreational vehicle parks, and manufactured housing communities. Other non-segment assets include investments, real estate under development, cash, notes receivable, other assets and deferred charges. The revenues, net operating income, and assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows for the periods presented (dollars in thousands).


 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Southern California
 
$
46,192
 
$
41,302
 
Northern California
   
16,516
   
15,493
 
Pacific Northwest
   
14,230
   
12,186
 
Other non-segment areas
   
1,027
   
635
 
Total property revenues
 
$
77,965
 
$
69,616
 
 
             
Net operating income:
             
Southern California
 
$
31,260
 
$
27,456
 
Northern California
   
11,387
   
10,540
 
Pacific Northwest
   
9,317
   
7,732
 
Other non-segment areas
   
403
   
97
 
Total net operating income
   
52,367
   
45,825
 
 
             
Depreciation and amortization:
             
Southern California
   
(10,248
)
 
(9,337
)
Northern California
   
(4,110
)
 
(3,482
)
Pacific Northwest
   
(3,706
)
 
(3,182
)
Other non-segment areas
   
(1,979
)
 
(1,525
)
 
   
(20,043
)
 
(17,526
)
Interest expense:
             
Southern California
   
(7,692
)
 
(6,600
)
Northern California
   
(3,777
)
 
(3,343
)
Pacific Northwest
   
(1,888
)
 
(1,565
)
Other non-segment areas
   
(4,796
)
 
(3,573
)
 
   
(18,153
)
 
(15,081
)
 
             
Amortization of deferred financing costs
   
(563
)
 
(457
)
General and administrative
   
(4,573
)
 
(3,479
)
Legal settlement
   
(1,500
)
 
-
 
Management and other fees from affiliates
   
931
   
1,337
 
Gain on sale of real estate
   
5,276
   
-
 
Interest and other income
   
2,431
   
689
 
Equity income in co-investments
   
2,843
   
(5
)
Minority interests
   
(5,371
)
 
(5,543
)
Income tax provision     (1,100 )   (23 )
 
             
Income from continuing operations
 
$
12,545
 
$
5,737
 
 
             
 

 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
Southern California
 
$
91,719
 
$
78,951
 
Northern California
   
32,780
   
30,644
 
Pacific Northwest
   
28,242
   
24,385
 
Other non-segment areas
   
1,891
   
1,278
 
Total property revenues
 
$
154,632
 
$
135,258
 
 
             
Net operating income:
             
Southern California
 
$
62,256
 
$
53,130
 
Northern California
   
22,402
   
20,847
 
Pacific Northwest
   
18,309
   
15,690
 
Other non-segment areas
   
608
   
202
 
Total net operating income
   
103,575
   
89,869
 
 
             
Depreciation and amortization:
             
Southern California
   
(20,383
)
 
(19,663
)
Northern California
   
(8,028
)
 
(8,337
)
Pacific Northwest
   
(7,334
)
 
(4,367
)
Other non-segment areas
   
(3,877
)
 
(3,000
)
 
   
(39,622
)
 
(35,367
)
Interest expense:
             
Southern California
   
(15,161
)
 
(12,665
)
Northern California
   
(7,568
)
 
(6,394
)
Pacific Northwest
   
(3,338
)
 
(3,270
)
Other non-segment areas
   
(10,233
)
 
(7,062
)
 
   
(36,300
)
 
(29,391
)
 
             
Amortization of deferred financing costs
   
(1,039
)
 
(730
)
General and administrative
   
(9,014
)
 
(6,346
)
Legal settlement
   
(1,500
)
 
-
 
Management and other fees from affiliates
   
7,507
   
2,617
 
Gain on sale of real estate
   
6,391
   
-
 
Interest and other income
   
2,954
   
1,259
 
Equity income in co-investments
   
17,554
   
1,095
 
Minority interests
   
(11,823
)
 
(11,079
)
Income tax provision     (1,201 )   (86 )
 
             
Income from continuing operations
 
$
37,482
 
$
11,841
 
 
             
 
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
Assets:
         
Net real estate assets:
         
Southern California
 
$
1,232,871
 
$
1,162,803
 
Northern California
   
451,292
   
458,199
 
Pacific Northwest
   
376,143
   
358,219
 
Other non-segment areas
   
43,021
   
62,321
 
Total net real estate assets
   
2,103,327
   
2,041,542
 
Other non-segment assets
   
143,029
   
175,675
 
Total assets
 
$
2,246,356
 
$
2,217,217
 
 
         
 
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
Assets:
         
Net real estate assets:
         
Southern California
 
$
1,232,871
 
$
1,162,803
 
Northern California
   
451,292
   
458,199
 
Pacific Northwest
   
376,143
   
358,219
 
Other non-segment areas
   
43,021
   
62,321
 
Total net real estate assets
   
2,103,327
   
2,041,542
 
Other non-segment assets
   
143,029
   
175,675
 
Total assets
 
$
2,246,356
 
$
2,217,217
 
 
         
 
 
(6)
Net Income Per Common Share 
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)



 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2005
 
 
June 30, 2004
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Per
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Per
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
Common
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
Common
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
 
Share
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
 
Share
 
 
 
Income
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Income
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to common stockholders
 
$
12,057
 
23,070
 
$
0.52
 
$
5,249
 
 
22,907
 
$
0.23
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
26,333
 
23,070
 
 
1.14
 
 
(37)
 
 
22,907
 
 
(0.00)
 
 
 
38,390
 
 
 
$
1.66
 
 
5,212
 
 
 
 
$
0.23
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible limited partnership
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Units (1)
 
 
--
 
--
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
 
Stock options (2)
 
 
--
 
183
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
151
 
 
 
Vested series Z incentive units
 
 
--
 
120
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
71
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
 
303
 
 
 
 
 
