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 September 30, 2014

OR

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

For the transition period from ________to _________

Commission file number 001-13106

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
Maryland (Essex Property Trust, Inc.)
California (Essex Portfolio, L.P.)
77-0369576 (Essex Property Trust, Inc.)
77-0369575 (Essex Portfolio, L.P.)
 
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
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.

Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes x   No o
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes x   No o
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” ”accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Essex Property Trust, Inc.    Yes o   No x
Essex Portfolio, L.P.     Yes o   No x
 
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:  63,942,115 shares of Common Stock ($0.0001 par value) of Essex Property Trust, Inc. were outstanding as of November 5, 2014.
 

 
ii

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the reports on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months period ended September 30, 2014 of Essex Property Trust, Inc. and Essex Portfolio, L.P. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Essex” mean Essex Property Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation that operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT ”), and references to “EPLP” mean Essex Portfolio, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership” ). References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean collectively Essex, EPLP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by Essex and/or EPLP.  References to the “Operating Partnership” mean collectively EPLP and those entities/subsidiaries owned or controlled by EPLP.

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

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

The Company believes that combining the reports on Form 10-Q of Essex and EPLP into this single report provides the following benefits:

· enhances investors' understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;
· eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both the Company and the Operating Partnership; and
· creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one combined report instead of two separate reports

Management operates the Company and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of Essex consists of the same members as the management of EPLP.

All of the Company's property ownership, development and related business operations are conducted through the Operating Partnership and Essex has no material assets, other than its investment in EPLP. Essex's primary function is acting as the general partner of EPLP.  As general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, the Company consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of the Company and the Operating Partnership are the same on their respective financial statements.  Essex also issues equity from time to time and guarantees certain debt of EPLP, as disclosed in this report. The Operating Partnership holds substantially all of the assets of the Company, including the Company's ownership interests in its joint ventures. The Operating Partnership conducts the operations of the business and is structured as a partnership with no publicly traded equity.  Except for the net proceeds from equity offerings by the Company, which are contributed to the capital of the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) (on a one-for-one share of common stock per OP Unit basis), the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the Company's business. These sources include the Operating Partnership's working capital, net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under its revolving credit facilities, the issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities and proceeds received from disposition of certain properties and joint ventures.

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

 
To help investors understand the significant differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report provides separate consolidated financial statements for the Company and the Operating Partnership; a single set of consolidated notes to such financial statements that includes separate discussions of stockholders' equity or partners' capital, and earnings per share/unit, as applicable; and a combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This report also includes separate Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures sections and separate Exhibits 31 and 32 certifications for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership in order to establish that the requisite certifications have been made and that the Company and the Operating Partnership are compliant with Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. §1350.

In order to highlight the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, the separate sections in this report for the Company and the Operating Partnership specifically refer to the Company and the Operating Partnership. In the sections that combine disclosure of the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report refers to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of the Company. Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that directly or indirectly enters into contracts and joint ventures and holds assets and debt, reference to the Company is appropriate because the Company is one business and the Company operates that business through the Operating Partnership. The separate discussions of the Company and the Operating Partnership in this report should be read in conjunction with each other to understand the results of the Company on a consolidated basis and how management operates the Company.

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

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to such unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations herein.  Additionally, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
iv

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

   
Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
Condensed Financial Statements of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (Unaudited)
     
 
2
     
 
3
     
 
4
     
 
5
     
 
Condensed Financial Statements of Essex Portfolio L.P. (Unaudited)
 
     
 
7
     
 
8
     
 
9
     
 
10
     
 
12
     
Item 2.
27
     
Item 3.
38
     
Item 4.
39
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
40
     
Item 1A.
40
     
Item 2.
52
     
Item 5.
52
     
Item 6.
53
     
54
 

1

Part I – Financial Information

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share amounts)

ASSETS
 
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
Real estate:
       
Rental properties:
       
Land and land improvements
 
$
2,453,093
   
$
1,083,552
 
Buildings and improvements
   
8,820,657
     
4,360,205
 
     
11,273,750
     
5,443,757
 
Less accumulated depreciation
   
(1,469,991
)
   
(1,254,886
)
     
9,803,759
     
4,188,871
 
Real estate under development
   
363,193
     
50,430
 
Co-investments
   
1,043,277
     
677,133
 
Real estate held for sale, net
   
107,772
     
-
 
     
11,318,001
     
4,916,434
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
   
17,877
     
18,491
 
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
   
70,123
     
35,275
 
Marketable securities
   
108,147
     
90,084
 
Notes and other receivables
   
22,973
     
68,255
 
Acquired in place lease value and other assets
   
98,381
     
33,781
 
Deferred charges, net
   
31,060
     
24,519
 
Total assets
 
$
11,666,562
   
$
5,186,839
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Mortgage notes payable
 
$
2,258,010
   
$
1,404,080
 
Unsecured debt
   
2,745,487
     
1,410,023
 
Lines of credit
   
222,628
     
219,421
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
167,160
     
67,183
 
Construction payable
   
38,453
     
8,047
 
Dividends payable
   
87,609
     
50,627
 
Other liabilities
   
32,330
     
24,871
 
Total liabilities
   
5,551,677
     
3,184,252
 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
21,442
     
-
 
Cumulative convertible Series G preferred stock
   
-
     
4,349
 
                 
Equity:
               
Cumulative redeemable Series H preferred stock at liquidation value
   
73,750
     
73,750
 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 656,020,000 shares authorized 63,229,790 and 37,421,219 shares issued and outstanding
   
6
     
4
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
6,569,442
     
2,345,763
 
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings
   
(608,498
)
   
(474,426
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
   
(51,408
)
   
(60,472
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
5,983,292
     
1,884,619
 
Noncontrolling interest
   
110,151
     
113,619
 
Total equity
   
6,093,443
     
1,998,238
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
11,666,562
   
$
5,186,839
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
2

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

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Revenues:
 
   
   
   
 
Rental and other property
 
$
268,118
   
$
152,177
   
$
683,749
   
$
446,017
 
Management and other fees
   
2,361
     
1,771
     
6,856
     
5,812
 
     
270,479
     
153,948
     
690,605
     
451,829
 
Expenses:
                               
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
   
55,900
     
35,787
     
145,410
     
102,170
 
Real estate taxes
   
31,768
     
14,535
     
77,452
     
42,773
 
Depreciation
   
102,184
     
48,227
     
254,211
     
142,687
 
General and administrative
   
11,479
     
6,263
     
28,621
     
19,852
 
Merger and integration expenses
   
3,857
     
-
     
46,413
     
-
 
Acquisition and dispositions costs
   
51
     
237
     
1,555
     
792
 
     
205,239
     
105,049
     
553,662
     
308,274
 
                                 
Earnings from operations
   
65,240
     
48,899
     
136,943
     
143,555
 
                                 
Interest expense
   
(45,830
)
   
(29,192
)
   
(117,021
)
   
(86,661
)
Interest and other income
   
2,992
     
2,387
     
8,685
     
9,326
 
Equity income in co-investments
   
4,910
     
40,802
     
21,065
     
52,295
 
Gains on sale of real estate and land
   
31,372
     
-
     
39,640
     
1,503
 
Gain (loss) on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
(178
)
   
-
     
846
 
Income from continuing operations
   
58,684
     
62,718
     
89,312
     
120,864
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
13,157
     
-
     
14,289
 
Net income
   
58,684
     
75,875
     
89,312
     
135,153
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
(3,720
)
   
(5,719
)
   
(8,971
)
   
(12,112
)
Net income attributable to controlling interest
   
54,964
     
70,156
     
80,341
     
123,041
 
Dividends to preferred stockholders
   
(1,296
)
   
(1,368
)
   
(3,977
)
   
(4,104
)
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
53,668
   
$
68,788
   
$
76,364
   
$
118,937
 
                                 
Comprehensive income
 
$
61,139
   
$
76,112
   
$
98,749
   
$
142,206
 
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
(3,789
)
   
(5,732
)
   
(9,345
)
   
(12,493
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
 
$
57,350
   
$
70,380
   
$
89,404
   
$
129,713
 
                                 
Per common share data:
                               
Basic:
                               
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.51
   
$
1.41
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
0.33
     
-
     
0.36
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.84
   
$
1.41
   
$
3.20
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period
   
62,892,601
     
37,320,562
     
54,250,104
     
37,206,895
 
                                 
Diluted:
                               
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.51
   
$
1.40
   
$
2.83
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
0.33
     
-
     
0.36
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.84
   
$
1.40
   
$
3.19
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period
   
63,069,772
     
37,436,983
     
54,443,227
     
37,295,691
 
                                 
Dividend per common share
 
$
1.30
   
$
1.21
   
$
3.81
   
$
3.63
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
3

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014
(Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands)

   
Series H
Preferred stock
   
Common stock
   
Additional
paid-in
   
Distributions
in excess of
accumulated
   
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
   
Noncontrolling
     
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
earnings
   
loss, net
   
Interest
   
Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2013
   
2,950
   
$
73,750
     
37,421
   
$
4
   
$
2,345,763
   
$
(474,426
)
 
$
(60,472
)
 
$
113,619
   
$
1,998,238
 
                                                                         
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
80,341
     
-
     
8,971
     
89,312
 
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(841
)
   
(45
)
   
(886
)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
7,426
     
306
     
7,732
 
Change in fair value of marketable securities
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
2,479
     
112
     
2,591
 
Issuance of common stock under:
                                                                       
Stock consideration in the Merger, net
   
-
     
-
     
23,093
     
2
     
3,777,644
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
3,777,646
 
Stock option and restricted stock plans
   
-
     
-
     
154
     
-
     
6,511
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
6,511
 
Equity distribution agreements, net
   
-
     
-
     
2,527
     
-
     
449,499
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
449,499
 
Equity based compensation costs
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
5,756
     
-
     
-
     
1,672
     
7,428
 
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(19,823
)
   
-
     
-
     
(1,067
)
   
(20,890
)
Changes in value of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest
                                   
2,126
                             
2,126
 
Conversion of Series G preferred stock
   
-
     
-
     
34
     
-
     
4,349
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
4,349
 
Contributions from noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
             
-
     
-
     
1,419,816
     
1,419,816
 
Retirement of noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(1,419,816
)
   
(1,419,816
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(12,821
)
   
(12,821
)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2,383
)
   
-
     
-
     
(596
)
   
(2,979
)
Common and preferred stock dividends
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
             
(214,413
)
   
-
     
-
     
(214,413
)
Balances at September 30, 2014
   
2,950
   
$
73,750
     
63,229
   
$
6
   
$
6,569,442
   
$
(608,498
)
 
$
(51,408
)
 
$
110,151
   
$
6,093,443
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
4

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
       
Net income
 
$
89,312
   
$
135,153
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
254,211
     
143,662
 
Amortization of discount on marketable securities
   
(6,555
)
   
(4,664
)
Amortization of premium and debt financing costs, net
   
(4,987
)
   
8,111
 
Gain on sale of marketable securities
   
(886
)
   
(1,767
)
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investment
   
(3,213
)
   
(41,252
)
Gain on the sales of real estate and land
   
(39,640
)
   
(14,161
)
Non-cash merger expense
   
7,562
     
-
 
Equity in income in co-investments, net
   
(14,903
)
   
(1,892
)
Equity-based compensation
   
4,996
     
3,137
 
Gain on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
(846
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Acquired in place lease value and other assets
   
8,923
     
(19,689
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
44,775
     
19,091
 
Other liabilities
   
1,393
     
199
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
340,988
     
225,082
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Additions to real estate:
               
Acquisitions of real estate
   
(409,018
)
   
(205,539
)
Improvements to recent acquisitions
   
(13,512
)
   
(14,374
)
Redevelopment
   
(35,361
)
   
(32,488
)
Revenue generating capital expenditures
   
(20,560
)
   
(2,165
)
Lessor required capital expenditures
   
(7,562
)
   
(4,320
)
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures
   
(29,070
)
   
(21,885
)
Acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development
   
(108,659
)
   
(13,963
)
Proceeds from insurance claim for property damage
   
29,160
     
-
 
BRE merger consideration paid
   
(555,826
)
   
-
 
Dispositions of real estate
   
61,331
     
33,666
 
Dispositions of co-investments
   
13,900
     
-
 
Contributions to co-investments
   
(128,268
)
   
(150,852
)
Distributions from co-investments
   
40,421
     
117,103
 
Changes in restricted cash and deposits
   
(39,482
)
   
(17,246
)
Purchases of marketable securities
   
(15,516
)
   
(16,442
)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
   
6,275
     
22,830
 
Purchases of and advances under notes and other receivables
   
-
     
(56,750
)
Collections of notes and other receivables
   
76,585
     
53,438
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,135,162
)
   
(308,987
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Borrowings under debt agreements
   
1,737,322
     
641,892
 
Principal repayment of debt
   
(1,327,840
)
   
(536,926
)
Additions to deferred and financing costs
   
(16,941
)
   
(3,836
)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
450,812
     
122,905
 
Equity related issuance cost of common stock
   
(1,348
)
   
(616
)
Proceeds from stock options exercises
   
6,526
     
4,756
 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
   
(13,217
)
   
(14,108
)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest
   
(4,707
)
   
(5,113
)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid
   
(177,400
)
   
(134,146
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
653,207
     
74,808
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
   
(140,967
)
   
(9,097
)
Cash acquired in the BRE merger
   
140,353
     
-
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted at beginning of period
   
18,491
     
18,606
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted at end of period
 
$
17,877
   
$
9,509
 
 
(Continued)
 
5

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
       
Cash paid for interest, net of $17.8 million, and $12.7 million capitalized in 2014 and 2013, respectively
 
$
93,342
   
$
76,596
 
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Issuance of Operating Partnership units for contributed properties
 
$
1,419,816
   
$
-
 
Retirement of Operating Partnership units
 
$
(1,419,816
)
 
$
-
 
Transfer from real estate under development to land and building
 
$
71,496
   
$
68
 
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments
 
$
81,332
   
$
27,906
 
Mortgage notes (excluding BRE merger) assumed in connection with purchases of real estate including the loan premiums recorded
 
$
70,480
   
$
-
 
Change in accrual of dividends
 
$
45,605
   
$
5,434
 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
 
$
(1,175
)
 
$
3,649
 
Change in fair value of marketable securities
 
$
2,186
   
$
2,958
 
Change in construction payable
 
$
30,405
   
$
1,544
 
Reclassification to redeemable noncontrolling interest from additional paid in capital and noncontrolling interest
 
$
18,764
   
$
-
 
                 
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in BRE merger:
               
Cash assumed in merger
 
$
140,353
   
$
-
 
Rental properties and real estate under development
 
$
5,618,067
   
$
-
 
Real estate held for sale, net
 
$
107,772
   
$
-
 
Co-investments
 
$
218,402
   
$
-
 
Acquired in-place lease value
 
$
80,358
   
$
-
 
Other assets
 
$
15,676
   
$
-
 
Mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt
 
$
1,747,382
   
$
-
 
Other liabilities
 
$
94,976
   
$
-
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$
4,798
   
$
-
 
Consideration issued
 
$
3,777,646
   
$
-
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
6

ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except unit amounts)

   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
ASSETS
 
   
 
Real estate:
       
Rental properties:
       
Land and land improvements
 
$
2,453,093
   
$
1,083,552
 
Buildings and improvements
   
8,820,657
     
4,360,205
 
     
11,273,750
     
5,443,757
 
Less accumulated depreciation
   
(1,469,991
)
   
(1,254,886
)
     
9,803,759
     
4,188,871
 
Real estate under development
   
363,193
     
50,430
 
Co-investments
   
1,043,277
     
677,133
 
Real estate held for sale, net
   
107,772
     
-
 
     
11,318,001
     
4,916,434
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
   
17,877
     
18,491
 
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
   
70,123
     
35,275
 
Marketable securities
   
108,147
     
90,084
 
Notes and other receivables
   
22,973
     
68,255
 
Acquired in place lease value and other assets
   
98,381
     
33,781
 
Deferred charges, net
   
31,060
     
24,519
 
Total assets
 
$
11,666,562
   
$
5,186,839
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
               
Mortgage notes payable.
 
