form10q.htm


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, 2011

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

For the transition period from ________to _________

Commission file number 001-13106

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

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

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

(650) 494-3700
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES  x NO  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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). YES x NO

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):
 
Large accelerated filer  x Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  o 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). 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:  34,124,039 shares of Common Stock as of November 3, 2011.
 


 
 

 
 

ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX

   
Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
3
     
 
4
     
 
5
     
 
6
     
 
7
     
 
9
     
Item 2.
20
     
Item 3.
30
     
Item 4.
30
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
30
     
Item 1A.
31
     
Item 6
31
     
32
 
 
2

 
Part I -- Financial Information

Item 1: Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)

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

The information furnished in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, stockholders' equity, noncontrolling interest, and comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company reflects 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, 2010.
 
 
3

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
Assets
 
2011
   
2010
 
Real estate:
           
Rental properties:
           
Land and land improvements
  $ 836,134     $ 802,325  
Buildings and improvements
    3,331,463       3,265,014  
      4,167,597       4,067,339  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (883,024 )     (878,331 )
                 
      3,284,573       3,189,008  
Real estate under development
    145,226       217,531  
Co-investments
    275,410       107,840  
      3,705,209       3,514,379  
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted
    9,020       13,753  
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted
    23,997       21,941  
Marketable securities
    75,624       92,310  
Notes and other receivables
    51,599       49,444  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    22,225       25,188  
Deferred charges, net
    17,491       15,872  
Total assets
  $ 3,905,165     $ 3,732,887  
                 
Liabilities and  Equity
               
Mortgage notes payable
  $ 1,750,439     $ 1,832,745  
Lines of credit
    244,775       426,000  
Unsecured bonds
    265,000       -  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    63,006       44,750  
Construction payable
    10,589       9,023  
Dividends payable
    39,015       36,405  
Derivative liabilities
    1,634       5,633  
Other liabilities
    20,135       18,968  
Total liabilities
    2,394,593       2,373,524  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Cumulative convertible preferred stock; $.0001 par value:
               
4.875% Series G - 5,980,000 issued and 178,249 outstanding
    4,349       4,349  
Stockholders' equity and noncontrolling interest:
               
Common stock, $.0001 par value, 641,702,178 shares authorized 33,381,506 and 31,324,808 shares issued and outstanding
    3       3  
Cumulative redeemable preferred stock at liquidation value
    73,750       25,000  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,776,546       1,515,468  
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings
    (386,752 )     (313,308 )
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (75,237 )     (77,217 )
Total stockholders' equity
    1,388,310       1,149,946  
Noncontrolling interest
    117,913       205,068  
Total stockholders' equity and noncontrolling interest
    1,506,223       1,355,014  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 3,905,165     $ 3,732,887  
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
4

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues:
                       
Rental and other property
  $ 118,118     $ 103,368     $ 345,984     $ 301,804  
Management and other fees from affiliates
    1,940       959       4,585       3,458  
      120,058       104,327       350,569       305,262  
Expenses:
                               
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes
    30,048       27,600       87,616       77,259  
Real estate taxes
    11,301       10,106       32,896       29,306  
Depreciation
    38,137       31,531       112,563       93,068  
General and administrative
    6,066       6,175       18,551       17,988  
Impairment and other charges
    -       1,615       -       1,615  
      85,552       77,027       251,626       219,236  
                                 
Earnings from operations
    34,506       27,300       98,943       86,026  
                                 
Interest expense before amortization
    (22,096 )     (21,025 )     (66,612 )     (61,085 )
Amortization expense
    (2,936 )     (1,177 )     (8,527 )     (2,958 )
Interest and other income
    2,741       5,788       12,357       20,730  
Equity income (loss) in co-investments
    317       (626 )     (330 )     (1,027 )
Loss on early retirement of debt
    (567 )     -       (820 )     (10 )
Income before discontinued operations
    11,965       10,260       35,011       41,676  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    (880 )     166       4,637       478  
Net income
    11,085       10,426       39,648       42,154  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (2,031 )     (3,506 )     (7,882 )     (11,540 )
Net income attributable to controlling interest
    9,054       6,920       31,766       30,614  
Dividends to preferred stockholders
    (1,367 )     (543 )     (3,385 )     (1,628 )
Excess of cash paid to redeem preferred stock and   units over the carrying value
    -       -       (1,949 )     -  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 7,687     $ 6,377     $ 26,432     $ 28,986  
                                 
Per common share data:
                               
Basic:
                               
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 0.26     $ 0.21     $ 0.69     $ 0.97  
(Loss) income from discontinued operations
    (0.03 )     -       0.13       0.02  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 0.23     $ 0.21     $ 0.82     $ 0.99  
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period
    33,121,728       29,690,910       32,215,549       29,334,359  
                                 
Diluted:
                               
                                 
Income before discontinued operations available to  common stockholders
  $ 0.26     $ 0.21     $ 0.69     $ 0.97  
(Loss) income from discontinued operations
    (0.03 )     -       0.13       0.02  
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 0.23     $ 0.21     $ 0.82     $ 0.99  
Weighted average number of common shares  outstanding during the period
    33,209,289       29,762,420       32,304,686       29,398,637  
                                 