-
 
 
222
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to common stockholders
 
 
12,057
 
23,373
 
$
0.51
 
 
5,249
 
 
23,129
 
$
0.23
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
26,333
 
23,373
 
 
1.13
 
 
(37)
 
 
23,129
 
 
(0.00)
 
 
$
38,390
 
 
 
$
1.64
 
$
5,212
 
 
 
 
$
0.23
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2005
 
 
June 30, 2004
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Per
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
Per
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
Common
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
Common
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
 
Share
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
 
Share
 
 
 
Income
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Income (1)
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to common stockholders
 
$
36,505
 
23,057
 
$
1.58
 
$
10,865
 
 
22,875
 
$
0.48
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
28,274
 
23,057
 
 
1.23
 
 
309
 
 
22,875
 
 
0.01
 
 
 
64,779
 
 
 
$
2.81
 
 
11,174
 
 
 
 
$
0.49
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible limited partnership
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Units (2)
 
 
--
 
--
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
--
 
 
 
Stock options
 
 
--
 
188
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
149
 
 
 
Vested series Z incentive units
 
 
--
 
119
 
 
 
 
 
--
 
 
71
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
 
307
 
 
 
 
 
-
 
 
220
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to common stockholders
 
 
36,505
 
23,364
 
$
1.56
 
 
10,865
 
 
23,095
 
$
0.47
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
 
28,274
 
23,364
 
 
1.21
 
 
309
 
 
23,095
 
 
0.01
 
 
$
64,779
 
 
 
$
2.77
 
$
11,174
 
 
 
 
$
0.48
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30, 2005
 
June 30, 2004
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Per
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Per
 
 
 
 
 
Average
 
Common
 
 
 
Average
 
Common
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
Share
 
 
 
Common
 
Share
 
 
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Income (1)
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to common stockholders
 
$
36,505
   
23,057
 
$
1.58
 
$
10,865
   
22,875
 
$
0.48
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
   
28,274
   
23,057
   
1.23
   
309
   
22,875
   
0.01
 
 
   
64,779
     
$
2.81
 
 
11,174
     
$
0.49
 
 
                         
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
                         
Convertible limited partnership
                         
Units (2)
   
--
   
--
       
--
   
--
     
Stock options
   
--
   
188
       
--
   
149
     
Vested series Z incentive units
   
--
   
119
       
--
   
71
     
 
     -    
307
       
-
   
220
     
 
                         
Diluted:
                         
Income from continuing operations available
                         
to common stockholders
   
36,505
   
23,364
 
$
1.56
   
10,865
   
23,095
 
$
0.47
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
   
28,274
   
23,364
   
1.21
   
309
   
23,095
   
0.01
 
 
 
$
64,779
     
$
2.77
 
$
11,174
     
$
0.48
 
 
                         
 
(1) Weighed convertible limited partnership units of 2,299,361 and 2,319,800 for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, and 2,312,216 and 2,291,524 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were not included in the determination of diluted EPS because they were anti-dilutive. The Company has the ability and intent to redeem Down REIT Limited Partnership units of 1,312,160 at June 30, 2005 for cash and does not consider them to be common stock equivalents.
 
(2) The following stock options are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the exercise price of the option was greater than the average market price of the common shares for the quarter end and, therefore, the stock options were anti-dilutive.
 

 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
Number of options
39,274
 
--
 
33,356
 
--
Range of exercise prices
$69.82 - $84.50
 
n/a
 
$69.69 - $85.50
 
n/a

 
(7)  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
On February 16, 2005, the Company entered into a $50.0 million notional forward-starting swap with a commercial bank at a fixed rate of 4.927% and a settlement date on or around October 1, 2007. This 10-year forward starting interest rate swap is used to hedge the cash flows associated with the forecasted issuance of debt expected to occur in 2007. The transaction is considered highly effective at offsetting changes in future cash flows for forecasted transactions and qualifies for hedge accounting.
 
The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges.
 
For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item related to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is initially reported in other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings, and the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings. The Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in fair value or cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in fair value or cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. For derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. 
 
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 primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts in exchange for fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying principal amount. 
 
At June 30, 2005, derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were recorded as a net derivative liability of $1.6 million and were included in accounts payable and other liabilities. The net change in fair value of the derivative instruments for the six months was a net unrealized loss of $1.6 million. Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is separately disclosed in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  No hedge ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges was recognized during 2005. The Company did not have accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in 2004.
 
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s hedged debt. The Company is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions over a maximum period of 27 months (excluding forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments).
 
(8)  
Discontinued Operations
 
In the normal course of business, the Company will receive offers for sale of its properties, either solicited or unsolicited. For those offers that are accepted, the prospective buyer will usually require a due diligence period before consummation of the transaction. It is not unusual for matters to arise that result in the withdrawal or rejection of the offer during this process. Essex classifies real estate as "held for sale" when all criteria under SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS 144) have been met.
 
At June 30, 2004, Golden Village Recreational Vehicle Park, a property located in Hemet, California and acquired as part of the John M. Sachs merger in December 2002, met the "held for sale" criteria under SFAS 144. In accordance with SFAS 144, assets and liabilities and the results of operations of the property were presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2004. Upon reclassification as held for sale at June 30, 2004, the Company presented Golden Village at its estimated fair value less disposal costs which resulted in an impairment charge of approximately $756,000. Such fair value was determined using the contractual sales price pursuant to the contract with the buyer of the property. On July 18, 2004, the Company sold Golden Village for $6.7 million. No gain or loss was recognized on the sale
 
In January 2005, the Company sold four non-core assets that were acquired in conjunction with the John M. Sachs’s merger in 2002 for $14.9 million. The four non-core assets were: The Riviera Recreational Vehicle Park and a Manufactured Home Park, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, for which the Company had previously entered into master lease and option agreements with an unrelated entity; and two small office buildings, located in San Diego California, aggregating 7,200 square feet. The Company recorded a gain of $668,000 on the sale of these assets, net of minority interests. As of December 31, 2004 Riviera RV Resort and Riviera Mobile Home Park met the “held for sale” criteria under SFAS 144. In accordance with SFAS 144, assets and liabilities and the results of operations of the properties are presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.
 