$
2,258,010
   
$
1,404,080
 
Unsecured debt
   
2,745,487
     
1,410,023
 
Lines of credit
   
222,628
     
219,421
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
167,160
     
67,183
 
Construction payable
   
38,453
     
8,047
 
Distributions payable
   
87,609
     
50,627
 
Other liabilities
   
32,330
     
24,871
 
Total liabilities
   
5,551,677
     
3,184,252
 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
21,442
     
-
 
Cumulative convertible Series G preferred interest (liquidation value of $4,456)
   
-
     
4,349
 
Capital:
               
General Partner:
               
Common equity (63,229,790 and 37,421,219  units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)
   
5,963,493
     
1,873,882
 
Series H Preferred interest (liquidation value of $73,750)
   
71,209
     
71,209
 
     
6,034,702
     
1,945,091
 
Limited Partners:
               
Common equity (2,155,783 and 2,149,802 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)
   
45,439
     
45,957
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(49,503
)
   
(58,940
)
Total partners' capital
   
6,030,638
     
1,932,108
 
Noncontrolling interest
   
62,805
     
66,130
 
Total capital
   
6,093,443
     
1,998,238
 
                 
Total liabilities and capital
 
$
11,666,562
   
$
5,186,839
 
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
7

ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except unit and per unit amounts)

 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Revenues:
 
   
   
   
 
Rental and other property
 
$
268,118
   
$
152,177
   
$
683,749
   
$
446,017
 
Management and other fees
   
2,361
     
1,771
     
6,856
     
5,812
 
     
270,479
     
153,948
     
690,605
     
451,829
 
Expenses:
                               
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
   
55,900
     
35,787
     
145,410
     
102,170
 
Real estate taxes
   
31,768
     
14,535
     
77,452
     
42,773
 
Depreciation
   
102,184
     
48,227
     
254,211
     
142,687
 
General and administrative
   
11,479
     
6,263
     
28,621
     
19,852
 
Merger and integration expenses
   
3,857
     
-
     
46,413
     
-
 
Acquisition and dispositions costs
   
51
     
237
     
1,555
     
792
 
     
205,239
     
105,049
     
553,662
     
308,274
 
                                 
Earnings from operations
   
65,240
     
48,899
     
136,943
     
143,555
 
                                 
Interest expense
   
(45,830
)
   
(29,192
)
   
(117,021
)
   
(86,661
)
Interest and other income
   
2,992
     
2,387
     
8,685
     
9,326
 
Equity income in co-investments
   
4,910
     
40,802
     
21,065
     
52,295
 
Gain (loss) on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
(178
)
   
-
     
846
 
Gains on sale of real estate and land
   
31,372
     
-
     
39,640
     
1,503
 
Income from continuing operations
   
58,684
     
62,718
     
89,312
     
120,864
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
13,157
     
-
     
14,289
 
Net income
   
58,684
     
75,875
     
89,312
     
135,153
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
(1,904
)
   
(1,730
)
   
(5,529
)
   
(5,075
)
Net income attributable to controlling interest
   
56,780
     
74,145
     
83,783
     
130,078
 
Preferred interest distributions
   
(1,296
)
   
(1,368
)
   
(3,977
)
   
(4,104
)
Net income available to common unitholders
 
$
55,484
   
$
72,777
   
$
79,806
   
$
125,974
 
                                 
Comprehensive income
 
$
61,139
   
$
76,112
   
$
98,749
   
$
142,206
 
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
(1,904
)
   
(1,730
)
   
(5,529
)
   
(5,075
)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
 
$
59,235
   
$
74,382
   
$
93,220
   
$
137,131
 
                                 
Per common unit data:
                               
Basic:
                               
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.51
   
$
1.41
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
0.33
     
-
     
0.36
 
Net income available to common unitholders
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.84
   
$
1.41
   
$
3.20
 
Weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period
   
65,057,157
     
39,467,492
     
56,484,589
     
39,333,100
 
                                 
Diluted:
                               
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.51
   
$
1.41
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
0.33
     
-
     
0.36
 
Net income available to common unitholders
 
$
0.85
   
$
1.84
   
$
1.41
   
$
3.20
 
Weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period
   
65,234,328
     
39,583,913
     
56,677,712
     
39,421,896
 
                                 
Distribution per common unit
 
$
1.30
   
$
1.21
   
$
3.81
   
$
3.63
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
8

ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2014
(Dollars and units in thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
General Partner
   
Limited Partners
   
Accumulated
         
           
Preferred
           
Other
         
   
Common Equity
   
Equity
   
Common Equity
   
Comprehensive
   
Noncontrolling
     
   
Units
   
Amount
   
Amount
   
Units
   
Amount
   
(Loss) Income
   
Interest
   
Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2013
   
37,421
   
$
1,873,882
    $
71,209
     
2,150
   
$
45,957
   
$
(58,940
)
 
$
66,130
   
$
1,998,238
 
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net income
   
-
     
76,364
     
3,977
     
-
     
3,442
     
-
     
5,529
     
89,312
 
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(886
)
   
-
     
(886
)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
7,732
     
-
     
7,732
 
Change in fair value of marketable securities
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
2,591
     
-
     
2,591
 
Issuance of common units under:
                                                               
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger
   
23,093
     
3,777,646
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
3,777,646
 
General partner's stock based compensation
   
154
     
6,511
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
6,511
 
Sale of common stock by general partner
   
2,527
     
449,499
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
449,499
 
Equity based compensation costs
   
-
     
5,756
     
-
     
29
     
1,672
     
-
     
-
     
7,428
 
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
(19,823
)
   
-
     
(23
)
   
4,017
     
-
     
(5,084
)
   
(20,890
)
Changes in value of redemption value of redeemable Non-Controlling Interest
           
2,126
                                             
2,126
 
Conversion of Series G preferred stock
   
34
     
4,349
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
4,349
 
Contributions from noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
8,561
     
1,419,816
     
-
     
-
     
1,419,816
 
Retirement of noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(8,561
)
   
(1,419,816
)
   
-
     
-
     
(1,419,816
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(3,462
)
   
(3,462
)
Redemptions
   
-
     
(2,382
)
   
-
     
-
     
(291
)
   
-
     
(308
)
   
(2,981
)
Distributions declared
   
-
     
(210,435
)
   
(3,977
)
   
-
     
(9,358
)
   
-
     
-
     
(223,770
)
Balances at September 30, 2014
   
63,229
   
$
5,963,493
   
$
71,209
     
2,156
   
$
45,439
   
$
(49,503
)
 
$
62,805
   
$
6,093,443
 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 

9

ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
 
Net income
 
$
89,312
   
$
135,153
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
254,211
     
143,662
 
Amortization of discount on marketable securities
   
(6,555
)
   
(4,664
)
Amortization of premium and debt financing costs, net
   
(4,987
)
   
8,111
 
Gain on sale of marketable securities
   
(886
)
   
(1,767
)
Operating Partnership's share of gain on the sales of co-investment
   
(3,213
)
   
(41,252
)
Gain on the sales of real estate and land
   
(39,640
)
   
(14,161
)
Non-cash merger expense
   
7,562
     
-
 
Equity in income in co-investments, net
   
(14,903
)
   
(1,892
)
Equity-based compensation
   
4,996
     
3,137
 
Gain on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
(846
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Acquired in place lease value and other assets
   
8,923
     
(19,689
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
   
44,775
     
19,091
 
Other liabilities
   
1,393
     
199
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
340,988
     
225,082
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Additions to real estate:
               
Acquisitions of real estate
   
(409,018
)
   
(205,539
)
Improvements to recent acquisitions
   
(13,512
)
   
(14,374
)
Redevelopment
   
(35,361
)
   
(32,488
)
Revenue generating capital expenditures
   
(20,560
)
   
(2,165
)
Lessor required capital expenditures
   
(7,562
)
   
(4,320
)
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures
   
(29,070
)
   
(21,885
)
Acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development
   
(108,659
)
   
(13,963
)
Proceeds from insurance claim for property damage
   
29,160
     
-
 
BRE merger consideration paid
   
(555,826
)
   
-
 
Dispositions of real estate
   
61,331
     
33,666
 
Changes in restricted cash and deposits
   
(39,482
)
   
(17,246
)
Purchases of marketable securities
   
(15,516
)
   
(16,442
)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
   
6,275
     
22,830
 
Purchases of and advances under notes and other receivables
   
-
     
(56,750
)
Collections of notes and other receivables
   
76,585
     
53,438
 
Dispositions of co-investments
   
13,900
     
-
 
Contributions to co-investments
   
(128,268
)
   
(150,852
)
Distributions from co-investments
   
40,421
     
117,103
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,135,162
)
   
(308,987
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Borrowings under debt agreements
   
1,737,322
     
641,892
 
Principal repayment of debt
   
(1,327,840
)
   
(536,926
)
Additions to deferred charges
   
(16,941
)
   
(3,836
)
Equity related issuance cost of common stock
   
(1,348
)
   
(616
)
Proceeds from stock options exercises
   
6,526
     
4,756
 
Net proceeds from issuance of common units
   
450,812
     
122,905
 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
   
(3,462
)
   
(6,234
)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest
   
(308
)
   
(1,819
)
Common units and preferred units and preferred interests distributions paid
   
(191,554
)
   
(145,314
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
653,207
     
74,808
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
   
(140,967
)
   
(9,097
)
Cash acquired in the BRE merger
   
140,353
     
-
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted at beginning of period
   
18,491
     
18,606
 
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted at end of period
 
$
17,877
   
$
9,509
 
 
(Continued)
 

10

ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2014
   
2013
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
       
Cash paid for interest, net of $17.8 million, and $12.7 million capitalized in 2014 and 2013, respectively
 
$
93,342
   
$
76,596
 
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Issuance of limited partner common units for contributed properties
 
$
1,419,816
   
$
-
 
Retirement of limited partner common units
 
$
(1,419,816
)
   
-
 
Transfer from real estate under development to land and building
 
$
71,496
   
$
68
 
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments
 
$
81,332
   
$
27,906
 
Mortgage notes (excluding BRE merger) assumed in connection with purchases of real estate including the loan premiums recorded
 
$
70,480
   
$
-
 
Change in accrual of distributions
 
$
45,605
   
$
5,434
 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities
 
$
(1,175
)
 
$
3,649
 
Change in fair value of marketable securities
 
$
2,186
   
$
2,958
 
Change in construction payable
 
$
30,405
   
$
1,544
 
Reclassification to redeemable noncontrolling interest from general partner and limited partners common units
 
$
(18,764
)
 
$
-
 
                 
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in BRE merger:
               
Cash assumed in merger
 
$
140,353
   
$
-
 
Rental properties and real estate under development
 
$
5,618,067
   
$
-
 
Real estate held for sale, net
 
$
107,772
   
$
-
 
Co-investments
 
$
218,402
   
$
-
 
Acquired in-place lease value
 
$
80,358
   
$
-
 
Other assets
 
$
15,676
   
$
-
 
Mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt
 
$
1,747,382
   
$
-
 
Other liabilities
 
$
94,976
   
$
-
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$
4,798
   
$
-
 
Consideration issued
 
$
3,777,646
   
$
-
 
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
11

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

1) Organization and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements present the accounts of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (“Essex” or the “Company”), which include the accounts of the Company and Essex Portfolio, L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Operating Partnership,” which holds the operating assets of the Company), prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented have been included and are normal and recurring in nature.  These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's  annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.  Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation. Such reclassification had no effect on previously reported financial results.

On April 1, 2014, Essex completed the merger with BRE Properties, Inc. (“BRE”).  In connection with the closing of the merger, (1) BRE merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of Essex, and (2) each outstanding share of BRE common stock was converted into (i) 0.2971 shares (the “Stock Consideration”) of Essex common stock, and (ii) $7.18 in cash, (the “Cash Consideration”), plus cash in lieu of fractional shares for total consideration of approximately $4.3 billion.  The Cash Consideration was adjusted as a result of the authorization and declaration of a special distribution to the stockholders of BRE of $5.15 per share of BRE common stock payable to BRE stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2014 (the “Special Dividend”).  The Special Dividend was payable as a result of the closing of the sale of certain interests in assets of BRE to certain parties, which closed on March 31, 2014.  Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the amounts payable as a Special Dividend reduced the Cash Consideration of $12.33 payable by Essex in the merger to $7.18 per share of BRE common stock.

Essex issued approximately 23.1 million shares of Essex common stock as Stock Consideration in the merger.  For purchase accounting, the value of the common stock issued by Essex upon the consummation of the merger was determined based on the closing price of BRE’s common stock on the closing date of the merger. As a result of Essex being admitted to the S&P 500 on the same date as the closing of the merger, Essex’s common stock price experienced significantly higher than usual trading volume and the closing price of $174 per share was significantly higher than its volume-weighted average trading price for the days before and after April 1, 2014.  BRE’s common stock did not experience the same proportionate increase in common stock price leading up to April 1, 2014.  As a result, given that a substantial component of the purchase price is an exchange of equity instruments, Essex used the closing price of BRE’s common stock on April 1, 2014 of $61 per share, less the Cash Consideration, as the fair value of the equity consideration.  After deducting the Special Dividend and the Cash Consideration per share, this resulted in a value of $48.67 per share of BRE common stock which is the equivalent of approximately $164 per share of Essex common stock issued.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 include the accounts of the Company and the Operating Partnership.  Essex is the sole general partner in the Operating Partnership, with a 96.7% general partnership interest as of September 30, 2014.  Total OP units outstanding were 2,155,783 and 2,149,802 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and the redemption value of the OP units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $385.3 million and $308.5 million, as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company owned or had ownership interests in 239 apartment communities, aggregating 56,622 units, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred interest co-investments,  (collectively, the “Communities”, and individually, a “Community”), five commercial buildings and fourteen active developments (collectively, the “Portfolio”).  The Communities are located in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area) and the Seattle and Phoenix metropolitan areas.

Cyber-intrusion Expenses
 
In the third quarter of 2014, the Company reported that certain of its computer networks containing personal and proprietary information have been compromised by a cyber-intrusion. Essex has confirmed that evidence exists of exfiltration of data on Company systems. The precise nature of the data has not yet been identified and the Company does not presently have any evidence that data belonging to the Company has been misused.
 
12

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

After detecting unusual activity, the Company took immediate steps to assess and contain the intrusion and secure its systems. The Company has retained independent forensic computer experts to analyze the impacted data systems and is consulting with law enforcement. The investigation into this cyber-intrusion is ongoing, and Essex is working as quickly as possible to identify whether any employee or tenant data may be at risk. When the analysis is complete, the Company will promptly notify any affected parties, as appropriate.
 
The Company has recorded $1.2 million in cyber-intrusion expenses in the third quarter of 2014 and are included in general and administrative expense line item on the condensed  consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Marketable Securities

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

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, marketable securities consisted primarily of investment-grade unsecured bonds, common stock, investments in mortgage backed securities and investment funds that invest in equities and U.S. treasury or agency securities.  As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company classified its investments in mortgage backed securities, which mature through November 2019 and September 2020, as held to maturity, and accordingly, these securities are stated at their amortized cost.  As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, marketable securities consist of the following ($ in thousands):

   
September 30, 2014
 
   
Cost/
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
   
Carrying Value
 
Available for sale:
           
Investment-grade unsecured bonds
 
$
14,396
   
$
(51
)
 
$
14,345
 
Investment funds - US treasuries
   
5,018
     
7
     
5,025
 
Common stock
   
22,523
     
957
     
23,480
 
Held to maturity:
                       
Mortgage backed securities
   
65,297
     
-
     
65,297
 
Total
 
$
107,234
   
$
913
   
$
108,147
 
                         
   
December 31, 2013
 
   
Cost/
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
   
Carrying Value
 
Available for sale:
                       
Investment-grade unsecured bonds
 
$
15,446
   
$
509
   
$
15,955
 
Investment funds - US treasuries
   
3,675
     
3
     
3,678
 
Common stock
   
13,104
     
(1,304
)
   
11,800
 
Held to maturity:
                       
Mortgage backed securities
   
58,651
     
-
     
58,651
 
Total
 
$
90,876
   
$
(792
)
 
$
90,084
 

The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the cost basis of a security sold and to reclassify amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income for securities sold.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013,  the proceeds from sales of available for sale securities totaled $6.3 million and $22.8 million, respectively, which resulted in realized gains of $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively.
 
13

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Variable Interest Entities

The Company consolidates 19 DownREIT limited partnerships (comprising twelve communities) since the Company is the primary beneficiary of these variable interest entities (“VIEs”).  Total DownREIT units outstanding were 991,983 and 1,007,879 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 respectively, and the redemption value of the units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $177.3 million and $144.6 million, as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to these VIEs, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $234.7 million and $224.4 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2014 and $194.9 million and $178.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013.  Interest holders in VIEs consolidated by the Company are allocated income equal to the cash distributions made to those interest holders.  The remaining results of operations are allocated to the Company.  As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any other VIEs of which it was deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

Equity Based Compensation

The Company accounts for equity based compensation using the fair value method of accounting.  The estimated fair value of stock options granted by the Company is being amortized over the vesting period of the stock options.  The estimated grant date fair values of the long term incentive plan units (discussed in Note 13, “Equity Based Compensation Plans,” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013) are being amortized over the expected service periods.

Stock-based compensation expense for options and restricted stock totaled $0.7 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $2.9 million and $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 totaled $1.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and $4.2 million and $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, the intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding and fully vested totaled $15.7 million.  As of September 30, 2014, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation granted under the stock option and restricted stock plans totaled $5.7 million.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1 to 5 years for the stock option plans and is expected to be recognized straight-line over a period of 1 to 7 years for the restricted stock awards.

The Company has adopted an incentive program involving the issuance of Series Z-1 Incentive Units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership.  The Operating Partnership also issued 50,500 units under the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award agreements in December 2013.  Pursuant to the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards, each recipient was initially granted a number of 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan Units (the “2014 LTIP Units”), 90% of which are subject to performance-based vesting, and 10% of which are subject to service-based vesting based on continued employment.  One-third of the performance-based vesting of the 2014 LTIP Units initially granted will be eligible to be earned by recipients based on Essex’s absolute total stockholder return and two-thirds will be eligible to be earned based on Essex’s relative total stockholder return, in each case, during a one-year performance period beginning on the initial grant date of the awards.  All 2014 LTIP Units that are earned vest over a four year period commencing on the grant date.

Stock-based compensation expense for Z-1 Units and 2014 LTIP Units totaled $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. As of September 30, 2014, the intrinsic value of the Z-1 Units and 2014 LTIP Units subject to future vesting totaled $23.5 million.  As of September 30, 2014, total unrecognized compensation cost related to Z-1 Units and 2014 LTIP Units subject to future vesting totaled $6.7 million.  The unamortized cost is expected to be recognized over 6 years subject to the achievement of the stated performance criteria.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Management believes that the carrying amounts of outstanding lines of credit, and notes and other receivables approximate fair value as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, because interest rates, yields and other terms for these instruments are consistent with yields and other terms currently available for similar instruments.  Management has estimated that the fair value of the Company’s $4.3 billion of fixed rate debt, including unsecured bonds, at September 30, 2014 is approximately $4.5 billion and the fair value of the Company’s $539.2 million of variable rate debt, excluding borrowings under the lines of credit, at September 30, 2014 is $520.4 million based on the terms of existing mortgage notes payable, unsecured bonds and variable rate demand notes compared to those available in the marketplace.  Management believes that the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, construction payables, other liabilities and dividends payable approximate fair value as of September 30, 2014 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.  Marketable securities, except mortgage backed securities that are held to maturity, and derivatives are carried at fair value as of September 30, 2014.
 
14

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

At September 30, 2014, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $65.3 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $93.7 million.  At December 31, 2013, the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities had a carrying value of $58.7 million and the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately $86.2 million.  The Company determines the fair value of the mortgage backed securities based on unobservable inputs (level 3 of the fair value hierarchy) considering the assumptions that market participants would make in valuing these securities.  Assumptions such as estimated default rates and discount rates are used to determine expected discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value.

Capitalization of Costs

The Company’s capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects totaled $2.9 million and $1.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and  $7.6 million and $5.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, most of which relates to development projects. These totals include capitalized salaries of $2.4 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $6.7 million and $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company capitalizes leasing commissions associated with the lease-up of a development community and amortizes the costs over the life of the leases.  The amounts capitalized for leasing commissions are immaterial for all periods presented.

Co-investments

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

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

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net by Component

Essex Property Trust, Inc.
(in thousands):

   
Change in fair
value and amortization
of derivatives
   
Unrealized
gains/(losses) on
available for sale
securities
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
(59,724
)
 
$
(748
)
 
$
(60,472
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassification
   
1,428
     
2,479
     
3,907
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
5,997
     
(841
)
   
5,156
 
Net other comprehensive income
   
7,425
     
1,638
     
9,063
 
Balance at September 30, 2014
 
$
(52,298
)
 
$
890
   
$
(51,408
)
 
15

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Essex Portfolio, L.P.
(in thousands):

   
Change in fair
value and amortization
of derivatives
   
Unrealized
gains/(losses) on
available for sale
securities
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
(58,148
)
 
$
(792
)
 
$
(58,940
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassification
   
1,487
     
2,591
     
4,078
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
6,245
     
(886
)
   
5,359
 
Net other comprehensive income
   
7,732
     
1,705
     
9,437
 
Balance at September 30, 2014
 
$
(50,416
)
 
$
913
   
$
(49,503
)

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

Accounting Estimates

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

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU, No. 2014-018, Presentation of Financial Statements, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU 2014-018 changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operation under Subtopic 205-20, Presentation of Financial Statements—Discontinued Operations.  The amendment updates the definition of discontinued operations and defines discontinued operations to be those disposals of components of an entity that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.  This ASU is effective for disposals of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 with early adoption permitted, but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued.

The Company adopted ASU 2014-018 in its first quarter of 2014.  In the first quarter of 2014, Essex sold Vista Capri North, a 106 unit community located in San Diego, California for $14.4 million. The total gain on sale was $7.9 million.

The Company did not sell any properties in the second quarter of 2014.

During the third quarter of 2014, the Company sold Coldwater Canyon, a 39 unit community located in Studio City, CA for $9.5 million. The total gain on sale was $2.2 million. Also during the third quarter, the Company sold Mt. Sutro, a 99 unit community located in San Francisco, CA for $39.5 million. The total gain on sale was $29.2 million.

The Company determined that the disposals through the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were not a discontinued operation in accordance with ASU 2014-018. The gains related to these disposals are recorded in gains on sale of real estate and land in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
 
16

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

BRE Merger

The merger with BRE was a two step process. First, 14 of the BRE properties were acquired on March 31, 2014  in exchange for $1.4 billion of OP units.  The preliminary fair value of these properties was substantially all attributable to rental properties which included land, buildings and improvements, and real estate under development and approximately $19 million was attributable to acquired in-place lease value.  Second,  the BRE merger was closed on April 1, 2014 in exchange for the total consideration of approximately $4.3 billion. A summary of the preliminary fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired on April 1, 2014 was as follows (includes the 14 properties acquired on March 31, 2014 as the OP units issued were retired on April 1, 2014) (in millions):

Cash assumed
 
$
140
 
Rental properties and real estate under development
   
5,618
 
Real estate held for sale, net
   
108
 
Co-investments
   
218
 
Acquired in-place lease value
   
80
 
Other assets
   
16
 
Mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt
   
(1,747
)
Other liabilities
   
(94
)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
(5
)
     
4,334
 
         
Cash consideration for BRE merger
 
$
556
 
Equity consideration for BRE merger
   
3,778
 
Total consideration for BRE merger
 
$
4,334
 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded an adjustment to increase the preliminary fair value of personal property by $100.9 million with an estimated useful life of 5 years with an offsetting decrease in real property with an estimated useful life of 30 years, all of which are classified within rental properties and real estate under development.   This resulted in additional depreciation expense of $4.2 million and $8.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The changes in estimates were the result of additional accounting information identified by management. The Company believes that the information gathered to date provides a reasonable basis for estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, but the Company is waiting for additional information necessary to finalize those fair values. Thus, the provisional measurements of fair value set forth above are subject to change further. The Company expects to complete the purchase accounting process as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the acquisition date.

The unaudited pro forma financial information set forth below is based on Essex’s historical condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, adjusted to give effect to the merger with BRE including the 14 BRE properties acquired on March 31, 2014, as if they occurred on January 1, 2013. The unaudited pro forma adjustments primarily relate to merger expenses, depreciation expense on acquired buildings and improvements, amortization of acquired intangibles, and estimated interest expense related to assumed debt.
 
17

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

   
Pro forma (unaudited)
three months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Total revenue
 
$
270,479
   
$
238,668
 
Net income available to common stockholders (1)
 
$
59,341
   
$
59,361
 
Earnings per share, diluted (1)
 
$
0.91
   
$
0.95
 
                 
   
Pro forma (unaudited)
nine months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
     
2014
     
2013
 
Total revenue
 
$
776,761
   
$
699,701
 
Net income available to common stockholders (1) (2)
 
$
214,549
   
$
66,806
 
Earnings per share, diluted (1)
 
$
3.34
   
$
1.07
 

Essex Portfolio, L.P.

   
Pro forma (unaudited)
three months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per unit data)
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Total revenue
 
$
270,479
   
$
238,668
 
Net income available to common unitholders (1)
 
$
59,341
   
$
59,361
 
Earnings per unit, diluted (1)
 
$
0.91
   
$
0.95
 

   
Pro forma (unaudited)
nine months ended September 30
(in thousands, except per unit data)
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Total revenue
 
$
776,761
   
$
699,701
 
Net income available to common unitholders (1) (2)
 
$
214,549
   
$
66,690
 
Earnings per unit, diluted (1)
 
$
3.34
   
$
1.07
 

(1) The supplemental unaudited pro forma net income available to common stockholders were adjusted to exclude $3.9 million and $46.4 million of merger related costs incurred by Essex during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The 2013 supplemental unaudited pro forma net income available to common stockholders was adjusted to include the above adjustments plus $4.3 million of merger related costs incurred by Essex during the three months ended December 31, 2013. The supplemental 2014 and 2013 unaudited proforma earnings per share, diluted, was adjusted by approximately 23.1 million shares due to the common stock issued in connection with the merger.

(2) The supplemental unaudited pro forma net income available to common stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, include approximately $105 million from discontinued operations related to the sale of three BRE properties during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 that are non-recurring transactions.
 
18

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

Revenues of approximately $95.2 million and net loss of approximately $6.0 million associated with properties acquired in 2014 in the BRE merger are included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three months ended September 30, 2014 for both the Company and Operating Partnership.  Revenues of approximately $186.7 million and net loss of approximately $14.2 million associated with properties acquired in 2014 in the BRE merger are included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 for both the Company and Operating Partnership.

Real estate classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2014 were $108 million. The carrying value of real estate held for sale represents fair values determined in the preliminary allocation of the recently completed BRE merger, adjusted for operating activity since April 1, 2014. The fair values were determined based on standard valuation techniques with inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

(2)  Significant Transactions During the Third Quarter of 2014 and Subsequent Events

Significant Transactions

Acquisitions

In July 2014, the Company acquired Paragon Apartments located in Fremont, CA for $111.0 million.  The property was built in 2013 and has 301 apartment homes.  Paragon Apartments is conveniently located near the Fremont Bart station and high paying jobs in Silicon Valley.  For further discussion, see Note 5, Related Party Transactions.

In August 2014 the Company acquired Apex, a 366 unit community located in Milpitas, CA for $150.0 million. Also in August, the Company also acquired Ellington at Bellevue, a 220 unit community located in Bellevue, WA for $58.8 million.

Common Stock

During the third quarter, the Company issued 801,909 shares of common stock at an average price of $190.06 for proceeds of $151.4 million excluding professional costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company has issued approximately 2.6 million shares of common stock at an average price of $177.83 for proceeds of $450.8 million.

Subsequent Events

In October 2014, the Company purchased a 50% interest in Palm Valley Apartments located in San Jose, California for a contract price of $180 million.  The property is encumbered by a mortgage loan, bearing interest at 5.5% per annum and maturing in February 2017, of which Essex’s pro-rata share is approximately $110 million.

Also in October 2014, the Company received cash of approximately $101 million for its share of the redemption of the Wesco II preferred equity investment located in San Francisco, CA.  In the fourth quarter 2014, the Company will realize $5.3 million of income from redemption penalties due to the early redemption of the preferred equity investment.  The redemption penalties income will be excluded from Core FFO.

In November 2014, the Company sold the remaining community in the Essex Apartment Value Fund II (“Fund II”) for approximately $23.5 million.  The Company has a 28.2% ownership stake in Fund II and promote income of $5.5 million will be recognized in the fourth quarter 2014.  The promote income will be excluded from Core FFO.
 
19

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)
 
(3) Co-investments

The Company has co-investments, which are accounted for under the equity method.  The co-investments own, operate and develop apartment communities.  The following table details the Company's co-investments (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
Membership interest/Partnership interest in:
       
         
Wesco I
 
$
135,875
   
$
142,025
 
Wesco III
   
53,411
     
39,073
 
Fund II
   
2,578
     
4,166
 
Expo
   
8,305
     
12,041
 
The Huxley
   
11,784
     
11,224
 
Connolly Station
   
47,661
     
45,242
 
Wesco IV
   
95,338
     
-
 
BEXAEW
   
89,504
     
-
 
Total operating co-investments
   
444,456
     
253,771
 
                 
Membership interest in:
               
                 
Limited liability companies with CPPIB that own and are developing Epic, Mosso I and II, Park 20, The Emme, and The Owens & Hacienda (1)
   
364,779
     
256,296
 
One South Market
   
30,498
     
17,115
 
The Dylan
   
8,396
     
7,321
 
Century Towers
   
13,491
     
-
 
Total development co-investments
   
417,164
     
280,732
 
                 
Membership interest in Wesco II that owns a preferred equity interest in Parkmerced with a preferred return of 10.1%
   
95,934
     
94,711
 
Preferred interest in related party limited liability company that owns Sage at Cupertino with a preferred return of  9.5%
   
16,471
     
15,775
 
Preferred interest in a related party limited liability company that owns Madison Park at Anaheim with a preferred return of 9%
   
13,824
     
13,824
 
Preferred interest in related party limited liability company that owns an apartment development in Redwood City with a preferred return of 12%
   
10,148
     
9,455
 
Preferred interest in a limited liability company that owns an apartment development in San Jose with a preferred return of 12%
   
9,710
     
8,865
 
Preferred interest in a limited liability company that owns 8th & Thomas with a preferred return of  10.0%
   
12,816
     
-
 
Preferred interest in a limited liability company that owns Newbury Park with a preferred return of  12.0%
   
12,754
     
-
 
Preferred interest in a limited liability company that owns Century Towers with a preferred return of  10.0%
   
10,000
     
-
 
Total preferred interest co-investments
   
181,657
     
142,630
 
                 
Total co-investments
 
$
1,043,277
   
$
677,133
 
 
(1) Epic Phase I and II are currently in operations.  The co-investment will be moved to operating co-investment with the completion of Phase III.
 
20

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

The combined summarized balance sheet and statements of operations for co-investments are as follows (in thousands).

   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
Balance sheets:
       
Rental properties and real estate under development
 
$
3,084,852
   
$
1,953,328
 
Other assets
   
110,752
     
61,578
 
                 
Total assets
 
$
3,195,604
   
$
2,014,906
 
                 
Debt
 
$
1,285,954
   
$
667,641
 
Other liabilities
   
83,344
     
125,479
 
Equity
   
1,826,306
     
1,221,786
 
                 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
3,195,604
   
$
2,014,906
 
                 
Company's share of equity
 
$
1,043,277
   
$
677,133
 

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Statements of operations:
               
Property revenues
 
$
51,725
   
$
24,796
   
$
128,469
   
$
78,913
 
Property operating expenses
   
(18,759
)
   
(10,170
)
   
(48,875
)
   
(29,872
)
Net property operating income
   
32,966
     
14,626
     
79,594
     
49,041
 
                                 
Gain on sale of real estate
   
-
     
137,845
     
11,369
     
146,663
 
Interest expense
   
(9,838
)
   
(6,052
)
   
(25,283
)
   
(18,924
)
General and administrative
   
(1,840
)
   
(1,419
)
   
(5,039
)
   
(4,472
)
Equity income from co-investments
   
4,808
     
-
     
14,351
     
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
(21,357
)
   
(8,718
)
   
(49,935
)
   
(29,314
)
                                 
Net income
 
$
4,739
   
$
136,282
   
$
25,057
   
$
142,994
 
                                 
Company's share of net income
 
$
4,910
   
$
40,802
   
$
21,065
   
$
52,295
 

Wesco IV and BEXAEW

On April 1, 2014, in connection with the merger, the Company acquired a 50% interest in Wesco IV LLC (“Wesco IV”) and a 50% interest in BEXAEW LLC (“BEXAEW”).  Wesco IV and BEXAEW’s remaining 50% interest is owned by an institutional partner.  Wesco IV and BEXAEW expect to utilize debt targeted at approximately 50% and 60%, respectively, of the cost to acquire and improve real estate. Under the terms of Wesco IV’s and BEXAEW’s operating agreements, Essex is entitled to asset management, property management, development and redevelopment service fees.  In addition, Essex is entitled to its 50% pro rata share of the income or loss generated by these entities and upon the achievement of certain performance measures, is entitled to promote income.  As of September 30, 2014, Wesco IV owned five apartment communities with 1,116 units with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $297.8 million. As of September 30, 2014, BEXAEW owned nine apartment communities with 2,723 units with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $516.7 million.
 
21

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

(4) Notes and Other Receivables
 
Notes receivable secured by real estate and other receivables consist of the following as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
       
 
Notes receivable, secured, bearing interest at 4.0% per annum, principal and accrued interest due December 2014 (1)
 
$
3,212
   
$
3,212
 
Notes and other receivables from affiliates (2)
   
9,086
     
60,968
 
Other receivables (3)
   
10,675
     
4,075
 
   
$
22,973
   
$
68,255
 

(1)
The borrower funds an impound account for capital replacement.
(2)
The Company had $9.1 million of short-term loans outstanding and due from various legacy and BRE joint ventures. See Note 5, Related Party Transaction, for additional details.
(3)
The Company has BRE and legacy receivables for utilities, rents and other tenant receivables.

(5) Related Party Transactions

Fees earned from affiliates include management, development and redevelopment fees from co-investments of $4.1 million and $3.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of which $1.7 million and $1.2 million were classified as a reduction to general and administrative expenses.  Fees earned were $11.7 million and $9.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of which $4.9 million and $3.3 million were classified as a reduction to general and administrative expenses.  All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company.

The Company’s Chairman and founder, Mr. George Marcus, is the Chairman of the Marcus & Millichap Company (“MMC”), which is a parent company of a diversified group of real estate service, investment, and development firms. Mr. Marcus is also the Co-Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (“MMI”), and Mr. Marcus owns a controlling interest in MMI a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE.  During the third quarter of 2013, the Company restructured the terms of a preferred equity investment on a property located in Anaheim, California, reducing the rate from 13% to 9%, while extending the maximum term by one year.  The Company recorded $0.4 million of income related to the restructured preferred equity investment.  The entity that owns the property is an affiliate of MMC.  Independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors that serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Audit Committees approved the restructuring of the investment in this entity.

In July 2014, the Company acquired Paragon Apartments, a 301 apartment community located in Fremont, CA for $111.0 million from an entity that was partially owned by an affiliate of MMC.  Independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors that serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Audit Committees approved the acquisition of Paragon Apartments.

In January 2013, the Company invested $8.6 million as a preferred equity interest investment in an entity affiliated with MMC that owns an apartment development in Redwood City, California.  Independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors that serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance and Audit Committees approved the investment in this entity.

As described in Note 4, the Company has provided short-term bridge loans to affiliates.  As of September 30, 2014, $9.1 million of short-term loans remained outstanding due from various legacy and BRE joint ventures.

(6) Debt and Lines of Credit
 
The Company does not have indebtedness as debt is incurred by the Operating Partnership.  The Company guarantees the Operating Partnership’s unsecured debt including the revolving credit facilities for the full term of such debt. In April 2014, the Company, through its Operating Partnership, assumed $900.0 million aggregate principal amount of BRE senior notes and $711.3 million principal balance mortgage notes payable with remaining loan terms ranging from one to seven years and a 3.3% weighted average interest rate.  The Company recorded the debt assumed at its fair value in accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for a business combination.  As a result, a premium of $124.5 million was recorded to increase the carrying value of the debt, which is being amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method.
 
22

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

In August 2014, the Company acquired a 220 unit apartment community located in Bellevue, Washington with cash and the assumption of the mortgage note securing the community with a principal balance of $21.5 million with a remaining term to maturity of ten years and a fixed interest rate of 5.5%. The recording of the mortgage note at fair value upon assumption resulted in a premium of $2.1 million which is being amortized as a reduction in interest expense over the term of the debt using the effective interest method.