The Company sold the Eastridge Apartments during June 2005, and the Company has recorded the operations and gain on sale of Eastridge Apartments as part of discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for all periods presented (see Note 2 for more details).
 
The components of discontinued operations for Eastridge Apartments and the properties held for sale as of December 31, 2004 are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Company owned such assets.
 

   
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
Six Months Ended
June 30
 
   
 2005
 
 2004
 
 2005
 
 2004
 
                       
Rental revenues
 
$
574
 
$
693
 
$
1,233
 
$
1,381
 
Interest and other
   
-
   
526
   
1,134
   
1,555
 
Revenues
   
574
   
1,219
   
2,367
   
2,936
 
                           
Property operating expenses
   
(114
)
 
(504
)
 
(506
)
 
(1,337
)
Impairment charge
   
-
   
(756
)
 
-
   
(1,261
)
Minority interests
   
(41
)
 
4
   
(168
)
 
(29
)
Operating income (loss) from real estate sold
   
419
   
(37
)
 
1,693
   
309
 
                           
Gain on sale of real estate
   
28,484
   
-
   
29,219
   
-
 
Minority interests
   
(2,570
)
 
-
   
(2,638
)
 
-
 
     
25,914
   
-
   
26,581
   
-
 
Income (loss) from discontinued
                         
operations
 
$
26,333
 
$
(37
)
$
28,274
 
$
309
 
                           
 
 
In April 2004, an employee lawsuit was filed against the Company in the California Superior Court in the County of Alameda. In this lawsuit, two former Company maintenance employees seek unpaid wages, associated penalties and attorneys’ fees on behalf of a putative class of the Company’s current and former maintenance employees who were required to wear a pager while they were on call during evening and weekend hours. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, the Company recorded $1.5 million for legal settlement costs. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and such amount represents management’s best estimate of the total cost of the litigation at this time.
 
The Company is subject to various other lawsuits in the normal course of its business operations. Accordingly, such lawsuits, as well as the class action lawsuit described above, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have 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 should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere herein and with our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and our Current Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions.
 
Essex is a fully integrated Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), property revenues are generated primarily from multifamily property operations, which are located in three major West Coast regions:
Southern California (Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties)
Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area)
Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon metropolitan areas)
 
As of June 30, 2005
 
As of June 30, 2004
 
 
Number of Apartment Homes
%
Number of Apartment Homes
%
Southern California
12,724
54%
11,669
53%
Northern California
4,621
20%
4,605
21%
Pacific Northwest
5,831
25%
5,212
24%
Other
302
1%
578
3%
Total
23,478
100%
22,064
100%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Results

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004

Our average financial occupancies increased 1.0% to 96.7% as of June 30, 2005 from 95.7% as of June 30, 2004 for the multifamily Quarterly Same Store Properties. The regional breakdown for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 
Three months ended
 
 
June 30,
 
 
2005
 
2004
 
Southern California
96.5%
 
95.3%
 
Northern California
97.2%
 
96.9%
 
Pacific Northwest
96.8%
 
95.6%
 
 
Total Property Revenues increased 12% to $78.0 million in the second quarter of 2005 from $69.6 million in the second quarter of 2004. The following table illustrates a breakdown of these revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the same store properties.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
June 30,
 
 
Dollar
 
Percentage
 
 
Properties
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
Change
 
Change
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Property revenues - quarterly
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarterly Same Store Properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern California
49
 
$
31,834
 
$
30,169
 
$
1,665
 
5.5
%
Northern California
16
 
 
12,597
 
 
12,524
 
 
73
 
0.6
 
Pacific Northwest
26
 
 
12,058
 
 
11,776
 
 
282
 
2.4
 
Total property revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Store Properties
91
 
 
56,489
 
 
54,469
 
 
2,020
 
3.7
 
Property revenues - properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       acquired subsequent to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       March 31, 2004 (1)
 
 
 
21,476
 
 
15,147
 
 
6,329
 
41.8
 
Total property revenues
 
 
$
77,965
 
$
69,616
 
$
8,349
 
12.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 (1) Also includes three office buildings, three recreational vehicle parks, one manufactured housing community, redevelopment and development communities.
 
Same Store Property Revenues increased by $2,020,000 or 3.7% to $56,489,000 in the second quarter of 2005 from $54,469,000 in the second quarter of 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to increased occupancy in all regions and a reduction in concessions in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
 
Non Same Store Property Revenues increased by $6,329,000 or 41.8% to 21,476,000 in the second quarter of 2005 from $15,147,000 in the second quarter of 2004. The increase was primarily generated from communities acquired and or developed and increase rents from redeveloped properties. Subsequent to March 31, 2004, we acquired 4,959 units, redeveloped units and completed the construction of 756 units.
 
Total Expenses increased 17% to $70,430,000 in the second quarter of 2005 from $60,334,000 in the second quarter of 2004. The increase was mainly due to depreciation and amortization, interest, and general and administrative expenses related to the non-same store units referenced above. Depreciation and amortization increased 14% to $20,043,000 in the second quarter from $17,526,000 in the second quarter of 2004 due to increase in properties. General and administrative expense was $4,573,000 or an increase of 31% in the second quarter of 2005 from $3,479,000 in the second quarter of 2004. The increase in 2005 is primarily due to an increase in compensation expense.
 
Legal settlement increased to $1,500,000 for the second quarter of 2005 due to a legal settlement recorded for $1,500,000.
 
Gain on sale of real estate increased to $5,276,000 for the second quarter of 2005 resulting from $3.8 million recognition of deferred gain from the sale of The Essex at Lake Merritt and $1.4 million from our taxable REIT subsidiaries.
 