Debt and lines of credit consist of the following (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
   
Weighted Average
Maturity
In Years
 
             
Bonds private placement - fixed rate
 
$
465,000
   
$
465,000
     
4.5
 
Term loan - variable rate
   
350,000
     
350,000
     
2.4
 
Unsecured Bonds - fixed rate
   
1,930,487
     
595,023
     
7.3
 
Unsecured debt
   
2,745,487
     
1,410,023
         
Mortgage notes
   
2,258,010
     
1,404,080
     
5.8
 
Lines of credit
   
222,628
     
219,421
     
4.5
 
Total debt (1)
 
$
5,226,125
   
$
3,033,524
         
                         
Weighted average interest rate on fixed rate unsecured bonds
   
3.6
%
   
4.0
%
       
Weighted average interest rate on variable rate term loan
   
2.4
%
   
2.5
%
       
Weighted average interest rate on line of credit
   
1.7
%
   
2.2
%
       
Weighted average interest rate on mortgage notes
   
4.6
%
   
4.7
%
       

(1)
Includes total unamortized premium of $118,940 and $6,553 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

The aggregate scheduled principal payments of the Company’s outstanding debt as of September 30, 2014 are as follows (excluding lines of credit):

Remaining in 2014
 
$
7,388
 
2015
   
94,580
 
2016
   
391,481
 
2017
   
688,683
 
2018
   
320,080
 
Thereafter
   
3,382,345
 
         
   
$
4,884,557
 

(7) Segment Information

The Company defines its reportable operating segments as the three geographical regions in which its apartment communities are located: Southern California, Northern California and Seattle Metro.  Excluded from segment revenues are properties classified in discontinued operations, management and other fees from affiliates, and interest and other income.  Non-segment revenues and net operating income included in the following schedule also consist of revenue generated from commercial properties.  Other non-segment assets include real estate under development, co-investments, cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, notes and other receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets and deferred charges.
 
23

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)

The revenues, net operating income, and assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows for the three and nine months ended September, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Revenues:
               
Southern California
 
$
118,242
   
$
65,805
   
$
302,380
   
$
195,272
 
Northern California
   
94,643
     
54,189
     
238,564
     
156,983
 
Seattle Metro
   
47,066
     
27,212
     
120,089
     
79,443
 
Other real estate assets
   
8,167
     
4,971
     
22,716
     
14,319
 
Total property revenues
 
$
268,118
   
$
152,177
   
$
683,749
   
$
446,017
 
                                 
Net operating income:
                               
Southern California
 
$
76,725
   
$
43,237
   
$
198,873
   
$
130,398
 
Northern California
   
66,287
     
37,466
     
166,983
     
108,481
 
Seattle Metro
   
31,715
     
18,047
     
80,125
     
52,453
 
Other real estate assets
   
5,723
     
3,105
     
14,906
     
9,742
 
Total net operating income
   
180,450
     
101,855
     
460,887
     
301,074
 
                                 
Management and other fees
   
2,361
     
1,771
     
6,856
     
5,812
 
Depreciation
   
(102,184
)
   
(48,227
)
   
(254,211
)
   
(142,687
)
General and administrative
   
(11,479
)
   
(6,263
)
   
(28,621
)
   
(19,852
)
Merger and integration expenses
   
(3,857
)
   
-
     
(46,413
)
   
-
 
Acquisition and disposition costs
   
(51
)
   
(237
)
   
(1,555
)
   
(792
)
Interest expense
   
(45,830
)
   
(29,192
)
   
(117,021
)
   
(86,661
)
Interest and other income
   
2,992
     
2,387
     
8,685
     
9,326
 
Equity income from co-investments
   
4,910
     
40,802
     
21,065
     
52,295
 
Gain (loss) on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
(178
)
   
-
     
846
 
Gains on sale of real estate and land
   
31,372
     
-
     
39,640
     
1,503
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
58,684
   
$
62,718
   
$
89,312
   
$
120,864
 

Total assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

   
September 30,
2014
   
December 31,
2013
 
Assets:
       
Southern California
 
$
4,323,148
   
$
1,746,434
 
Northern California
   
3,698,020
     
1,614,159
 
Seattle Metro
   
1,635,274
     
741,533
 
Other real estate assets
   
147,317
     
86,745
 
Net reportable operating segment - real estate assets
   
9,803,759
     
4,188,871
 
Real estate under development
   
363,193
     
50,430
 
Co-investments
   
1,043,277
     
677,133
 
Real estate held for sale, net
   
107,772
     
-
 
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash
   
88,000
     
53,766
 
Marketable securities
   
108,147
     
90,084
 
Notes and other receivables
   
22,973
     
68,255
 
Other non-segment assets
   
129,441
     
58,300
 
Total assets
 
$
11,666,562
   
$
5,186,839
 
 
24

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)
 
(8) Net Income Per Common Share
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per share and unit data)

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Shares
   
Per
Common
Share
Amount
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Shares
   
Per
Common
Share
Amount
 
Basic:
                       
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders
 
$
53,668
     
62,893
   
$
0.85
   
$
56,347
     
37,321
   
$
1.51
 
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
   
-
     
62,893
     
-
     
12,441
     
37,321
     
0.33
 
   
$
53,668
           
$
0.85
   
$
68,788
           
$
1.84
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)
   
-
     
177
             
54
     
116
         
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders
 
$
53,668
     
63,070
   
$
0.85
   
$
56,401
     
37,437
   
$
1.51
 
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
   
-
     
63,070
     
-
     
12,441
     
37,437
     
0.33
 
   
$
53,668
           
$
0.85
   
$
68,842
           
$
1.84
 

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Income
   
Weighted
Average
Common
Shares
   
Per
Common
Share
Amount
   
Income
   
Weighted
Average
Common
Shares
   
Per
Common
Share
Amount
 
Basic:
                       
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders
 
$
76,364
     
54,250
   
$
1.41
   
$
105,421
     
37,207
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
   
-
     
54,250
     
-
     
13,516
     
37,207
     
0.36
 
     
76,364
           
$
1.41
     
118,937
           
$
3.20
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)
   
-
     
193
             
-
     
89
         
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (1)
   
76,364
     
54,443
     
1.40
   
$
105,421
     
37,296
     
2.83
 
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
   
-
     
54,443
     
-
     
13,516
     
37,296
     
0.36
 
   
$
76,364
           
$
1.40
   
$
118,937
           
$
3.19
 
 
(1) Weighted average convertible limited partnership units of 2,164,556 and 2,146,929 which include vested Series Z-1 incentive units, for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 2013, respectively, were not included in the determination of diluted EPS because they were anti-dilutive.  Income allocated to convertible limited partnership units, which includes vested Series Z-1 units, aggregating $1.8 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $3.4 million and $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively have been excluded from income available to common stockholders for the calculation of diluted income per common share since these units are excluded from the diluted weighted average common shares for the period as the effect was anti-dilutive.  The Company has the ability to redeem DownREIT limited partnership units for cash and does not consider them to be potentially dilutive securities.
 
25

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)
 
Stock options of 8,343 and 42,518 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effects on earnings per share were anti-dilutive.  Stock options of 38,825 and 38,825 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effects on earnings per share were anti-dilutive.

Essex Portfolio, L.P.
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Units
   
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Units
   
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
 
Basic:
                       
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders
 
$
55,484
     
65,057
   
$
0.85
   
$
59,620
     
39,467
   
$
1.51
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
65,057
     
-
     
13,157
     
39,467
     
0.33
 
Income available to common unitholders
 
$
55,484
           
$
0.85
   
$
72,777
           
$
1.84
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)
   
-
     
177
             
54
     
116
         
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders (1)
 
$
55,484
     
65,234
   
$
0.85
   
$
59,674
     
39,583
   
$
1.51
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
65,234
     
-
     
13,157
     
39,583
     
0.33
 
Income available to common unitholders
 
$
55,484
           
$
0.85
   
$
72,831
           
$
1.84
 

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2013
 
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Units
   
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
   
Income
   
Weighted-
average
Common
Units
   
Per
Common
Unit
Amount
 
Basic:
                       
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders
 
$
79,806
     
56,485
   
$
1.41
   
$
111,685
     
39,333
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
56,485
     
-
     
14,289
     
39,333
     
0.36
 
Income available to common unitholders
 
$
79,806
           
$
1.41
   
$
125,974
           
$
3.20
 
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)
   
-
     
193
             
-
     
89
         
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common unitholders (1)
 
$
79,806
     
56,678
   
$
1.41
   
$
111,685
     
39,422
   
$
2.84
 
Income from discontinued operations
   
-
     
56,678
     
-
     
14,289
     
39,422
     
0.36
 
Income available to common unitholders
 
$
79,806
           
$
1.41
   
$
125,974
           
$
3.20
 
 
(1) The Operating Partnership has the ability to redeem DownREIT limited partnership units for cash and does not consider them to be potentially dilutive securities.

(2) Stock options of 8,343 and 42,518 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effects on earnings per share were anti-dilutive.  Stock options of 38,825 and 38,825 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effects on earnings per share were anti-dilutive.
 
26

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2014 and 2013
(Unaudited)
 
(9) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

As of September 30, 2014, the Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $300 million that effectively fixed the interest rate on $300 million of the $350 million unsecured term loan at 2.4%.  These derivatives qualify for hedge accounting.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company also had nine interest rate cap contracts totaling a notional amount of $156.9 million that qualify for hedge accounting as they effectively limit the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by providing a ceiling on the underlying variable interest rate for substantially all of the Company’s tax exempt variable rate debt.
 
As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the aggregate carrying value of the interest rate swap contracts was a liability of $1.4 million and  $2.7 million, respectively, which is classified in other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

(10) Commitments and Contingencies

To the extent that an environmental matter arises or is identified in the future that has other than a remote risk of having a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company will disclose the estimated range of possible outcomes, and, if an outcome is probable, accrue an appropriate liability for remediation and other potential liability. The Company will consider whether such occurrence results in an impairment of value on the affected property and, if so, impairment will be recognized.
 
The Company provided payment and completion guarantees to the counterparties in relation to the total return swaps entered into by the joint venture responsible for certain co-investment development communities. The outstanding balance for the loans is included in the debt line item in the summarized balance sheet of the co-investments included in Note 3.  The payment guarantee is for the payment of the amounts due to the counterparty related to the total return swaps which are scheduled to mature in September and December 2016.  The maximum exposure of the guarantee as of September 30, 2014 was $114.4 million based on the aggregate outstanding debt amount.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere herein and with the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on  Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
In the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company reported that certain of its computer networks containing personal and proprietary information had been compromised by a cyber-intrusion. The Company has confirmed that evidence exists of exfiltration of data on Company systems. The precise nature of the data has not yet been identified and the Company does not presently have any evidence that data belonging to the Company has been misused.
 
After detecting unusual activity, the Company took immediate steps to assess and contain the intrusion and secure its systems. The Company has retained independent forensic computer experts to analyze the impacted data systems and is consulting with law enforcement. The investigation into this cyber-intrusion is ongoing, and the Company is working as quickly as possible to identify whether any employee or tenant data may be at risk. When the analysis is complete, the Company will promptly notify any affected parties, as appropriate.
 
The Company has recorded $1.2 million in cyber-intrusion expenses in the third quarter ended September 30, 2014 which are included in general and administrative expense line item on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

On April 1, 2014, Essex completed the merger with BRE Properties, Inc. (“BRE”).  In connection with the closing of the merger, (1) BRE merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of Essex, and (2) each outstanding share of BRE common stock was converted into (i) 0.2971 shares (the “Stock Consideration”) of Essex common stock, and (ii) $7.18 in cash, (the “Cash Consideration”), plus cash in lieu of fractional shares for total consideration of approximately $4.3 billion.  The Cash Consideration was adjusted as a result of the authorization and declaration of a special distribution to the stockholders of BRE of $5.15 per share of BRE common stock payable to BRE stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2014 (the “Special Dividend”).  The Special Dividend was payable as a result of the closing of the sale of certain interests in assets of BRE to certain parties, which closed on March 31, 2014.  Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the amounts payable as a Special Dividend reduced the Cash Consideration of $12.33 payable by Essex in the merger to $7.18 per share of BRE common stock.
 
27

Essex issued approximately 23.1 million shares of Essex common stock as Stock Consideration in the merger.  For purchase accounting, the value of the common stock issued by Essex upon the consummation of the merger was determined based on the closing price of BRE’s common stock on the closing date of the merger. As a result of Essex being admitted to the S&P 500 on the same date as the closing of the merger, Essex’s common stock price experienced significantly higher than usual trading volume and the closing price of $174 per share was significantly higher than its volume-weighted average trading price for the days before and after April 1, 2014.  BRE’s common stock did not experience the same proportionate increase in common stock price leading up to April 1, 2014.  As a result, given that a substantial component of the purchase price is an exchange of equity instruments, Essex used the closing price of BRE’s common stock on April 1, 2014 of $61 per share, less the Cash Consideration, as the fair value of the equity consideration.  After deducting the Special Dividend and the Cash Consideration per share, this resulted in a value of $48.67 per share of BRE common stock which is the equivalent of approximately $164 per share of Essex common stock issued.  The net assets and results of operations of BRE are included in these condensed consolidated financial statements as of April 1, 2014.

The Company is a fully integrated Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”), and its property revenues are generated primarily from apartment community operations.  The Company’s investment strategy has two components:  constant monitoring of existing markets, and evaluation of new markets in the Company’s current three geographical regions to identify areas with the characteristics that underlie rental growth.  The Company’s strong financial condition supports its investment strategy by enhancing its ability to quickly shift the Company’s acquisition, development, and disposition activities to markets that will optimize the performance of the portfolio.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company had ownership interests in 239 apartment communities, comprising 56,622 apartment units, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred equity interest co-investments, and the Company also had ownership interests in five commercial buildings with approximately 457,500 square feet.  The Company’s apartment communities are located in the following major West Coast regions:

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

As of September 30, 2014, the Company’s development pipeline was comprised of three consolidated projects under development and eleven unconsolidated joint venture projects under development, all aggregating 3,101 apartment units, with total incurred costs of $1.1 billion, and estimated remaining project costs of $0.5 billion for total estimated project costs of $1.6 billion.

The Company’s consolidated apartment communities are as follows:

   
As of September 30, 2014
   
As of September 30, 2013
 
   
Apartment Units
   
%
   
Apartment Units
   
%
 
Southern California
   
22,168
     
46
%
   
13,656
     
46
%
Northern California
   
14,601
     
31
%
   
9,427
     
32
%
Seattle Metro
   
10,216
     
21
%
   
6,645
     
22
%
Arizona
   
902
     
2
%
   
-
     
-
 
Total
   
47,887
     
100
%
   
29,728
     
100
%

Co-investments, including Wesco I, LLC ("Wesco I"), Wesco III, LLC ("Wesco III"), Wesco IV, LLC (“Wesco IV”), and BEXAEW, LLC (“BEXAEW”) communities, and preferred equity interest co-investment communities are not included in the table presented above for both periods.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013

The Company’s average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities or “Quarterly Same-Property” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013) increased 20 basis points to 95.9% as of September 30, 2014 from 95.7% as of September 30, 2013.  Financial occupancy is defined as the percentage resulting from dividing actual rental revenue by total possible rental revenue.  Actual rental revenue represents contractual rental revenue pursuant to leases without considering delinquency and concessions.  Total possible rental revenue represents the value of all apartment units, with occupied units valued at contractual rental rates pursuant to leases and vacant units valued at estimated market rents.  We believe that financial occupancy is a meaningful measure of occupancy because it considers the value of each vacant unit at its estimated market rate.
 
28

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

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

The regional breakdown of the Company’s Quarterly Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

   
Three months ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Southern California
   
95.9
%
   
95.7
%
Northern California
   
96.3
%
   
95.6
%
Seattle Metro
   
95.5
%
   
95.7
%

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the Quarterly Same-Property portfolio:

   
Number of
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
Properties
   
2014
   
2013
   
Change
   
Change
 
Property Revenues (dollars in thousands)
               
Quarterly Same-Property:
                   
Southern California
   
59
   
$
67,230
   
$
63,560
   
$
3,670
     
5.8
%
Northern California
   
38
     
55,377
     
50,498
     
4,879
     
9.7
 
Seattle Metro
   
34
     
29,106
     
27,200
     
1,906
     
7.0
 
Total Quarterly Same-Property revenues
   
131
     
151,713
     
141,258
     
10,455
     
7.4
 
Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues (1)
           
21,173
     
10,919
     
10,254
     
93.9
 
Legacy BRE Portfolio Property Revenues (2)
           
95,232
     
-
     
95,232
     
-
 
Total property revenues
         
$
268,118
   
$
152,177
   
$
115,941
     
76.2
%

(1)
Includes eleven communities acquired after January 1, 2013, two sold communities and one redevelopment community.
(2)
Includes 55 properties acquired from BRE as of April 1, 2014.

Quarterly Same-Property Revenues increased by $10.5 million or 7.4% to $151.7 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $141.3 million in the third quarter of 2013.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $10.0 million as reflected in an increase of 7.3% in average rental rates from $1,641 per unit in the third quarter of 2013 to $1,760 per unit in the third quarter of 2014.  Scheduled rents increased by 5.5%, 9.4%, and 7.4% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively. On a sequential basis the Company experienced Quarterly Same-Property revenue growth from the second quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2014 of $3.8 million or 2.6%, resulting from sequential revenue growth in all three regions mainly driven by a 2.8% increase in scheduled rents offset by an decrease of 20 basis points in occupancy compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $10.3 million or 93.9% to $21.2 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $10.9 million in the third quarter of 2013.  The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from eleven communities acquired since January 1, 2013 (Apex, Avery, Bennett Lofts, Collins on Pine, Domain, Ellington at Bellevue, Fox Plaza, Paragon, Piedmont, Slater 116 and Vox).
 
29

Management and other fees increased by $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to the third quarter of 2013.  The increase is primarily due to a fees related to services provide to AEW and Wesco IV.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $20.1 million to $55.9 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $35.8 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to the BRE merger and the acquisition of eleven communities.  Quarterly Same-Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes, increased by $0.8 million or 2.3% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to a $0.7 million increase in utility expense.

Real estate taxes increased by $17.2 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 due primarily to the BRE merger and the acquisition of eleven communities.  Quarterly Same-Property real estate taxes increased by $0.7 million or 5.6% for third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 due to $0.3 million or a 12.5% increase in property taxes for the Seattle Metro due to higher assessed values for 2014, and the allowed annual increase in assessed values for the majority of the properties located in California.  In connection with the BRE merger, the Company has increased its property taxes accrual due to BRE acquired properties based on estimated assessed values.  In California, county assessor offices usually issue a supplemental  property tax assessment within a year following a change of ownership to reflect new assessed valuations.  The Company has engaged independent consultants to assist in the estimation of assessed values resulting from the change of ownership from the BRE merger and its  resulting property tax obligation.  The Company bases its estimates on current market conditions and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could be different under different assumptions or conditions.

Depreciation expense increased by $54.0 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, due to the BRE merger and the acquisition of eleven communities.  Also, the increase was due to the capitalization of approximately $106.1 million in additions to rental properties through the third quarter of 2014, including $35.4 million spent on redevelopment, $29.1 million on non-revenue generating capital expenditures; and $20.6 million on revenue generating capital expenditures, and the capitalization of approximately $104.2 million in additions to rental properties in 2013, including $42.0 million spent on redevelopment, $21.2 million on improvements to recent acquisitions, $8.6 million on lessor required capital expenditures, and $5.3 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures.
 
General and administrative expense increased $5.2 million or 83.3% for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 primarily due to additional corporate employees from the BRE merger and $1.2 million in cyber-intrusion expenses.

Merger and integration expenses include, but are not limited to, advisor fees, legal, and accounting fees related to the merger with BRE.  Merger expenses were $3.9 million for the third quarter of 2014 and zero for the third quarter of 2013.  In the third quarter of 2014, merger expenses primarily included $1.8 million of compensation associated with the acquisition of BRE, $0.9 million of professional fees and $0.5 million of stock based compensation.

Interest expense increased $16.6 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, due to an increase in average outstanding debt primarily due to assumed debt in connection with the BRE merger offset by an increase in capitalized interest of $1.5 million related to development activity.

Interest and other income increased by $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 primarily due to higher interest income attributable to an increase in an estimated return on mortgage backed securities.

Equity income in co-investments decreased $35.9 million for the third quarter of 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013 primarily due to the third quarter of 2013 recognition of a $36.4 million gain on the sale of a joint venture properties partially offset by income recognized for three preferred equity investments entered into in the third quarter of 2014.

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013

Our average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities or “2014/2013 Same-Property” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013) increased 10 basis points to 96.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from 96.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
30

The regional breakdown of the Company’s 2014/2013 Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
Southern California
   
96.2
%
   
96.0
%
Northern California
   
96.3
%
   
96.1
%
Seattle Metro
   
96.0
%
   
96.1
%

The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the 2014/2013 Same-Property portfolio:

   
Number of
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
Properties
   
2014
   
2013
   
Change
   
Change
 
Property Revenues (dollars in thousands)
               
2014/2013 Same-Properties:
                   
Southern California
   
59
   
$
198,488
   
$
188,423
   
$
10,065
     
5.3
%
Northern California
   
38
     
161,368
     
147,422
     
13,946
     
9.5
 
Seattle Metro
   
34
     
85,419
     
79,431
     
5,988
     
7.5
 
Total 2014/2013 Same-Property revenues.
   
131
     
445,275
     
415,276
     
29,999
     
7.2
 
2014/2013 Non-Same Property Revenues (1)
           
52,605
     
30,741
     
21,864
     
71.1
 
Legacy BRE Portfolio Property Revenues (2)
           
185,869
     
-
     
185,869
     
-
 
Total property revenues
         
$
683,749
   
$
446,017
   
$
237,732
     
53.3
%

(1)
Includes eleven communities acquired after January 1, 2013, three sold communities and one redevelopment community.
(2)
Includes 55 properties acquired from BRE on April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014.

2014/2013 Same-Property Revenues increased by $30.0 million or 7.2% to $445.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $415.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $28.3 million as reflected in an increase of 6.9% in average rental rates from $1,606 per unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $1,717 per unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  Scheduled rents increased by 5.0%, 9.2%, and 7.5% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively.  Income from utility billings and other income also increased $2.7 million, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

2014/2013 Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $21.9 million or 71.1% to $52.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $30.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from eleven communities acquired since January 1, 2013 (Apex, Avery, Bennett Lofts, Collins on Pine, Domain, Ellington at Bellevue, Fox Plaza, Paragon, Piedmont, Slater 116 and Vox) and $1.8 million of utility reimbursement in connection with conforming BRE accounting to the accrual method of accounting for utility reimbursement in the second quarter of 2014.

Management and Other Fees increased by $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The increase is primarily due to asset and management fees related to services provided to the BEXAEW, Wesco IV and CPPIB communities offset by a reduction of  in asset and property management fees from the sale of Fund II communities in 2013 and 2014.  Four communities owned by Fund II were sold in the third quarter of 2013 and one community was sold during the first quarter of 2014.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $43.2 million to $145.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $102.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to BRE merger, the acquisition of eleven communities and $1.3 million of charges related to earthquake damages at one of our properties in Southern California.  Quarterly Same-Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes, increased by $2.7 million or 2.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to a $1.4 million increase in utility expense and a $0.9 million increase in maintenance and repairs.
 
31

Real Estate taxes increased by $34.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due primarily to the BRE merger and the acquisition of eleven communities. During the years 2014/2013, Same-Property real estate taxes increased by $2.1 million or 5.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to September 30, 2013 due to $1.0 million or a 12.8% increase in property taxes for the Seattle Metro due to higher assessed values for 2014, and the allowed annual increase in assessed values for the majority of the properties located in California.. In connection with the BRE merger, the Company has increased its property taxes accrual due to BRE acquired properties based on estimated assessed values.  In California, county assessor offices usually issue a supplemental  property tax assessment within a year following a change of ownership to reflect new assessed valuations.  The Company has engaged independent consultants to assist in the estimation of assessed values resulting from the change of ownership from the BRE merger and its  resulting property tax obligation.  The Company bases its estimates on current market conditions and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could be different under different assumptions or conditions.

Depreciation expense increased by $111.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due to the BRE merger and the acquisition of eleven communities.  Also, the increase was due to the capitalization of approximately $106.1 million in additions to rental properties through the third quarter of 2014, including $35.4 million spent on redevelopment, $29.1 million on non-revenue generating capital expenditures; and $20.6 million on revenue generating capital expenditures, and the capitalization of approximately $104.2 million in additions to rental properties in 2013, including $42.0 million spent on redevelopment, $21.2 million on improvements to recent acquisitions, $8.6 million on lessor required capital expenditures, and $5.3 million spent on revenue generating capital expenditures.
 
General and administrative expense increased $8.8 million or 44.2% for nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily to additional corporate employees from the BRE merger and $1.2 million in cyber-intrusion expenses.

Merger and integration  expenses include, but are not limited to, advisor fees, legal, and accounting fees related to the merger with BRE.  Merger expenses were $46.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and zero for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, merger expenses primarily included $15.1 million of advisor fees, $8.7 million of transfer taxes, and $6.2 million of professional fees, compensation associated with the acquisition of BRE and termination costs for loans established in contemplation for the merger.

Acquisition and disposition costs increased $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily due to internal disposition costs related to the sale of Vista Capri North.

Interest expense increased $30.4 million for nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due to an increase in average outstanding debt primarily due to assumed debt in connection with the BRE merger and amounts used to fund the BRE merger offset by an increase in capitalized interest of $5.1 million related to development.

Interest and other income decreased by $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due to income in 2013 from a gain of $1.8 million from the sales of marketable securities, $0.8 million earned from the change in estimate for the discount related to the Reserves Lofts note receivable repaid during the first quarter of 2013, and increased income from notes receivable.  The decrease was partially offset by higher interest income in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 attributable to an increase in an estimated return on mortgage backed securities.

Equity income in co-investments decreased $31.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to the recognition of a $36.4 million gain on the sale of a joint venture properties in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $4.9 million of promote income from the sale of certain joint venture properties.

Gains on sale of real estate and land increased $38.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, of 2013 primarily due to a $7.9 million gain on the sale of Vista Capri North; a $2.2 million gain on the sale of Coldwater Canyon; and a $29.2 million gain on the sale of Mt. Sutro.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Essex’s business is operated primarily through the Operating Partnership. Essex issues public equity from time to time, but does not otherwise generate any capital itself or conduct any business itself, other than incurring certain expenses in operating as a public company which are fully reimbursed by the Operating Partnership. Essex itself does not hold any indebtedness, and its only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of the Operating Partnership. Essex’s principal funding requirement is the payment of dividends on its common stock and preferred stock. Essex’s principal source of funding for its dividend payments is distributions it receives from the Operating Partnership.
 
32

Essex also guarantees some of the Operating Partnership’s debt, as discussed further in note 6 of the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. If the Operating Partnership fails to fulfill certain of its debt requirements, which trigger the Essex’s guarantee obligations, then Essex will be required to fulfill its cash payment commitments under such guarantees. However, Essex’s only significant asset is its investment in the Operating Partnership.

For Essex to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must pay dividends to its stockholders aggregating annually at least 90% of its taxable income, excluding net capital gains. While historically Essex has satisfied this distribution requirement by making cash distributions to its stockholders, it may choose to satisfy this requirement by making distributions of cash or other property, including, in limited circumstances, Essex’s own stock. As a result of this distribution requirement, the Operating Partnership cannot rely on retained earnings to fund its ongoing operations to the same extent that other companies whose parent companies are not REITs can. Essex may need to continue to raise capital in the equity markets to fund the Operating Partnership’s working capital needs, acquisitions and developments.

As of September 30, 2014, the Company had $17.9 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $108.1 million in marketable securities, of which $42.9 million were available for sale.  We believe that cash flows generated by our operations, existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balances, availability under existing lines of credit, access to capital markets and the ability to generate cash from the disposition of real estate are sufficient to meet all of our reasonably anticipated cash needs during the next twelve months.  The timing, source and amounts of cash flows provided by financing activities and used in investing activities are sensitive to changes in interest rates and other fluctuations in the capital markets environment, which can affect our plans for acquisitions, dispositions, development and redevelopment activities.

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

The Company has two lines of unsecured credit aggregating $1.0 billion.  As of September 30, 2014, there was a $205 million balance outstanding on the $1.0 billion unsecured line.  The facility includes an accordion feature pursuant to which the Company could expand the line’s capacity to $1.5 billion.  The underlying interest rate is based on a tiered rate structure tied to the Company's credit ratings on the credit facility and the rate was LIBOR plus 0.95% as of September 30, 2014.  This facility matures in December 2017 with one 18-month extension, exercisable at the Company’s option.  The Company has a working capital unsecured line of credit agreement for $25.0 million.  This facility matures in January 2016.  As of September 30, 2014, there was a $17.6 million outstanding balance on the $25 million unsecured line.  The underlying interest rate on the $25.0 million line is based on a tiered rate structure tied to Fitch and S&P ratings on the credit facility of LIBOR plus 0.95%.

In April 2014, the Company, through its operating partnership, assumed $900 million aggregate principal amount of BRE’s 5.500% senior notes due 2017; 5.200% senior notes due 2021; and 3.375% senior notes due 2023 and mortgage notes payable with a principal balance of $711.3 million with remaining loan terms ranging from one to seven years and a weighted average interest rate of 3.3%.  The Company recorded the debt assumed at fair value in accordance with purchase accounting.  As a result, a premium of $124.5 million was recorded to increase the debt carrying value to its estimated fair value.

In April 2014, the Company issued $400 million of 3.875% senior unsecured notes that mature in May 2024.  The interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2014 until the maturity date in May 2024.  The Company used the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under the Company’s $1.0 billion unsecured line of credit facility and for other general corporate purposes. In connection with this issuance, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement, pursuant to which it has filed and completed a registration statement to exchange the notes for identical notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Company has entered into equity distribution agreements with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co, Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Jefferies Group, JP Morgan, Liquidnet, Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Investment Bank. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company sold approximately 2.6 million shares of common stock for $450.8 million, net of commissions, at an average per share price of $177.83During the fourth quarter of 2014 through November 5, 2014, the Company has not sold shares of common stock through the equity distribution program. Under this program, the Company may from time to time sell shares of common stock into the existing trading market at current market prices, and the Company anticipates using the net proceeds to potentially acquire, develop, or redevelop properties, which primarily will be apartment communities, to make other investments and for working capital or general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of indebtedness.  As of November 5, 2014, the Company may sell an additional 3,603,897 shares under the current equity distribution program.

Essex pays quarterly dividends from cash available for distribution.  Until it is distributed, cash available for distribution is invested by the Company primarily in investment grade securities held available for sale or is used by the Company to reduce balances outstanding under its line of credit.  As a result of the 23.1 million shares of common stock issued on April 1, 2014 in connection with the BRE merger, the Company anticipates an increase in cash outflows as a result of the increased dividend payment requirements.  The Company anticipates funding the dividends from increased cash flows generated from the properties acquired in the merger.
 
33

Development and Predevelopment Pipeline

The Company defines development activities as new properties that are being constructed, or are newly constructed and, in the case of development communities, are in a phase of lease-up and have not yet reached stabilized operations.  As of September 30, 2014, the Company’s development pipeline was comprised of three consolidated projects under development and eleven unconsolidated joint venture projects under development, all aggregating 3,101 units, with total incurred costs of $1.1 billion, and estimated remaining project costs of approximately $0.5 billion for total estimated project costs of $1.6 billion.

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

Derivative Activity

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

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 the aggregate carrying value of the interest rate swap contracts was a liability of $1.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively. The aggregate carrying value of the interest rate cap contracts was zero on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

Alternative Capital Sources

Fund II invested in apartment communities in the Company’s targeted West Coast markets and, as of September 30 2014, owned one apartment community.  Four communities were sold during 2013 from Fund II, one additional property was sold through September 30, 2014, and the Company sold the remaining community in October 2014.

Wesco I is a 50/50 programmatic joint venture with an institutional partner formed in 2011.  Initially, Wesco I utilized debt as leverage equal to approximately 50% of the underlying real estate.  As of September 30, 2014, Wesco I owned nine apartment communities with 2,713 units with an aggregate historical cost carrying value of $680.2 million.

Wesco III is a 50/50 programmatic joint venture with an institutional partner formed in 2012.  Initially, Wesco III utilized debt as leverage equal to approximately 50% of the underlying real estate. As of September 30, 2014, Wesco III owned six apartment communities with 993 units with an aggregate historical cost carrying value of $229.5 million.

On April 1, 2014, in connection with the merger, the Company acquired a 50% interest in Wesco IV LLC (“Wesco IV”) and a 50% interest in BEXAEW LLC (“BEXAEW”).  Wesco IV and BEXAEW’s remaining 50% interest is owned by an institutional partner.  Wesco IV and BEXAEW utilized debt targeted at approximately 50% and 60%, respectively, of the cost to acquire and improve real estate. Under the terms of Wesco IV’s and BEXAEW’s operating agreements, the Company is entitled to asset management, property management, development and redevelopment service fees.  In addition, the Company is entitled to its 50% pro rata share of the income or loss generated by these entities and upon the achievement of certain performance measures, is entitled to promote income.  As of September 30, 2014, Wesco IV owned five apartment communities with 1,116 units with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $297.8 million. As of September 30, 2014, BEXAEW owned nine apartment communities with 2,723 units with an aggregate carrying value of approximately $516.7 million.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company defines critical accounting policies as those accounting policies that require the Company’s management to exercise their most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates relate principally to the following key areas: (i) consolidation under applicable accounting standards for entities that are not wholly owned; (ii) assessing the carrying values of our real estate properties and investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates; (iii) internal cost capitalization; and (iv) 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.
 
34

The Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates have not changed materially from information reported in Note 2, “Summary of Critical and Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, except as listed below.
 
Business combinations
 
The Company accounts for its business combinations, including the merger and other acquisitions of investments in real estate, in accordance with ASC 805-10, Business Combinations, which requires the acquired tangible and intangible assets and liabilities to be recorded at fair value, with excess purchase price, if any, recorded to goodwill.  The Company must make significant assumptions in determining the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired and consideration transferred. The use of different assumptions in estimating the fair value could affect the measurement and timing of recognition of acquired assets and liabilities and related expenses.
 
The consideration transferred in a business combination is generally measured at fair value.  For debt assumed by the Company, the fair value is determined using estimated market interest rates for debt with comparable terms in place at the time of the acquisition.  For equity issued by the Company, the fair value is generally based on the fair value of the Company’s equity interests at the date of issuance.
 
The fair value of the tangible assets, which principally includes land and building, is determined first by valuing the property as a whole as if it were vacant, using stabilized net operating income and market specific capitalization rates.   The fair value of the land and building is then assigned using market data regarding land and construction costs to value these tangible assets.
 
In calculating the fair value of identified intangible assets of an acquired property, the in-place leases are valued based on in-place rent rates and estimated time and cost to lease a unit.
 
The initial purchase accounting is based on the Company’s preliminary assessment, which may differ when additional information becomes available. Subsequent adjustments made to the initial purchase accounting, if any, are made within the measurement period, which will be finalized within one year of the acquisition date.
 
Forward Looking Statements
 
Certain statements in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q which are not historical facts may be considered forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions, beliefs and strategies regarding the future. Forward looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s expectations as to the total projected costs of predevelopment, development and redevelopment projects, the Company’s reduced risk of loss from mold cases, beliefs as to our ability to meet our cash needs during the next twelve months, expectations as to the sources for funding the increased dividends resulting from the BRE merger and the Company’s development and redevelopment pipeline, and statements regarding the Company's financing activities.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to, that the Company will fail to achieve its business objectives, that the total projected costs of current predevelopment, development and redevelopment projects exceed expectations, that such development and redevelopment projects will not be completed, that development and redevelopment projects and acquisitions will fail to meet expectations, that estimates of future income from an acquired property may prove to be inaccurate, that future cash flows will be inadequate to meet operating requirements, that there may be a downturn in the markets in which the Company's properties are located, that the terms of any refinancing may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness, and that mold lawsuits will be more costly than anticipated, as well as those risks, special considerations, and other factors referred to in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and those risk factors and special considerations set forth in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information.
 
35

Funds from Operations (“FFO”)
 
FFO is a financial measure that is commonly used in the REIT industry.  The Company presents funds from operations as a supplemental operating performance measure.  FFO is not used by the Company as, nor should it be considered to be, an alternative to net earnings computed under GAAP as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash from operating activities computed under GAAP as an indicator of the Company’s ability to fund its cash needs.
 