Interest expense increased by 20% in the second quarter of 2005 to $18,153,000, net of interest capitalized as a cost of apartment communities under development of $454,000, compared to $15,081,000 for the second quarter of 2004. The increase was mainly due to increase in short term rates and paying down lines of credit with permanent financing in the second quarter.
 
Income tax provision increased by $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2005 to $1.1 million from $23,000 in the second quarter of 2004 due to sale transactions related to our taxable REIT subsidiaries.
 
Discontinued operations increased by $26,370,000 to $26,333,000 from the three months ended June 30, 2005 from a loss of $37,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2004. The increase was due mainly to a gain on sale of the Eastridge property net of minority interest of $27,955,000 offset by a deferred gain of $2.2 million relating to a participating loan with the buyer.
 
Operating Results

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Our average financial occupancies increased 0.9% to 96.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2005 from 95.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2004 for the multifamily Same Store Properties. The regional breakdown for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
Southern California
 
 
96.3%
 
 
95.6%
 
Northern California
 
 
97.0%
 
 
96.3%
 
Pacific Northwest
 
 
96.7%
 
 
95.6%
 

Total Property Revenues increased by $19.4 million or 14.3% to $154.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2005 from $135.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004. The following table illustrates a breakdown of these revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the Same Store Properties.


 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of
 
June 30,
 
 
Dollar
 
Percentage
 
 
Properties
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
Change
 
Change
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Property revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Store Properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Southern California
49
 
$
63,290
 
$
60,168
 
$
3,122
 
5.2
%
Northern California
16
 
 
24,994
 
 
24,983
 
 
11
 
-
 
Pacific Northwest
26
 
 
24,075
 
 
23,559
 
 
516
 
2.2
 
Total property revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Store Properties
91
 
 
112,359
 
 
108,710
 
 
3,649
 
3.4
 
Property revenues - properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
acquired subsequent to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2003 (1)
 
 
 
42,273
 
 
26,548
 
 
15,725
 
59.2
 
Total property revenues
 
 
$
154,632
 
$
135,258
 
$
19,374
 
14.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Also includes three office buildings, three recreational vehicle parks, one manufactured housing community, redevelopment and development communities.
 
Same Store Property Revenues increased by $3,649,000 or 3.4% to $112,359,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 from $108,710,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to increased occupancy in all regions and a reduction in concessions in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
 
Non Same Store Property Revenues increased by $15,725,000 or 59.2% to 42,273,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 from $26,548,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The increase was primarily generated from communities acquired and or developed and increase rents from redeveloped properties. Subsequent to December 31, 2003, we acquired 4,959 units, redeveloped units and completed the construction of 756 units.
 
Total Expenses increased 18% to $138,532,000 for the six months ended June of 2005 from $117,223,000 for the six months ended June of 2004. The increase was mainly due to depreciation and amortization, interest, and general and administrative expenses related to the non-same store units referenced above. Depreciation and amortization increased 12% to $39,622,000 for the six months ended June of 2005 from $35,367,000 for the six months ended June of 2004 due to increase in properties. General and administrative totaled $9,014,000 or 42% for the six months ended June of 2005 from $6,346,000 for the six months ended June of 2004. The increase in 2005 is primarily due to an increase in compensation expense.
 
Legal settlement increased to $1,500,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 as compared to $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2004, due to a legal settlement recorded for $1,500,000 in the second quarter of 2005.
 
Gain on sale of real estate increased to $6,391,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 as compared to $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2004 resulting from $5.0 million recognition of deferred gain from the sale of The Essex at Lake Merritt and $1.4 million from our taxable REIT subsidiaries.
 
Interest expense increased by 24% for the six months ended June of 2005 to $36,300,000, net of interest capitalized cost of apartment communities under development of $511,000, as compared to $29,391,000 for the six months ended June of 2004. The increase was mainly due to an increase in short term rates and paying down lines of credit with permanent financing in the six months ended June of 2005.
 
Discontinued operations increased by $27,965,000 to $28,274,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005 from $309,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The increase was due mainly to an increase in operating income for real estate sold of $1,384,000 and a gain on sale of the Eastridge property of $27,955,000 net of minority interest offset by a deferred gain of $2.2 million relating to a participating loan with the buyer.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Standard and Poor's has an existing issuer credit ratings of BBB/Stable for Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Essex Portfolio L.P., and BBB- for the Senior Unsecured Debt for Essex Portfolio L.P.
 
Cash flows from operations are a vital source of liquidity and are generated through property operations, working capital, lines of credit, net proceeds from public and private debt and equity issuances, refinancing of maturing loans, and proceeds generated from the sale of properties. 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.

Essex had an $185,000,000 unsecured line of credit as of June 30, 2005, and $91,800,000 was outstanding with an interest rate of approximately 4.03%. This facility matures in April 2007, with an option for a one-year extension. The underlying interest rate on this line is based on a tiered rate structure tied to our corporate ratings and is currently LIBOR plus 1.0%. We also have a $100 million credit facility from Freddie Mac, which is secured by six of Essex's multifamily communities. As of June 30, 2005, we had $94 million outstanding under this line of credit, which bears a 3.1 percent interest rate and matures in January 2009. The underlying interest rate on this line is between 55 and 59 basis points over the Freddie Mac Reference Rate. Fund II obtained a credit facility during the first quarter of 2005, aggregating $50,000,000, and during the second quarter of 2005 Fund II amended the credit facility increasing the facility to $115 million. This line bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.875%, and matures in June 2007. At the end of the second quarter, we had the capacity to issue up to $219,455,250 in equity securities, and the Operating Partnership had the capacity to issue up to $250,000,000 of debt securities under our existing shelf registration statements. Subsequent to June 30, 2005, the Company originated a mortgage loan secured by the Esplanade Apartment property in the amount of $40.3 million, with an interest rate of 4.93%, which matures on August 1, 2015.