FFO is not meant to represent a comprehensive system of financial reporting and does not present, nor does it intend to present, a complete picture of the Company's financial condition and operating performance.  The Company believes that net earnings computed under GAAP is the primary measure of performance and that FFO is only meaningful when it is used in conjunction with net earnings.  The Company considers FFO and FFO excluding non-recurring items and acquisition costs (referred to as “Core FFO”) to be useful financial performance measurements of an equity REIT because, together with net income and cash flows, FFO provides investors with an additional basis to evaluate operating performance and ability of a REIT to incur and service debt and to fund acquisitions and other capital expenditures and ability to pay dividends.  Further, the Company believes that its consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, provide the most meaningful picture of its financial condition and its operating performance.
 
In calculating FFO, the Company follows the definition for this measure published by the National Association of REITs (“NAREIT”), which is a REIT trade association.  The Company believes that, under the NAREIT FFO definition, the two most significant adjustments made to net income are (i) the exclusion of historical cost depreciation and (ii) the exclusion of gains and losses (including impairment charges on depreciable real estate) from the sale of previously depreciated properties.  The Company agrees that these two NAREIT adjustments are useful to investors for the following reason:
 
 
(a)
historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes, through depreciation charges, that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. NAREIT stated in its White Paper on Funds from Operations “since real estate asset values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors have considered presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves.” Consequently, NAREIT’s definition of FFO reflects the fact that real estate, as an asset class, generally appreciates over time and depreciation charges required by GAAP do not reflect the underlying economic realities.
 
 
(b)
REITs were created as a legal form of organization in order to encourage public ownership of real estate as an asset class through investment in firms that were in the business of long-term ownership and management of real estate.  The exclusion, in NAREIT’s definition of FFO, of gains and losses (including impairment charges on depreciable real estate) from the sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets allows investors and analysts to readily identify the operating results of the long-term assets that form the core of a REIT’s activity and assists in comparing those operating results between periods.
 
Management believes that it has consistently applied the NAREIT definition of FFO to all periods presented.  However, there is judgment involved and other REITs’ calculation of FFO may vary from the NAREIT definition for this measure, and thus their disclosure of FFO may not be comparable to the Company’s calculation.
 
36

The following table sets forth the Company’s calculation of FFO and Core FFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands except for share and per share data):

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
                 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
53,668
   
$
68,788
   
$
76,364
   
$
118,937
 
Adjustments:
                               
Depreciation
   
102,184
     
48,487
     
254,211
     
143,662
 
Gains not included in FFO, net of internal disposition costs
   
(31,372
)
   
(49,044
)
   
(41,664
)
   
(51,410
)
Depreciation add back from unconsolidated co-investments
   
9,986
     
3,723
     
23,060
     
11,342
 
Noncontrolling interest related to Operating Partnership units
   
1,816
     
3,989
     
3,442
     
7,037
 
Depreciation attributable to third party ownership
   
(335
)
   
(327
)
   
(996
)
   
(981
)
Funds from operations
 
$
135,947
   
$
75,616
   
$
314,417
   
$
228,587
 
Funds from operations per share - diluted
 
$
2.08
   
$
1.91
   
$
5.55
   
$
5.79
 
Non-core items:
                               
Merger and integration expenses
   
3,857
     
-
     
46,413
     
-
 
Cyber intrusion expenses
   
1,249
     
-
     
1,249
     
-
 
Acquisition and disposition costs
   
51
     
237
     
768
     
792
 
Gain on sales of marketable securities and note prepayment
   
-
     
-
     
(886
)
   
(2,611
)
Co-investment promote income
   
-
     
-
     
(4,904
)
   
-
 
Utility reimbursement income accrual
   
-
     
-
     
(1,807
)
   
-
 
Acquisition fee income
   
-
     
-
     
(500
)
   
-
 
Gain on sale of land
   
-
     
-
     
(400
)
   
(1,503
)
Earthquake related and other
   
-
     
-
     
1,571
     
-
 
Loss on early retirement of debt, add back from unconsolidated co-investments
   
-
     
-
     
197
     
-
 
Loss (gain) on early retirement of debt
   
-
     
178
     
-
     
(846
)
Income from early redemption of preferred equity investments
   
-
     
(412
)
   
-
     
(1,358
)
Core FFO
 
$
141,104
   
$
75,619
   
$
356,118
   
$
223,061
 
Core FFO per share-diluted
 
$
2.16
   
$
1.91
   
$
6.28
   
$
5.65
 
Weighted average number
                               
shares outstanding diluted (1)
   
65,234,328
     
39,583,912
     
56,677,712
     
39,456,163
 

(1) Assumes conversion of all dilutive outstanding operating partnership interests in the Operating Partnership.
 
37

Net Operating Income (“NOI”)

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

(in thousands)

   
Three months ended September 30,
   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Earnings from operations
 
$
65,240
   
$
48,899
   
$
136,943
   
$
143,555
 
Adjustments:
                               
Depreciation
   
102,184
     
48,227
     
254,211
     
142,687
 
General and administrative
   
11,479
     
6,263
     
28,621
     
19,852
 
Merger and integration expenses
   
3,857
     
-
     
46,413
     
-
 
Acquisition and dispositions costs
   
51
     
237
     
1,555
     
792
 
Management and other fees
   
(2,361
)
   
(1,771
)
   
(6,856
)
   
(5,812
)
NOI
   
180,450
     
101,855
     
460,887
     
301,074
 
Less: Non same-property NOI
   
(14,178
)
   
(6,550
)
   
(33,495
)
   
(19,194
)
Less: Legacy BRE Portfolio NOI
   
(62,004
)
   
-
     
(120,375
)
   
-
 
Same-property NOI
 
$
104,268
   
$
95,305
   
$
307,017
   
$
281,880
 

Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

Interest Rate Hedging Activities

The Company’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements or other identified risks.  To accomplish this objective, the Company uses interest rate swaps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy.  As of September 30, 2014, the Company has entered into ten interest rate swap contracts to mitigate the risk of changes in the interest-related cash outflows on $300.0 million of the variable rate five-year unsecured term debt.  As of September 30, 2014, the Company also had $189.2 million of variable rate indebtedness, of which $156.9 million is subject to interest rate cap protection.   All of the Company’s derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges, and the Company does not have any fair value hedges as of September 30, 2014.  The following table summarizes the notional amount, carrying value, and estimated fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments used to hedge interest rates as of September 30, 2014.  The notional amount represents the aggregate amount of a particular security that is currently hedged at one time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rates or market risks.  The table also includes a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the impact on the Company’s derivative instruments from an increase or decrease in 10-year Treasury bill interest rates by 50 basis points, as of September 30 2014.

           
Carrying and
   
Estimated Carrying Value
 
   
Notional
   
Maturity
   
Estimated Fair
    + 50      
- 50
 
(in thousands)
 
Amount
   
Date Range
   
Value
   
Basis Points
   
Basis Points
 
Cash flow hedges:
                           
Interest rate swaps
 
$
300,000
     
2016-2017
   
$
(1,406
)
 
$
1,772
   
$
(4,804
)
Interest rate caps
   
156,904
     
2014-2018
     
-
     
3
     
-
 
Total cash flow hedges
 
$
456,904
     
2014-2018
   
$
(1,406
)
 
$
1,775
   
$
(4,804
)
 
38

Interest Rate Sensitive Liabilities

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

The Company’s interest rate risk is monitored using a variety of techniques. The table below presents the principal amounts and weighted average interest rates by year of expected maturity to evaluate the expected cash flows.
 
For the Years Ended
 
2014
   
2015
   
2016
   
2017
   
2018
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
Fair value
 
                                 
(in thousands, except for interest rates)
                             
Fixed rate debt
 
$
7,388
     
94,580
     
191,481
     
538,683
     
320,080
     
3,193,126
   
$
4,345,338
   
$
4,464,278
 
Average interest rate
   
4.6
%
   
5.1
%
   
4.5
%
   
3.3
%
   
5.5
%
   
4.2
%
   
4.2
%
       
Variable rate debt
 
$
-
     
-
     
200,000
 (1) 
   
150,000
 (1) 
   
-
     
189,219
 (2) 
 
$
539,219
   
$
520,370
 
Average interest rate
   
-
     
-
     
2.4
%
   
2.4
%
   
-
     
1.9
%
   
2.2
%
       
 
(1)
$300.0 million subject to interest rate swap agreements.
(2)
$156.9 million subject to interest rate caps.

The table incorporates only those exposures that exist as of September 30, 2014; it does not consider those exposures or positions that could arise after that date. As a result, our ultimate realized gain or loss, with respect to interest rate fluctuations and hedging strategies would depend on the exposures that arise prior to settlement.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

As of September 30, 2014, Essex carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).  Based upon that evaluation, Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 30, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by Essex in the reports that Essex files or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such disclosure controls and procedures were also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to Essex’s management, including Essex’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in Essex’s internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Essex’s internal control over financial reporting.

Essex Portfolio, L.P.

As of September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 30, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in the reports that the Operating Partnership files or submit under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such disclosure controls and procedures were also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Operating Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
39

There were no changes in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Part II -- Other Information

Item 1: Legal Proceedings

There have been an increasing number of lawsuits against owners and managers of apartment communities alleging personal injury and property damage caused by the presence of mold in residential real estate.  Some of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial monetary judgments or settlements.  The Company has been sued for mold related matters and has settled some, but not all, of such matters.  Insurance carriers have reacted to mold related liability awards by excluding mold related claims from standard policies and pricing mold endorsements at prohibitively high rates.  The Company has, however, purchased pollution liability insurance, which includes some coverage for mold.  The Company has adopted policies to promptly address and resolve reports of mold when it is detected, and to minimize any impact mold might have on residents of the property.  The Company believes its mold policies and proactive response to address any known existence, reduces its risk of loss from these cases.  There can be no assurances that the Company has identified and responded to all mold occurrences, but the Company promptly addresses all known reports of mold.  Liabilities resulting from such mold related matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  As of September 30, 2014, potential liabilities for mold and other environmental liabilities are not quantifiable and an estimate of possible loss cannot be made.

The Company carries comprehensive liability, fire, extended coverage and rental loss insurance for each of the communities.  There are, however, certain types of extraordinary losses, such as, for example, losses from terrorism or earthquakes, for which the Company does not have comprehensive insurance coverage.  Substantially all of the communities are located in areas that are subject to earthquake activity.  The Company has established a wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Pacific Western Insurance LLC (“PWI”).  Through PWI, the Company is predominately self-insured as it relates to earthquake related losses.  Additionally, since January 2008, PWI has provided property and casualty insurance coverage for the first $5.0 million of the Company’s property level insurance claims per incident.  As of September 30, 2014, PWI has cash and marketable securities of approximately $42.9 million.  These assets are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements.

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

Item 1A: Risk Factors

The following risk factors have been updated from those set forth in Item 1A. of Part I of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and are included herein in their entirety. For purposes of this section, the term “stockholders” means the holders of shares of Essex Property Trust, Inc.’s common stock and preferred stock. Set forth below are the risks that we believe are material to of Essex Property Trust, Inc.’s stockholders and Essex Portfolio, L.P.’s unit holders. You should carefully consider the following factors in evaluating our company, our properties and our business. Our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those set forth below, any one of which could cause our actual operating results to vary materially from recent results or from our anticipated future results.

Risks Related to Our Business
 
The Company depends on its key personnel.  The Company’s success depends on its ability to attract and retain executive officers, senior officers and company managers. There is substantial competition for qualified personnel in the real estate industry and the loss of any of the Company’s key personnel could have an adverse effect on the Company.
 
Short-term leases expose us to the effects of declining market rents.  Substantially all of our apartment leases are for a term of one year or less. Because these leases generally permit the residents to leave at the end of the lease term without penalty, our rental revenues are impacted by declines in market rents more quickly than if our leases were for longer terms.
 
Capital and credit market conditions may affect the Company’s access to sources of capital and/or the cost of capital, which could negatively affect the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.  In periods when the capital and credit markets experience significant volatility, the amounts, sources and cost of capital available to the Company may be adversely affected.  The Company’s strong balance sheet, the debt capacity available on the unsecured line of credit with a bank group and access to the public debt and private placement markets and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac secured debt financing provides some insulation from volatile markets.  The Company has benefited from borrowing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and there are no assurances that these entities will lend to the Company in the future.  To the extent that the Company’s access to capital and credit is at a higher cost than the Company has experienced in recent years (reflected in higher interest rates for debt financing or a lower stock price for equity financing) the Company’s ability to make acquisitions, develop communities, obtain new financing, and refinance existing borrowing at competitive rates could be adversely impacted.  For the past two years the Company has primarily issued unsecured debt and repaid secured debt when it has matured to place less reliance on mortgage debt financing.
 
40

Debt financing has inherent risks. At September 30, 2014, the Company had approximately $5.2 billion of indebtedness (including $189.2 million of variable rate indebtedness, of which $156.9 million is subject to interest rate cap protection). In connection with Essex’s merger with BRE, which was completed on April 1, 2014, the Company, through its Operating Partnership, assumed $900.0 million aggregate principal amount of BRE’s 5.500% senior notes due 2017; 5.200% senior notes due 2021; and 3.375% senior notes due 2023 and secured debt with a principal balance of $711.3 million. The Company is subject to the risks normally associated with debt financing, including the following:

· cash flow may not be sufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest;
 
· inability to refinance maturing indebtedness on encumbered apartment communities;
 
· inability to comply with debt covenants could cause an acceleration of the maturity date; and
 
· paying debt before the scheduled maturity date could result in prepayment penalties.
 
The Company may not be able to refinance its indebtedness. This indebtedness includes secured mortgages, and the communities subject to these mortgages could be foreclosed upon or otherwise transferred to the lender. This could cause the Company to lose income and asset value. The Company may be required to refinance the debt at higher interest rates or on terms that may not be as favorable as the terms of existing indebtedness.
 
Debt financing of communities may result in insufficient cash flow to service debt. Where appropriate, the Company intends to continue to use leverage to increase the rate of return on the Company’s investments and to provide for additional investments that the Company could not otherwise make. There is a risk that the cash flow from the communities will be insufficient to meet both debt payment obligations and the distribution requirements of the real estate investment trust provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company may obtain additional debt financing in the future through mortgages on some or all of the communities. These mortgages may be recourse, non-recourse, or cross-collateralized.
 
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund our operations, working capital and capital expenditures, depends on our ability to generate cash in the future. To a certain extent, our cash flow is subject to general economic, industry, regional, financial, competitive, operating, legislative, regulatory, taxation and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
 
As of September 30, 2014, the Company had 68 consolidated communities encumbered by debt. With respect to the 68 communities encumbered by debt, all of them are secured by deeds of trust relating solely to those communities. The holders of this indebtedness will have rights with respect to these communities and lenders may seek foreclosure of communities which would reduce the Company’s income and net asset value, and its ability to service other debt.
 
Rising interest rates may affect the Company’s costs of capital and financing activities and results of operation. Interest rates could increase, which could result in higher interest expense on the Company’s variable rate indebtedness or increase interest rates when refinancing maturing fixed rate debt. Prolonged interest rate increases could negatively impact the Company’s ability to make acquisitions and develop apartment communities with positive economic returns on investment and the Company’s ability to refinance existing borrowings.
 
Essex may not realize the expected benefits of its merger with BRE because of transition difficulties and other challenges. The Combined Company (the combination of Essex and BRE pursuant to the merger) will face various additional risks, including, among others, the following:
 
· the Combined Company has incurred substantial expenses related to the merger;
 
· the Combined Company may be unable to integrate the businesses of Essex and BRE successfully and realize the anticipated synergies and other benefits of the merger or do so within the anticipated timeframe;
 
· the future results of the Combined Company will suffer if the Combined Company does not effectively manage its expanded operations following the merger;
 
· counterparties to certain significant agreements with Essex or BRE may exercise contractual rights under such agreements in connection with the merger; and
 
41

· the Combined Company’s joint ventures, including joint ventures entered into in connection with the merger, could be adversely affected by the Combined Company’s lack of sole decision-making authority, its reliance on its joint venture partner’s financial condition and disputes between the Combined Company and its joint venture partner.
 
Any of these risks could adversely affect the business and financial results of the Combined Company.

We may pursue acquisitions, dispositions, investments and joint ventures, which could adversely affect our results of operations. We may make acquisitions of and investments in, businesses that offer complementary properties and communities to augment our market coverage, or enhance our property offerings, such as our recent acquisitions of BRE. We may also enter into strategic alliances or joint ventures to achieve these goals. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition, investment, alliance, or joint venture opportunities, that we will be able to consummate any such transactions or relationships on terms and conditions acceptable to us, or that such transactions or relationships will be successful. In addition, our original estimates and assumptions used in assessing any acquisition that we make may be inaccurate and we may not realize the expected financial or strategic benefits of any such acquisition. From time to time, we may also divest portions of our business that are no longer strategically important or exit minority investments, which could materially affect our FFO, cash flows and results of operations for the period in which such events occur.
 
These transactions or any other acquisitions or dispositions involve risks and uncertainties. For example, the integration of acquired businesses may not be successful and could result in disruption to other parts of our business. In addition, any such integration may require that we incur significant restructuring charges, including as a result of streamlining, or divesting non-core portions of, acquired businesses. To integrate acquired businesses, we must implement our management information systems, operating systems and internal controls, and assimilate and manage the personnel of the acquired operations. The difficulties of these integrations may be further complicated by such factors as the size of the business or entity acquired, geographic distances, lack of experience operating in the geographic market or industry sector of the acquired business, delays and challenges associated with integrating the business with our existing businesses, diversion of management's attention from daily operations of the business, potential loss of key employees and customers of the acquired business, the potential for deficiencies in internal controls at the acquired or combined business, performance problems with the acquired business' technology, difficulties in entering markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience, exposure to unanticipated liabilities of the acquired business, insufficient revenues to offset increased expenses associated with the acquisition, and our potential inability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from any such acquisition. Even when an acquired business has already developed and marketed properties, there can be no assurance that property enhancements will be made in a timely fashion or that all pre-acquisition due diligence will have identified all material issues that might arise with respect to such acquired business.
 
Any acquisition may also cause us to assume liabilities and ongoing lawsuits, acquire goodwill and other non-amortizable intangible assets that will be subject to impairment testing and potential impairment charges, incur amortization expense related to certain intangible assets, increase our expenses and working capital requirements, and subject us to litigation, which would reduce our return on invested capital. In addition, if the businesses or properties that we acquire have a different pricing or cost structure than we do, such acquisitions may adversely affect our profitability and reduce our overall margin. Failure to manage and successfully integrate the acquisitions we make or to improve margins of the acquired businesses and products could materially harm our business, operating results and margins. Any dispositions we may make may also result in ongoing obligations to us following any such divestiture, for example as a result of any transition services or indemnities we agree to provide to the purchaser in any such transaction, which may result in additional expenses and may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.
 
Any future acquisitions we make may also require significant additional debt or equity financing, which, in the case of debt financing, would increase our leverage and potentially affect our credit ratings and, in the case of equity or equity-linked financing, would be dilutive to our existing stockholders. We also assumed a significant amount of debt in connection with our acquisition of BRE, which is secured by the substantial majority of the properties acquired. Any downgrades in our credit ratings associated with an acquisition could adversely affect our ability to borrow by resulting in more restrictive borrowing terms. As a result of the foregoing, we also may not be able to complete acquisitions or other strategic transactions in the future to the same extent as in the past, or at all. These and other factors could harm our ability to achieve anticipated levels of profitability at acquired operations or realize other anticipated benefits of an acquisition, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. All of the above factors apply to our acquisition of BRE.
 
Interest rate hedging arrangements may result in losses. Periodically, the Company has entered into agreements to reduce the risks associated with increases in interest rates, and may continue to do so. Although these agreements may partially protect against rising interest rates, they also may reduce the benefits to the Company if interest rates decline. If a hedging arrangement is not indexed to the same rate as the indebtedness that is hedged, the Company may be exposed to losses to the extent that the rate governing the indebtedness and the rate governing the hedging arrangement change independently of each other. Finally, nonperformance by the other party to the hedging arrangement may subject the Company to increased credit risks. In order to minimize counterparty credit risk, the Company enters into hedging arrangements only with financial institutions that have a current rating of A or higher.
 
42

Bond compliance requirements may limit income from certain communities. At September 30, 2014, the Company had approximately $179.2 million of variable rate tax-exempt financing. This tax-exempt financing provides for certain deed restrictions and restrictive covenants. The Company expects to engage in tax-exempt financings in the future. The Code and rules and regulations thereunder impose various restrictions, conditions and requirements in order to allow the note holder to exclude interest on qualified bond obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Code also requires that at least 20% of apartment units be made available to residents with gross incomes that do not exceed a specified percentage, generally 50%, of the median income for the applicable family size as determined by the Housing and Urban Development Department of the federal government. Certain state and local authorities may impose additional rental restrictions. These restrictions may limit income from the tax-exempt financed communities if the Company is required to lower rental rates to attract residents who satisfy the median income test. If the Company does not reserve the required number of apartment homes for residents satisfying these income requirements, the tax-exempt status of the bonds may be terminated, the obligations under the bond documents may be accelerated and the Company may be subject to additional contractual liability.
 
General real estate investment risks may adversely affect property income and values. Real estate investments are subject to a variety of risks. If the communities do not generate sufficient income to meet operating expenses, including debt service and capital expenditures, cash flow and the ability to make distributions to stockholders will be adversely affected. Income from the communities may be further adversely affected by, among other things, the following factors:

· the general economic climate;
 
· local economic conditions in which the communities are located, such as oversupply of housing or a reduction in demand for rental housing;
 
· the attractiveness of the communities to tenants;
 
· competition from other available housing; and
 
 
· the Company’s ability to provide for adequate maintenance and insurance.
 
As leases at the communities expire, tenants may enter into new leases on terms that are less favorable to the Company. Income and real estate values also may be adversely affected by such factors as applicable laws (e.g., the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and tax laws). Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and, therefore, the Company’s ability to vary its portfolio promptly in response to changes in economic or other conditions may be quite limited.
 
National and regional economic environments can negatively impact the Company’s operating results. During recent years, a confluence of factors has resulted in job losses, turmoil and volatility in the capital markets, and caused a national and global recession. The Company's forecast for the national economy assumes growth of the gross domestic product of the national economy and the economies of the western states. In the event of another recession, the Company could incur reduction in rental rates, occupancy levels, property valuations and increases in operating costs such as advertising and turnover expenses.
 
Inflation/Deflation may affect rental rates and operating expenses. Substantial inflationary or deflationary pressures could have a negative effect on rental rates and property operating expenses.
 
Acquisitions of communities may fail to meet expectations. The Company intends to continue to acquire apartment communities. However, there are risks that acquisitions will fail to meet the Company’s expectations. The Company’s estimates of future income, expenses and the costs of improvements or redevelopment that is necessary to allow the Company to market an acquired apartment community as originally intended may prove to be inaccurate. The Company expects to finance future acquisitions, in whole or in part, under various forms of secured or unsecured financing or through the issuance of partnership units by the Operating Partnership or related partnerships or additional equity by the Company. The use of equity financing, rather than debt, for future developments or acquisitions could dilute the interest of the Company’s existing stockholders. If the Company finances new acquisitions under existing lines of credit, there is a risk that, unless the Company obtains substitute financing, the Company may not be able to secure further lines of credit for new development or such lines of credit may be not available on advantageous terms.
 
Development and redevelopment activities may be delayed, not completed, and/or not achieve expected results. The Company pursues development and redevelopment projects and these projects generally require various governmental and other approvals, which have no assurance of being received. 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;
43

· construction costs of a project may exceed original estimates possibly making the project economically unfeasible;
 
· projects may be delayed due to, without limitation, adverse weather conditions, labor or material shortage;
 
· occupancy rates and rents at a completed project may be less than anticipated; and
 
· expenses at completed development projects 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 communities is also subject to the general risks associated with real estate investments. For further information regarding these risks, please see the risk factor “General real estate investment risks may adversely affect property income and values.”
 
The geographic concentration of the Company’s communities and fluctuations in local markets may adversely impact the Company’s financial condition and operating results. The Company generated significant amounts of rental revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, from the Company’s communities concentrated in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ventura counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area), and the Seattle metropolitan area. For the quarter ended September 30, 2014, 79% of the Company’s rental revenues were generated from communities located in California. This geographic concentration could present risks if local property market performance falls below expectations. The economic condition of these markets could affect occupancy, property revenues, and expenses, from the communities and their underlying asset values. The financial results of major local employers also may impact the cash flow and value of certain of the communities. This could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results, which could affect the Company’s ability to pay expected dividends to its stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s ability to pay expected distributions to unit holders.
 
Competition in the apartment community market may adversely affect operations and the rental demand for the Company’s communities. There are numerous housing alternatives that compete with the Company’s communities in attracting residents. These include other apartment communities and single-family homes that are available for rent in the markets in which the communities are located. If the demand for the Company’s communities is reduced or if competitors develop and/or acquire competing apartment communities, rental rates may drop, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company also faces competition from other real estate investment trusts, businesses and other entities in the acquisition, development and operation of apartment communities. This competition may result in an increase in costs and prices of apartment communities that the Company acquires and/or develops.
 
The price per share of the Company’s stock may fluctuate significantly. The market price per share of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to many factors, including without limitation:
 
·
regional, national and global economic conditions;
 
·
actual or anticipated variations in the Company’s quarterly operating results or dividends;
 
·
changes in the Company’s funds from operations or earnings estimates;
 
·
issuances of common stock, preferred stock or convertible debt securities;
 
·
publication of research reports about the Company or the real estate industry;
 
·
the general reputation of real estate investment trusts and the attractiveness of their equity securities in comparison to other equity securities (including securities issued by other real estate based companies);
 
 
·
general stock and bond market conditions, including changes in interest rates on fixed income securities, that may lead prospective purchasers of the Company’s stock to demand a higher annual yield from dividends;
 
·
availability to capital markets and cost of capital;
 
·
a change in analyst ratings or the Company’s credit ratings;
 
·
terrorist activity may adversely affect the markets in which the Company’s securities trade, possibly increasing market volatility and causing erosion of business and consumer confidence and spending; and
 
·
Natural disasters such as earthquakes.
 
44

Many of the factors listed above are beyond the Company’s control. These factors may cause the market price of shares of the Company’s common stock to decline, regardless of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or business prospects.
 
The Company’s future issuances of common stock, preferred stock or convertible debt securities could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock. In order to finance the Company’s acquisition and development activities, the Company has issued and sold common stock, preferred stock and convertible debt securities. For example, during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company issued 2.6 million and 0.9 million shares of common stock for $450.8 million and $138.4 million, net of fees and commissions, respectively. The Company may in the future sell further shares of common stock, including pursuant to its equity distribution programs with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Liquidnet, Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc, Citigroup Global Markets Inc, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Jefferies LLC ("Jefferies"), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ("JP Morgan") and UBS Securities LLC ("UBS").
 
In 2014, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement with the SEC, allowing the Company to sell an undetermined number of equity and debt securities as defined in the prospectus. Future sales of common stock, preferred stock or convertible debt securities may dilute stockholder ownership in the Company and could adversely affect the market price of the common stock.
 
The indentures governing our notes contain restrictive covenants that limit our operating flexibility. The indentures that govern our publicly registered notes, as well as the notes that we issued pursuant to a private placement in April 2014, contain financial and operating covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to take specific actions, even if we believe them to be in our best interest, including restrictions on our ability to:
 
·
consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets; and
 
·
incur additional secured and unsecured indebtedness.
 
The instruments governing our other unsecured indebtedness require us to meet specified financial covenants, including covenants relating to net worth, fixed charge coverage, debt service coverage, the amounts of total indebtedness and secured indebtedness, leverage and certain investment limitations. These covenants may restrict our ability to expand or fully pursue our business strategies. Our ability to comply with these provisions and those contained in the indentures governing the notes, may be affected by changes in our operating and financial performance, changes in general business and economic conditions, adverse regulatory developments or other events adversely impacting us. The breach of any of these covenants, including those contained in our indentures, could result in a default under our indebtedness, which could cause those and other obligations to become due and payable. If any of our indebtedness is accelerated, we may not be able to repay it.
 
A downgrade in the Company's investment grade credit rating could materially and adversely affect its business and financial condition. The Company plans to manage its operations to maintain its investment grade credit rating with a capital structure consistent with its current profile, but there can be no assurance that it will be able to maintain its current credit ratings. Any downgrades in terms of ratings or outlook by any of the rating agencies could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s cost and availability of capital, which could in turn have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
 
The Company’s Chairman is involved in other real estate activities and investments, which may lead to conflicts of interest. The Company’s Chairman, George M. Marcus is not an employee of the Company, and is involved in other real estate activities and investments, which may lead to conflicts of interest. Mr. Marcus owns interests in various other real estate-related businesses and investments. He is the Chairman of the Marcus & Millichap Company (“MMC”), which is a parent company of a diversified group of real estate service, investment and development firms.  Mr. Marcus is also the Co-Chairman of Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (“MMI”), and Mr. Marcus owns a controlling interest in MMI.  MMI is a national brokerage firm listed on the NYSE that underwent its initial public offering in 2013.
 
Mr. Marcus has agreed not to divulge any confidential or proprietary information that may be received by him in his capacity as Chairman of the Company to any of his affiliated companies and that he will absent himself from any and all resolutions by the Company Board of Directors regarding any proposed acquisition and/or development of an apartment community where it appears that there may be a conflict of interest with any of his affiliated companies. Notwithstanding this agreement, Mr. Marcus and his affiliated entities may potentially compete with the Company in acquiring and/or developing apartment communities, which competition may be detrimental to the Company. In addition, due to such potential competition for real estate investments, Mr. Marcus and his affiliated entities may have a conflict of interest with the Company, which may be detrimental to the interests of the Company’s stockholders.
 
The influence of executive officers, directors and significant stockholders may be detrimental to holders of common stock. As of September 30, 2014, George M. Marcus, the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, wholly or partially owned 1.6 million shares of common stock (including shares issuable upon exchange of limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership and certain other partnerships and assuming exercise of all vested options), respectively.  Mr. Marcus currently does not have majority control over the Company. However, he currently has, and likely will continue to have, significant influence with respect to the election of directors and approval or disapproval of significant corporate actions. Consequently, his influence could result in decisions that do not reflect the interests of all the Company’s stockholders.
 
45

Under the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, the consent of the holders of limited partnership interests is generally required for certain amendments of the agreement and for certain extraordinary actions. Through their ownership of limited partnership interests and their positions with the Company, the Company’s directors and executive officers, including Mr. Marcus, have substantial influence on the Company. Consequently, their influence could result in decisions that do not reflect the interests of all stockholders.
 
The voting rights of preferred stock may allow holders of preferred stock to impede actions that otherwise benefit holders of common stock. Essex currently has outstanding shares of 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series H Preferred Stock”). In general, the holders of the Company’s outstanding shares of Series H Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. However, if full distributions are not made on outstanding Series H Preferred Stock for six quarterly distributions periods, the holders of Series H Preferred Stock, together with holders of other series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred, will have the right to elect two additional directors to serve on Essex’s Board of Directors.
 
These voting rights continue until all distributions in arrears and distributions for the current quarterly period on the Series H Preferred Stock have been paid in full. At that time, the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock are divested of these voting rights, and the term of office of the directors so elected immediately terminates. While any shares of the Company’s Series H Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company may not, without the consent of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series H Preferred Stock:
 
·
authorize or create any class or series of stock that ranks senior to the Series H Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company’s business; or
 
·
amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Company’s Charter, including by merger or consolidation, that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the Series H Preferred Stock; provided that in the case of a merger or consolidation, so long as the Series H Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or the holders of shares of Series H Preferred Stock receive shares of stock or other equity securities with rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially similar to that of the Series H Preferred Stock, the occurrence of such merger or consolidation shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock.

These voting rights of the holders of the Series H Preferred Stock and of other preferred stock may allow such holders to impede or veto actions that would otherwise benefit the holders of the Company’s common stock.
 
The Maryland business combination law may not allow certain transactions between the Company and its affiliates to proceed without compliance with such law. Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as any person (and certain affiliates of such person) who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock. The law also requires a supermajority stockholder vote for such transactions. This means that the transaction must be approved by at least:
 
·
80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares; and
 
·
Two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom the business combination is to be effected.
 
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These voting provisions do not apply if the stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law. As permitted by the statute, the Board of Directors of the Company irrevocably has elected to exempt any business combination by the Company, George M. Marcus, who is the chairman of the Company, and MMC or any entity owned or controlled by Mr. Marcus and MMC. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and supermajority vote requirement described above will not apply to any business combination between the Company, Mr. Marcus, or MMC. As a result, the Company may in the future enter into business combinations with Mr. Marcus and MMC, without compliance with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the Maryland Business Combination Act.
 
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Anti-takeover provisions contained in the Operating Partnership agreement, charter, bylaws, and certain provisions of Maryland law could delay, defer or prevent a change in control. While the Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and generally has full and exclusive responsibility and discretion in the management and control of the Operating Partnership, certain provisions of the Operating Partnership agreement place limitations on the Company’s ability to act with respect to the Operating Partnership. Such limitations could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for the Company’s stock or otherwise be in the best interest of the stockholders or that could otherwise adversely affect the interest of the Company’s stockholders. The partnership agreement provides that if the limited partners own at least 5% of the outstanding units of partnership interest in the Operating Partnership, the Company cannot, without first obtaining the consent of a majority-in-interest of the limited partners in the Operating Partnership, transfer all or any portion of the Company’s general partner interest in the Operating Partnership to another entity. Such limitations on the Company’s ability to act may result in the Company’s being precluded from taking action that the Board of Directors believes is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders.
 
The Company’s Charter authorizes the issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock and the setting of the preferences, rights and other terms of such preferred stock without the approval of the holders of the common stock. The Company may establish one or more series of preferred stock that could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control. Such a transaction might involve a premium price for the Company’s stock or otherwise be in the best interests of the holders of common stock. Also, such a class of preferred stock could have dividend, voting or other rights that could adversely affect the interest of holders of common stock.
 
The Company’s Charter contains other provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders. The Charter contains ownership provisions limiting the transferability and ownership of shares of capital stock, which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control. For example, subject to receiving an exemption from the Board of Directors, potential acquirers may not purchase more than 6% in value of the stock (other than qualified pension trusts which can acquire 9.9%). This may discourage tender offers that may be attractive to the holders of common stock and limit the opportunity for stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of common stock.
 
The Maryland General Corporation Law restricts the voting rights of shares deemed to be “control shares.” Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, “control shares” are those which, when aggregated with any other shares held by the acquirer, entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power within specified ranges. Although the Bylaws exempt the Company from the control share provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors may amend or eliminate the provisions of the Bylaws at any time in the future. Moreover, any such amendment or elimination of such provision of the Bylaws may result in the application of the control share provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law not only to control shares which may be acquired in the future, but also to control shares previously acquired. If the provisions of the Bylaws are amended or eliminated, the control share provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or change in control that might involve a premium price for the stock or otherwise be in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders.
 
The Company’s Charter and bylaws also contain other provisions that may impede various actions by stockholders without approval of the Company’s board of directors, which in turn may delay, defer or prevent a transaction, including a change in control. Those provisions include:
 
·
directors may be removed, without cause, only upon a two-thirds vote of stockholders, and with cause, only upon a majority vote of stockholders;
 
·
the Company’s board can fix the number of directors and fill vacant directorships upon the vote of a majority of the directors;
 
·
stockholders must give advance notice to nominate directors or propose business for consideration at a stockholders’ meeting; and
 
·
for stockholders to call a special meeting, the meeting must be requested by not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.
 