We believe that funds from operations, the unused portions of our lines of credits, credit facilities, and the $33,077,000 of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2005, will adequately fulfill our liquidity requirements to fund:

§  
recurring operating requirements;
§  
debt service and maturity payments;
§  
preferred stock dividends and DownREIT partnership unit distributions;
§  
the minimum dividend payments required to maintain our REIT qualification under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
§  
development and redevelopment projects currently underway; and
§  
investment opportunities through acquisitions of improved property.

As of June 30, 2005, our total mortgage notes payable totaled $1,127,660,000 which consisted of $932,761,000 in fixed rate debt with interest rates varying from 4.25% to 8.18% and maturity dates ranging from 2006 to 2034 and $194,899,000 of tax-exempt variable rate demand bonds with a weighted average interest rate of 3.6%. The tax-exempt variable rate demand bonds have maturity dates ranging from 2006 to 2034, and are subject to interest rate caps.

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

In an effort to hedge the cash flows associated with the forecasted issuance of debt expected to occur in 2007, Essex entered into a $50.0 million notional forward-starting swap with a commercial bank at a fixed rate of 4.927%, with a settlement date on or around October 1, 2007. We believe that this will be effective in offsetting changes in future cash flows for forecasted transactions and qualifies for hedge accounting.

There can be no assurance that Essex will have access to the debt and equity markets in a timely fashion to meet such future funding requirements. Future working capital and borrowings under the lines of credit may not be available, or if available, may not be sufficient to meet the Company's requirements, and we may not be able to sell properties in a timely manner and under terms and conditions that we deem acceptable.

Capital Expenditures
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures are costs associated with improvements and/or upgrades that extend the useful life of the property. These expenses do not include the improvement costs that are related to (a) improvements required as a condition to funding mortgage loans, (b) expenditures for acquisition properties' renovations and/or improvements, and (c) renovation expenditures required pursuant to redevelopment and other revenue generating capital improvements. We expect to spend approximately $410 per weighted average occupancy unit in non-revenue generating capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2005. It is expected that cash from operations and/or Essex’s lines of credit will fund these expenditures. However, actual expenditures and/or funding for 2005 could be significantly different than our current expectations.

Development
We currently have two development projects in our pipeline, aggregating 475 units, with total incurred costs to-date of $19.3 million and estimated remaining costs of approximately $95.0 million. There are two consolidated development projects:
·  
Northwest Gateway, which is located in Los Angeles, California and will consist of 275 units.
·  
Moorpark, which is located in Ventura County, California and will consist of 200 units.

Redevelopment
Our redevelopment strategy strives to improve the financial and physical aspects of our redevelopment apartment communities targeting a 15 percent return on the incremental renovation investment. Many of the Company’s properties are older and in excellent neighborhoods, providing lower density and larger floor plans that represent excellent redevelopment conditions. As of June 30, 2005, we had six communities, aggregating 1,905 units in various stages of redevelopment. Total redevelopment costs incurred at these projects as of June 30, 2005 were approximately $33.9 million, of which $23.1 million estimated remains to be expended.

Alternative Capital Sources
The Essex Apartment Value Fund II (“Fund II”), a value added discretionary fund, is utilized as Essex’s investment vehicle (subject to certain exceptions) until October 31, 2006, or when Fund II’s committed capital has been invested, whichever occurs first. Fund II invests in multifamily properties in the Company’s targeted West Coast markets with a focus on investment opportunities in the Seattle Metropolitan Area and the San Francisco Bay Area. Fund II announced its final closing on partner equity commitments on September 27, 2004. There are eight institutional investors including Essex with combined partner equity commitments of $265.9 million. Essex has committed $75.0 million, which represents a 28.2% interest as general partner and limited partner. Fund II expects to utilize leverage equal to approximately 65% of the estimated value of the underlying real estate. Consistent with Fund I, Essex will be compensated for its asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services, and if Fund II exceeds certain financial return benchmarks, promote distributions.
 
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Essex consolidates Essex Management Corporation (EMC), Essex Fidelity I Corporation (EFC), 17 Down REIT limited partnerships (comprising ten properties), an office building that is subject to loans made by the Company, and the multifamily improvements owned by a third party in which the Company owns the land underlying these improvements and from which the Company receives fees, including land lease, subordination and property management fees, and a joint venture to develop a building in Los Angeles, California. The Company consolidated these entities because it is deemed the primary beneficiary under FIN 46R. The Company's total assets and liabilities related to these VIEs, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $232.9 million and $155.5 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2005 and $238.1 million and $155.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2004.
 
Interest holders in VIEs consolidated by the Company are allocated a priority of net income equal to the cash payments made to those interest holders for services rendered or distributions from cash flow. The remaining results of operations are generally allocated to the Company.
 
Consolidated properties were encumbered by third party, non-recourse loans totaling $150.6 million and $151.3 million as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
 
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
As of June 30, 2005 the Company is involved with four VIEs, of which it is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Total assets and liabilities of these entities as of June 30, 2005 were approximately $113.6 million and $73.3 million, respectively. The Company does not have a significant exposure to loss resulting from its involvement with these unconsolidated VIEs.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and other commitments as of June 30, 2005, and the effect these obligations could have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2006 and
 
 
2008 and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
2005
 
 
2007
 
 
2009
 
 
Thereafter
 
 
Total
 
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
6,493
 
$
151,446
 
$
208,728
 
$
760,992
 
$
1,127,659
 
Lines of credit
 
 
-
 
 
91,800
 
 
93,735
 
 
-
 
 
185,535
 
Development commitments (1)
 
 
16,000
 
 
79,000
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
95,000
 
Redevelopment commitments (2)
 
 
12,000
 
 
11,066
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
23,066
 
Essex Apartment Value Fund II, L.P.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   capital commitment (3)
 
 
20,717
 
 
37,500
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
58,217
 
 
 
$
55,210
 
$
370,812
 
$
302,463
 
$
760,992
 
$
1,489,477
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) $191 of these commitments relate to actual contracts as of June 30, 2005.
(2) $7,399 of these commitments relate to actual contracts as of June 30, 2005.
(3) The Company has a total commitment of $58,217, as of June 30, 2005. The amounts provided by year are management’s best estimate of the timing of the funding of such commitments. These estimates could change if the timing of Fund II’s acquisition of real estate changes.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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. We define critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that require our management to exercise their most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. Our critical accounting policies relate principally to the following key areas: (i) consolidation under applicable accounting standards of various entities; (ii) assessing the carrying values of our real estate properties and investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates;(iii) internal cost capitalization; (iiii) and qualification as a 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 differ from those estimates made by management.

The Company assesses each entity in which it has an investment or contractual relationship to determine if it may be deemed to be a VIE. If such an entity is a VIE, then the Company analyzes the expected residual returns and expected losses to determine who is the primary beneficiary. If the Company is the primary beneficiary, then the entity is consolidated. The analysis required to identify VIEs and primary beneficiaries is complex and judgmental, and the analysis must be applied to various types of entities and legal structures.

Rental properties are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation components on rental properties have been provided over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 30 years using the straight-line method. Development costs include acquisition, direct and indirect construction costs, interest and real estate taxes incurred during the construction and property stabilization periods. Maintenance and repair expenses that do not add to the value or prolong the useful life of the property are expensed as incurred. Asset replacements and improvements are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

The Company assesses the carrying value of its real estate investments by monitoring investment market conditions and performance compared to budget for operating properties and joint ventures, and by monitoring estimated costs for properties under development. Local market knowledge and data is used to assess carrying values of properties and the market value of acquisition opportunities. Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a property held for investment may not be fully recoverable, the carrying amount is evaluated. If the sum of the property’s expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the property, then the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the property. Adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of real estate investments could result in impairment charges. When the Company determines that a property is held for sale, it discontinues the periodic depreciation of that property. The criteria for determining when a property is held for sale requires judgment and has potential financial statement impact as depreciation would cease and an impairment loss could occur upon determination of held for sale status. Assets held for sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. With respect to investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates, the Company looks to the underlying properties to assess performance and the recoverability of carrying amounts for those investments in a manner similar to direct investments in real estate properties. An impairment charge or investment valuation charge is recorded if the carrying value of the investment exceeds its fair value.

The Company capitalizes all direct and certain indirect costs, including interest and real estate taxes, incurred during development and redevelopment activities. Interest is capitalized on real estate assets that require a period of time to get them ready for their intended use. The amount of interest capitalized is based upon the average amount of accumulated development expenditures during the reporting period. Included in capitalized costs are management’s estimates of the direct and incremental personnel costs and indirect project costs associated with our development and redevelopment activities. Indirect project costs consist primarily of personnel costs associated with construction administration and development accounting, legal fees, and various office costs that clearly relate to projects under development.

The Company bases its estimates on historical experience 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.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted
 
In June 2005, the FASB ratified the EITF’s consensus on Issue No. 04-5 “Determining Whether a General Partner, or the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership or Similar Entity When the Limited Partner Have Certain Rights.”This consensus establishes the presumption that general partners in a limited partnership control that limited partnership regardless of the extent of the general partners’ ownership interest in the limited partnership. The consensus further establishes that the rights of the limited partners can overcome the presumption of control by the general partners, if the limited partners have either (a) the substantive ability to dissolve (liquidate) the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partners without cause or (b) substantive participating rights. Whether the presumption of control is overcome is a matter of judgment based on the facts and circumstances, for which the consensus provides additional guidance. This consensus is currently applicable to the Company for new or modified partnerships, and will otherwise be applicable to existing partnerships in 2006. This consensus applies to limited partnerships or similar entities, such as limited liability companies that have governing provisions that are the functional equivalent of a limited partnership. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this consensus on its consolidation policies.
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 revised, “Share-Based Payment”. This statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, and supercedes APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. The Statement requires companies to recognize in the income statement the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity based compensation issued to employees. This Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of this Statement on our future results of operations.
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets an amendment of APB No. 29”. This Statement amends APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Non-monetary Transactions” to eliminate the exception for non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of non-monetary assets that do not have commercial substance. That exception required that some non-monetary exchanges be recorded on a carryover basis versus this Statement, which requires that an entity record a non-monetary exchange at fair value and recognize any gain or loss if the transaction has commercial substance. This Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of this Statement on our future results of operations.
 
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 timing of completion of current development and redevelopment projects and the stabilization dates of such projects, expectation as to the total projected costs and rental rates of acquisition and development projects, beliefs as to the adequacy of future cash flows to meet operating requirements and to provide for dividend payments in accordance with REIT requirements, expectations as to the amount of capital expenditures, expectations as to the amount of non-revenue generating capital expenditures, future acquisitions, developments, and redevelopment, the Company's anticipated development projects in 2005, the anticipated sale of the remaining properties of the Essex Apartment Value Fund, L.P.("Fund I"), and estimate of the resulting incentive and promote interest, the anticipated performance of the second Essex Apartment Value Fund ("Fund II"), the anticipated performance of existing properties, anticipated results from various geographic regions and the Company's investment focus in such regions, statements regarding the Company's financing activities and the use of proceeds from such 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 actual completion of development projects will be subject to delays, that the stabilization dates of such projects will be delayed, that the total projected costs of current development projects will exceed expectations, that the Company's 2005 development strategy will change, that such development projects will not be completed, that development 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 and/or will be insufficient to provide for dividend payments in accordance with REIT requirements, that the actual non-revenue generating capital expenditures will exceed the Company's current expectations, that the sale of the remaining property of Fund I will not occur or will generate proceeds that are less than anticipated, that the Company's partners in Fund II fail to fund capital commitments as contractually required, that there may be a downturn in the markets in which the Company's properties are located, that the terms of any refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness, as well as those risks, special considerations, and other factors discussed under the caption "Potential Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" below and those discussed under the caption "Other Matters/Risk Factors" in Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and those other 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 today, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information.
 