The Company’s joint ventures and joint ownership of communities and partial interests in corporations and limited partnerships could limit the Company’s ability to control such communities and partial interests. Instead of purchasing and developing apartment communities directly, the Company has invested and may continue to invest in joint ventures. Joint venture partners often have shared control over the development and operation of the joint venture assets. Therefore, it is possible that a joint venture partner in an investment might become bankrupt, or have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with the Company’s business interests or goals, or be in a position to take action contrary to the Company’s instructions or requests, or its policies or objectives. Consequently, a joint venture partners’ actions might subject property owned by the joint venture to additional risk. Although the Company seeks to maintain sufficient influence over any joint venture to achieve its objectives, the Company may be unable to take action without its joint venture partners’ approval, or joint venture partners could take actions binding on the joint venture without its consent. A joint venture partner might fail to approve decisions that are in the Company’s best interest. Should a joint venture partner become bankrupt, the Company could become liable for such partner’s share of joint venture liabilities. In some instances, the Company and the joint venture partner may each have the right to trigger a buy-sell arrangement, which could cause the Company to sell its interest, or acquire a partner’s interest, at a time when the Company otherwise would have not have initiated such a transaction.
 
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From time to time, the Company, through the Operating Partnership, invests in corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other entities that have been formed for the purpose of acquiring, developing, financing, or managing real property. In certain circumstances, the Operating Partnership’s interest in a particular entity may be less than a majority of the outstanding voting interests of that entity. Therefore, the Operating Partnership’s ability to control the daily operations of such an entity may be limited. Furthermore, the Operating Partnership may not have the power to remove a majority of the board of directors (in the case of a corporation) or the general partner or partners (in the case of a limited partnership) of such an entity in the event that its operations conflict with the Operating Partnership’s objectives. The Operating Partnership may not be able to dispose of its interests in such an entity. In the event that such an entity becomes insolvent, the Operating Partnership may lose up to its entire investment in and any advances to the entity. The Company may also incur losses if any guarantees were made by the Company. The Company has, and in the future may, enter into transactions that could require the Company to pay the tax liabilities of partners, which contribute assets into joint ventures or the Operating Partnership, in the event that certain taxable events, which are within the Company’s control, occur. Although the Company plans to hold the contributed assets or defer recognition of gain on sale pursuant to the like-kind exchange rules under Section 1031 of the Code, the Company can provide no assurance that the Company will be able to do so and if such tax liabilities were incurred they could have a material impact on its financial position.
 
Investments in mortgages and other real estate securities could affect the Company’s ability to make distributions to stockholders. The Company may invest in securities related to real estate, which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to make distributions to stockholders. The Company may purchase securities issued by entities which own real estate and invest in mortgages or unsecured debt obligations. These mortgages may be first, second or third mortgages that may or may not be insured or otherwise guaranteed. In general, investments in mortgages include the following risks:
 
·
that the value of mortgaged property may be less than the amounts owed, causing realized or unrealized losses;
 
·
the borrower may not pay indebtedness under the mortgage when due, requiring the Company to foreclose, and the amount recovered in connection with the foreclosure may be less than the amount owed;
 
·
that interest rates payable on the mortgages may be lower than the Company’s cost of funds; and
 
·
in the case of junior mortgages, that foreclosure of a senior mortgage could eliminate the junior mortgage.
 
If any of the above were to occur, it could adversely affect cash flows from operations and the Company’s ability to make expected dividends to stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s ability to make expected distributions to unit holders.

A breach of the Company’s privacy or information security systems could materially adversely affect the Company’s business and financial condition. The protection of customer, employee, and company data is critically important to the Company. Our business requires us to use and store personally identifiable information of its customers and employees. This may include names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, contact preferences, tax identification numbers, and payment account information. The collection and use of personally identifiable information is governed by federal and state laws and regulations. Privacy and information security laws continue to evolve and may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another. Compliance with all such laws and regulations may increase the Company’s operating costs and adversely impact the Company’s ability to market the Company’s properties and services.
 
The security measures put in place by the Company cannot provide absolute security, and our information technology infrastructure may be vulnerable to criminal cyber-attacks or data security incidents due to employee error, malfeasance, or other vulnerabilities.  Any such incident could compromise the Company’s networks, and the information stored by the Company could be accessed, misused, publicly disclosed, corrupted, lost, or stolen resulting in fraud or other harm.  Moreover, if a data security incident or breach affects the Company’s systems or results in the unauthorized release of personally identifiable information, the Company’s reputation and brand could be materially damaged and the Company may be exposed to a risk of loss or litigation and possible liability, which could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.
 
In the third quarter of 2014, the Company discovered and reported that certain of its computer networks containing personal and proprietary information were compromised by a cyber-intrusion. Based on information from our forensic investigation, the Company has confirmed that evidence exists of exfiltration of data on Company systems. The precise nature of the data has not yet been identified, and the Company does not presently have any evidence that data belonging to the Company has been misused.
 
After detecting unusual activity, the Company took immediate steps to assess and contain the intrusion and secure its systems. The Company retained independent forensic computer experts to analyze the impacted data systems and is consulting with law enforcement. The investigation into this cyber-intrusion is ongoing, and the Company is working as quickly as possible to identify whether any employee or resident data may be at risk.  As a precaution, the Company has purchased identity protection services for all current residents and employees.
 
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The Company has recorded $1.2 million in cyber-intrusion expenses in the third quarter of 2014, including legal fees, investigative fees, costs of communications with the Company’s residents and employees, and identity protection services.  The Company expects to incur additional costs as investigation and remediation efforts continue.  Such costs are not currently estimable but could be material to the Company’s future operating results.
 
Privacy and information security risks have generally increased in recent years because of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks. In light of this recent network intrusion, we have dedicated additional Company resources to strengthening the security of the Company’s computer systems.  In the future, the Company may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance the Company’s information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.  Despite these steps, there can be no assurance that the Company will not suffer a similar data security incident in the future, that unauthorized parties will not gain access to sensitive data stored on the Company’s systems, or that any such incident will be discovered in a timely manner.  Further, the techniques used by criminals to obtain unauthorized access to sensitive data are often novel or change frequently; accordingly, the Company may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures.
 
Compliance with laws benefiting disabled persons may require the Company to make significant unanticipated expenditures or impact the Company’s investment strategy. A number of federal, state and local laws (including the Americans with Disabilities Act) and regulations exist that may require modifications to existing buildings or restrict certain renovations by requiring improved access to such buildings by disabled persons and may require other structural features which add to the cost of buildings under construction. Legislation or regulations adopted in the future may impose further burdens or restrictions on the Company with respect to improved access by disabled persons. The costs of compliance with these laws and regulations may be substantial.
 
The Company’s Portfolio may have environmental liabilities. Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, an owner or operator of real estate is liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances on, in, to or migrating from such property. Such laws often impose liability without regard as to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of such substances, or the failure to properly remediate such substances, may adversely affect the owner’s or operator’s ability to sell or rent such property or to borrow using such property as collateral. Persons exposed to such substances, either through soil vapor or ingestion of the substances may claim personal injury damages. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes also may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of such substances at the disposal or treatment facility to which such substances or wastes were sent, whether or not such facility is owned or operated by such person. Certain environmental laws impose liability for release of asbestos-containing materials (“ACMs”) into the air, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of apartment communities for personal injury associated with ACMs. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of apartment communities, the Company could be considered an owner or operator of such properties or as having arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs, including governmental fines and costs related to injuries of persons and property.
 
Investments in real property create a potential for environmental liabilities on the part of the owner of such real property. The Company carries certain limited insurance coverage for this type of environmental risk. The Company has conducted environmental studies which revealed the presence of groundwater contamination at certain communities. Such contamination at certain of these apartment communities was reported to have migrated on-site from adjacent industrial manufacturing operations. The former industrial users of the communities were identified as the source of contamination. The environmental studies noted that certain communities are located adjacent to or possibly down gradient from sites with known groundwater contamination, the lateral limits of which may extend onto such apartment communities. The environmental studies also noted that at certain of these apartment communities, contamination existed because of the presence of underground fuel storage tanks, which have been removed. In general, in connection with the ownership, operation, financing, management and development of apartment communities, the Company may be potentially liable for removal or clean-up costs, as well as certain other costs and environmental liabilities. The Company may also be subject to governmental fines and costs related to injuries to persons and property.
 
There have been an increasing number of lawsuits against owners and managers of apartment communities alleging personal injury and property damage caused by the presence of mold in residential real estate. Some of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial monetary judgments or settlements. The Company has been sued for mold related matters and has settled some, but not all, of such matters. Insurance carriers have reacted to mold related liability awards by excluding mold related claims from standard policies and pricing mold endorsements at prohibitively high rates. The Company has, however, purchased pollution liability insurance, which includes some coverage for mold. The Company has adopted policies for promptly addressing and resolving reports of mold when it is detected, and to minimize any impact mold might have on residents of the property. The Company believes its mold policies and proactive response to address any known existence, reduces its risk of loss from these cases. There can be no assurance that the Company has identified and responded to all mold occurrences. Liabilities resulting from such mold related matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. As of September 30, 2014, potential liabilities for mold and other environmental liabilities are not quantifiable and an estimate of possible loss cannot be made.
 
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California has enacted legislation commonly referred to as “Proposition 65” requiring that “clear and reasonable” warnings be given to consumers who are exposed to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, including tobacco smoke. Although the Company has sought to comply with Proposition 65 requirements, the Company cannot assure you that the Company will not be adversely affected by litigation relating to Proposition 65.
 
Methane gas is a naturally-occurring gas that is commonly found below the surface in several areas, particularly in the Southern California coastal areas. Methane is a non-toxic gas, but can be ignitable in confined spaces. Although naturally-occurring, methane gas is not regulated at the state or federal level, however some local governments, such as the County of Los Angeles, have imposed requirements that new buildings install detection systems in areas where methane gas is known to be located. Methane gas is also associated with certain industrial activities, such as former municipal waste landfills. Radon is also a naturally-occurring gas that is found below the surface. The Company cannot assure you that it will not be adversely affected by costs related to its compliance with methane or radon gas related requirements or litigation costs related to methane or radon gas.
 
The Company has almost no indemnification agreements from third parties for potential environmental clean-up costs at its communities. The Company has no way of determining at this time the magnitude of any potential liability to which it may be subject arising out of environmental conditions or violations with respect to communities formerly owned by the Company. No assurance can be given that existing environmental studies with respect to any of the communities reveal all environmental liabilities, that any prior owner or operator of an apartment community did not create any material environmental condition not known to the Company, or that a material environmental condition does not exist as to any one or more of the communities. The Company has limited insurance coverage for the types of environmental liabilities described above.
 
The Company may incur general uninsured losses. The Company carries comprehensive liability, fire, extended coverage and rental loss insurance for each of the communities. There are, however, certain types of extraordinary losses, such as, for example, losses from terrorism or earthquakes, for which the Company does not have insurance coverage. Substantially all of the communities are located in areas that are subject to earthquake activity. The Company has established a wholly owned insurance subsidiary, Pacific Western Insurance LLC (“PWI”). Through PWI, the Company is self-insured as it relates to earthquake related losses. Additionally, since January 2008, PWI has provided property and casualty insurance coverage for the first $5.0 million of the Company’s property level insurance claims per incident. As of  September 30, 2014, PWI has cash and marketable securities of approximately $42.9 million. These assets are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Beginning in 2013, the Company has obtained limited third party seismic insurance on selected assets in which it holds an ownership interest.
 
Although the Company may carry insurance for potential losses associated with its communities, employees, residents, and compliance with applicable laws, it may still incur losses due to uninsured risks, deductibles, copayments or losses in excess of applicable insurance coverage and those losses may be material. In the event of a substantial loss, insurance coverage may not be able to cover the full replacement cost of the Company’s lost investment, or the insurance carrier may become insolvent and not be able to cover the full amount of the insured losses. Changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors might also affect the Company’s ability to replace or renovate an apartment community after it has been damaged or destroyed.
 
Adverse changes in laws may affect the Company's  liability relating to its properties and its operations. Increases in real estate taxes and income, service and transfer taxes cannot always be passed through to residents or users in the form of higher rents, and may adversely affect the Company's cash available for distribution and its ability to make distributions to its stockholders and pay amounts due on its debt. Similarly, changes in laws increasing the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges or other conditions, as well as changes in laws affecting development, construction and safety requirements, may result in significant unanticipated expenditures, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its ability to make distributions to its stockholders and pay amounts due on our debt. In addition, future enactment of rent control or rent stabilization laws or other laws regulating multifamily housing may reduce rental revenues or increase operating costs.
 
Changes in the Company’s financing policy may lead to higher levels of indebtedness. The Company has adopted a policy of maintaining a limit on debt financing consistent with the existing covenants required to maintain the Company’s unsecured line of credit bank facility, unsecured debt and senior unsecured bonds. The Company’s organizational documents do not limit the amount or percentage of indebtedness that may be incurred. If the Company changed this policy, the Company could incur more debt, resulting in an increased risk of default on the Company’s obligations and the obligations of the Operating Partnership, and an increase in debt service requirements that could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Such increased debt could exceed the underlying value of the communities.
 
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The Company is subject to various tax risks. The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. The Company’s qualification as a REIT requires it to satisfy numerous requirements (some on an annual and a quarterly basis) established under highly technical and complex Code provisions for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations, and involves the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within the Company’s control. Although the Company intends that its current organization and method of operation enable it to qualify as a REIT, it cannot assure you that it so qualifies or that it will be able to remain so qualified in the future. Future legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions (any of which could have retroactive effect) could adversely affect the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT or adversely affect the Company’s stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company would be subject to U.S. federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on the Company’s taxable income at corporate rates, and the Company would not be allowed to deduct dividends paid to its stockholders in computing its taxable income. The Company would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which the Company failed to qualify. The additional tax liability would reduce its net earnings available for investment or distribution to stockholders, and the Company would no longer be required to make distributions to its stockholders. Even if the Company continues to qualify as a REIT, it will continue to be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on the Company’s income and property.
 
The Company has established several taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). Despite its qualification as a REIT, the Company’s TRSs must pay U.S. federal income tax on their taxable income. While the Company will attempt to ensure that its dealings with its TRSs do not adversely affect its REIT qualification, it cannot provide assurance that it will successfully achieve that result. Furthermore, it may be subject to a 100% penalty tax, or its TRSs may be denied deductions, to the extent its dealings with its TRSs are not deemed to be arm’s length in nature. No assurances can be given that the Company’s dealings with its TRSs will be arm’s length in nature.
 
From time to time, the Company may transfer or otherwise dispose of some of its properties.  Under the Code, any gain resulting from transfers of properties that the Company holds as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business would be treated as income from a prohibited transaction subject to a 100% penalty tax. Since the Company acquires properties for investment purposes, it does not believe that its occasional transfers or disposals of property are prohibited transactions. However, whether property is held for investment purposes is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. The Internal Revenue Service may contend that certain transfers or disposals of properties by the Company are prohibited transactions. If the Internal Revenue Service were to argue successfully that a transfer or disposition of property constituted a prohibited transaction, then the Company would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on any gain allocable to it from the prohibited transaction and the Company’s ability to retain future gains on real property sales may be jeopardized. Income from a prohibited transaction might adversely affect the Company’s ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, no assurances can be given that the Company will be able to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT if the Company transferred or disposed of property in a transaction treated as a prohibited transaction.
 
Dividends received from REITs are generally not eligible to be taxed at the preferential qualified dividend income rates (the current maximum rate is 20%) applicable to individual U.S. stockholders who receive dividends from taxable subchapter C corporations.   With limited exceptions, dividends received by individual U.S. stockholders from the Company that are not designated as capital gain dividends will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income, which are as high as 39.6%.  This may cause investors to view REIT investments to be less attractive than investments in non-REIT corporations, which in turn may adversely affect the value of stock in REITs, including the Company’s stock.
 
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Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

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

During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Operating Partnership issued partnership units in private placements in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, in the amounts and for the consideration set forth below:

During the three months ended September 30, 2014, Essex Property Trust, Inc. issued an aggregate of 813,809 of its common stock upon the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock awards and the issuances of common stock into the public market pursuant to its equity distribution program.  Essex Property Trust, Inc. contributed the proceeds from the option exercises and issuances of common stock pursuant to its equity distribution of $152.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to our Operating Partnership in exchange for an aggregate of 813,809 common operating partnership units ("common units"), as required by the Operating Partnership’s partnership agreement.

Item 5: Other Information

The Company issued a press release on August 6, 2014, announcing its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014, and on August 7, 2014, at 1:00 pm EDT or Eastern Daylight Time, held a conference call accessible to the public through a webcast to discuss those results. However, due to an inadvertent error, a Current Report on Form 8-K furnishing the press release pursuant to Item 2.02 thereof was not filed.

Furnished herewith as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, respectively, are the Company’s press release issued August 6, 2014, reporting the Company’s second quarter 2014 financial results, the supplemental information that the Company also released with the press release and the transcript of its subsequent conference call discussing the second quarter results. The earnings call is also archived for playback (for 90 days after the August 7 conference call) at the Company’s website, http://www.essex.com.    Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 are being furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such exhibits be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.
 
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Item 6: Exhibits

A. Exhibits
 
10.1
Form of Equity Distribution Agreement between Essex Property Trust, Inc. and various entities, dated August 28, 2014, attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 2, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
10.2
Form of Amended & Restated Equity Distribution Agreement between Essex Property Trust, Inc. and various entities, dated August 28, 2014, attached as Exhibit 10.2  to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 2, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael J. Schall,  Principal Executive Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Principal Financial Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael J. Schall, Principal Executive Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Certification of Michael T. Dance, Principal Financial Officer of General Partner, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Press Release issued by Essex Property Trust, Inc. dated August 6, 2014, announcing the financial results for the second quarter of 2014 (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K).
 
Supplemental Information issued by Essex Property Trust on August 6, 2014 and accompanying August 6, 2014 earnings release (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K).
 
Transcript of the conference call discussing the second quarter of 2014 results (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K).
 
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SIGNATURE

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

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
 
(Registrant)
   
 
Date: November 6, 2014
   
 
By:  /S/ MICHAEL T. DANCE
 
 
Michael T. Dance
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer)

 
ESSEX PORTFOLIO, L.P.
By Essex Property Trust, Inc., its general partner
 
(Registrant)
   
 
Date: November 6, 2014
   
 
By:  /S/ MICHAEL T. DANCE
 
 
Michael T. Dance
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
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