Potential Factors Affecting Future Operating Results
 
Many factors affect the Company’s actual financial performance and may cause the Company’s future results to be different from past performance or trends. These factors include those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the following:
 
Development and Redevelopment Activities
 
The Company pursues multifamily residential properties and development and redevelopment projects from time to time. These projects generally require various government and other approvals, the receipt of which cannot be assured. The Company's development and redevelopment activities generally entail certain risks, including the following:
 
 
 
 funds may be expended and management's time devoted to projects that may not be completed;
  
 
construction costs of a project may exceed original estimates possibly making the project economically unfeasible;
  
 
projects may be delayed due to, among other things, adverse weather conditions;
  
 
occupancy rates and rents at a completed project may be less than anticipated; and
  
 
expenses at a completed development project may be higher than anticipated.
These risks may reduce the funds available for distribution to the Company's stockholders. Further, the development and redevelopment of properties is also subject to the general risks associated with real estate investments.
 
Interest Rate Fluctuations
 
The Company monitors changes in interest rates and believes that it is well positioned from both a liquidity and interest rate risk perspective. However, current interest rates are at historic lows and potentially could increase rapidly to levels more in line with higher historical levels. The immediate effect of significant and rapid interest rate increases would result in higher interest expense on the Company's variable interest rate debt. The effect of prolonged interest rate increases could negatively impact the Company's ability to make acquisitions and develop properties at economic returns on investment and the Company's ability to refinance existing borrowings at acceptable rates. During the second quarter of 2005, the Company originated mortgage loans totaling $45.8 million on five of its wholly-owned properties. The mortgage loans consisted of two loans aggregating $32.9 million with interest rates of 5.44% maturing on May 1, 2014, two loans aggregating $6.5 million with a 5.39% interest rate maturing on January 1, 2013, and a loan in the amount of $6.4 million with a 5.18% interest rate maturing on May 1, 2009.
 
Funds from Operations
 
Funds from operations is a financial measure that is commonly used in the REIT industry. Essex presents funds from operations as a supplemental performance measure. Funds from operations is not used by Essex as, nor should it be considered to be, an alternative to net earnings computed under GAAP as an indicator of Essex’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash from operating activities computed under GAAP as an indicator of Essex’s ability to fund its cash needs.
 
Funds from operations is not meant to represent a comprehensive system of financial reporting and does not present, nor does Essex intend it to present, a complete picture of its financial condition and operating performance. Essex believes that net earnings computed under GAAP remain the primary measure of performance and that funds from operations is only meaningful when it is used in conjunction with net earnings. Further, Essex 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 funds from operations, Essex follows the definition for this measure published by the National Association of REITs (“NAREIT”), which is a REIT trade association. Essex believes that, under the NAREIT funds from operation 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 from the sale of previously depreciated properties. Essex agrees that these two NAREIT adjustments are useful to investors for the following reasons:
    
  (a)  historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes, through depreciation charges, that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictablyover 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 funds from operations 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 funds from operations, of gains and losses 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 has consistently applied the NAREIT definition of Fund from Operations to all periods presented. However, other REITs in calculating funds from operations may vary from the NAREIT definition for this measure, and thus their disclosure of funds from operations may not be comparable to Essex’s calculation. The following table sets forth the Company’s calculation of Funds from Operations for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the six month ended June 30, 2005 and 2004.
 

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
2005
 
 
2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
38,878,000
 
$
5,700,000
 
$
65,756,000
 
$
12,150,000
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Depreciation and amortization
 
 
20,043,000
 
 
17,526,000
 
 
39,622,000
 
 
35,367,000
    Depreciation and amortization --
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         unconsolidated co-investments
 
 
207,000
 
 
970,000
 
 
356,000
 
 
1,804,000
    Gain on sale of real estate
 
 
(3,885,000)
 
 
--
 
 
(5,000,000)
 
 
--
    Gain on sale of co-investment activities, net
 
 
(2,703,000)
 
 
--
 
 
(17,084,000)
 
 
--
    Gain on sale of real estate - discontinued operations
 
 
(28,484,000)
 
 
--
 
 
(29,219,000)
 
 
 
    Minority interests
 
 
3,972,000
 
 
649,000
 
 
6,770,000
 
 
1,346,000
    Depreciation - discontinued operations
 
 
-
 
 
247,000
 
 
148,000
 
 
838,000
    Dividends to preferred stockholders - Series F
 
 
(488,000)
 
 
(488,000)
 
 
(977,000)
 
 
(976,000)
Funds From Operations
 
$
27,540,000
 
$
24,604,000
 
$
60,372,000
 
$
50,529,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Funds from operations per share - diluted
 
$
1.07
 
$
0.97
 
$
2.35
 
$
1.99
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
shares outstanding diluted (1)
 
 
25,672,234
 
 
25,446,752
 
 
25,675,972
 
 
25,386,273
 
     
(1)
Assumes conversion of all outstanding operating partnership interests in the Operating Partnership. Minority interests have been adjusted to reflect such conversion.
 
 
The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of its line of credit and long-term debt used to maintain liquidity and to fund capital expenditures and expansion of the Company’s real estate investment portfolio and operations. The Company’s interest rate risk management objectives are 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.
 
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. Management believes that the carrying amounts of its variable LIBOR debt approximates fair value as of June 30, 2005 because interest rates, yields and other terms for these instruments are consistent with yields and other terms currently available to the Company for similar instruments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated
 
For the Years Ended
 
 
2005
 
 
2006
 
 
2007
 
 
2008
 
 
2009
 
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
 
Fair value
 
Fixed rate debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
$
7,487
 
$
17,536
 
$
125,830
 
$
155,480
 
$
532,478
 
$
93,950
 
$
932,761
 
$
1,170,055
 
Average interest rate
 
 
6.6%
 
 
6.6%
 
 
6.6%
 
 
6.6%
 
 
6.6%
 
 
6.6%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable rate debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
$
--
 
$
8,080
 
$
91,800
 
$
--
 
$
93,735
 
$
186,818
 
$
380,433
 
$
380,434
 
Average interest
 
 
--
 
 
3.8%
 
 
3.8%
 
 
--
 
 
3.1%
 
 
3.8%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
The table incorporates only those exposures that exist as of June 30, 2005; it does not consider exposures or positions that could arise after that date. As a result, our ultimate realized gain or loss, with respect to interest rate fluctuations, would depend on the exposures that arise during the period, our hedging strategies at the time, and interest rates.
 
On February 16, 2005, the Company entered into a $50.0 million notional forward-starting swap with a commercial bank at a fixed rate of 4.927% and a settlement date on or around October 1, 2007. This 10-year forward starting interest rate swap is used to hedge the cash flows associated with the forecasted issuance of debt expected to occur in 2007. At June 30, 2005, this transaction is considered highly effective at offsetting changes in future cash flows for forecasted transactions and qualifies for hedge accounting.
 
As of June 30, 2005, the Company owns interest rate cap agreements, which expire at various dates through 2010 and which allow the Company to be reimbursed in the event the interest rate on $138.9 million of its variable rate debt exceeds approximately 6.5%. Currently, the interest rate in effect on this debt is approximately 3.9%. 
 
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
 
As of June 30, 2005, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting management to material information relating to the Company that is required to be included in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2005, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Part II -- Other Information

 
In April 2004, an employee lawsuit was filed against the Company in the California Superior Court in the County of Alameda. In this lawsuit, two former Company maintenance employees seek unpaid wages, associated penalties and attorneys’ fees on behalf of a putative class of the Company’s current and former maintenance employees who were required to wear a pager while they were on call during evening and weekend hours. At June 30, 2005, the Company recorded $1.5 million for legal settlement costs. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and such amount represents management’s best estimate of the total cost of the litigation at this time.
 
The Company is subject to various other lawsuits in the normal course of its business operations. Accordingly, such lawsuits, as well as the class action lawsuit described above, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
At the Company’s annual meeting, held on May 10, 2005 in Menlo Park, California, the following votes of security holders occurred:
 
 
(a)  
The following persons were duly elected by the stockholders of the Company as Class II directors of the Company, each for a three (3) year term (until 2008) and until their successors are elected and qualified:
 
(1)  
David W. Brady, 21,394,221 votes for and 476,867 votes withheld;
 
(2)  
Robert E. Larson, 21,266,585 votes for and 604,502 votes withheld; and
 
(3)  
Michael J. Schall, 21,266,428 votes for and 604,659 votes withheld; and
 
(4)  
Willard M. Smith Jr., 21,394,391 votes for and 475,696 withheld.
 
(b)  
The stockholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent public auditors for the year ended December 31, 2005 by a vote of 21,409,042 for, 458,620 votes against and 3,425 votes abstaining.
 


 
A.
Exhibits

 
31.1
Certification of Keith R. Guericke, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
31.2
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
32.1
Certification of Keith R. Guericke, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
32.2
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
                                 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
 
(Registrant)
 
 
   
 
Date: August 5, 2005
   
 
 
By: /S/ MICHAEL T. DANCE
 
Michael T. Dance
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

EX-31.1 2 ex31_1.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 EXHIBIT 31.1


EXHIBIT 31.1

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 
I, Keith R. Guericke, Principal Executive Officer of Essex Property Trust, Inc., certify that:

1.  
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Essex Property Trust, Inc.;
 
2.  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.  
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(f) and 15d - 15(f), for the registrant and have:
 
a)  
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)  
Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal controls over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c)  
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
d)  
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.  
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
   
a)  
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data; and
 
b)  
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date: August 5, 2005
 
 
/s/ Keith R. Guericke 
Keith R. Guericke
Chief Executive Officer and
President, Director and
Vice Chairman of the Board
Essex Property Trust, Inc.



 
EX-31.2 3 ex31_2.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 EXHIBIT 31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


  I, Michael T. Dance, Principal Financial Officer of Essex Property Trust, Inc., certify that:

1.  
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Essex Property Trust, Inc.;
 
2.  
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.  
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.  
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a - 15(f) and 15d - 15(f), for the registrant and have:
 
              a)  
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
              b)  
Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal controls over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
              c)  
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
              d)  
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5.  
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

                a)    
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data; and
 
                  b)           
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 

 
Date: August 5, 2005
 

 
/s/ Michael T. Dance 
Michael T. Dance
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Essex Property Trust, Inc.


EX-32.1 4 ex32_1.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 EXHIBIT 32.1


Exhibit 32.1

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with this quarterly report of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report"), I, Keith R. Guericke, Principal Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify as of the date hereof, solely for purposes of Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the United States Code, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and
 
 (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company at the
dates and for the periods indicated.



Date: August 5, 2005     /s/ Keith R. Guericke
 Keith R. Guericke
 Chief Executive Officer, Director and
 Vice Chairman of the Board,
 Essex Property Trust, Inc.
 
 

EX-32.2 5 ex32_2.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 EXHIBIT 32.2


Exhibit 32.2

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with this quarterly report of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report"), I, Michael T. Dance, Principal Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify as of the date hereof, solely for purposes of Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the United States Code, that to the best of my knowledge:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company at the dates   
             and for the periods indicated.



Date: August 5, 2005          /s/ Michael T. Dance  
Michael T. Dance
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Essex Property Trust, Inc.
 
 

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