Dividend per common share
  $ 1.040     $ 1.033     $ 3.120     $ 3.098  

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, Noncontrolling Interest, and
Comprehensive Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011
(Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands)

                                             
Distributions
   
Accumulated
             
   
Series F
   
Series H
               
Additional
   
in excess of
   
other
             
   
Preferred stock
   
Preferred stock
   
Common stock
   
paid-in
   
accumulated
   
comprehensive
   
Noncontrolling
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
earnings
   
income (loss)
   
Interest
   
Total
 
Balances at December 31, 2010
    1,000     $ 25,000       -     $ -       31,325     $ 3     $ 1,515,468     $ (313,308 )   $ (77,217 )   $ 205,068     $ 1,355,014  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                       
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       31,766       -       7,882       39,648  
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securites
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (4,109 )     (293 )     (4,402 )
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges and  amortization of swap settlements
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       6,469       448       6,917  
Change in fair value of marketable securities
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (380 )     (18 )     (398 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
                                                                                    41,765  
Issuance of common stock under:
                                                                                       
Stock option and restricted stock plans
    -       -       -       -       97       -       7,591       -       -       -       7,591  
Sale of common stock
    -       -       -       -       1,960       -       256,790       -       -       -       256,790  
Equity based compensation costs
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       804       804  
Equity related issuance costs
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (828 )     -       -       -       (828 )
Issuance of Series H Preferred
    -       -       2,950       73,750       -       -       (2,541 )     -       -       -       71,209  
Redemption of Series F Preferred
    (1,000 )     (25,000 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (25,000 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interest
    -       -       -       -                       -       -       -       800       800  
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (13,268 )     (13,268 )
Dividends declared
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (105,210 )     -       -       (105,210 )
Redemption of Series B Preferred
    -       -       -       -       -       -       1,200       -       -       (80,000 )     (78,800 )
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (1,134 )     -       -       (3,510 )     (4,644 )
Balances at September 30, 2011
    -     $ -       2,950     $ 73,750       33,382     $ 3     $ 1,776,546     $ (386,752 )   $ (75,237 )   $ 117,913     $ 1,506,223  
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
6

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net Income
  $ 39,648     $ 42,154  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Gain on sale of real estate
    (5,051 )     -  
Gain on sale of marketable securities
    (4,543 )     (9,041 )
Loss on early retirement of debt
    820       10  
Equity in co-investments
    3,963       1,027  
Amortization of discount on exchangeable bonds
    -       58  
Amortization of discount on marketable securities
    (3,492 )     (2,853 )
Amortization of deferred interest from settlement of swaps
    6,517       -  
Amortization of discount on notes receivables
    (1,316 )     (3,435 )
Depreciation
    112,678       93,385  
Amortization of deferred financing costs
    2,201       2,437  
Stock-based compensation
    1,618       2,360  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (1,720 )     1,450  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    18,205       19,018  
Other liabilities
    1,166       1,714  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    170,694       148,284  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Additions to real estate:
               
Acquisitions
    (43,328 )     (96,596 )
Improvements to recent acquisitions
    (14,768 )     (2,266 )
Redevelopment expenditures
    (26,929 )     (8,966 )
Revenue generating capital expenditures
    (4,706 )     (788 )
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures
    (13,946 )     (19,169 )
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate
    15,972       -  
Additions to real estate under development
    (72,816 )     (110,972 )
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits
    (1,165 )     (3,046 )
Purchases of marketable securities
    (8,048 )     (18,294 )
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
    27,997       65,889  
Purchases of and advances under notes and other receivables
    -       (21,026 )
Collections of notes and other receivables
    643       1,832  
Contributions to co-investments
    (121,450 )     (78,513 )
Distributions from co-investments
    4,032       40,397  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (258,512 )     (251,518 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Borrowings under mortgage notes payable, lines of credit and bonds
    872,041       616,385  
Repayment under mortgage notes payable, lines of credit and bonds
    (891,734 )     (487,152 )
Additions to deferred charges
    (4,464 )     (1,832 )
Retirement of exchangeable bonds
    -       (1,842 )
Settlement of forward-starting swaps
    (2,395 )     (16,667 )
Net proceeds from stock options exercised
    6,714       3,108  
Net proceeds from issuance of Series H preferred stock
    71,209       -  
Redemption of Series F preferred stock
    (25,000 )     -  
Retirement of Series B preferred units
    (78,800 )     -  
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    257,008       116,641  
Equity related issuance costs
    (765 )     -  
Contributions from noncontrolling interest
    -       3,990  
Distributions to noncontrolling interest
    (13,295 )     (19,694 )
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest
    (4,644 )     (23,745 )
Common and preferred stock dividends paid
    (102,790 )     (91,950 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    83,085       97,242  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (4,733 )     (5,992 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    13,753       20,660  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 9,020     $ 14,668  
 
(Continued)
 
 
7

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

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
           
Cash paid for interest, net of $6.9 million and $7.3 million  capitalized in 2011 and 2010, respectively
  $ 66,629     $ 61,595  
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Change in accrual of dividends
  $ 2,610     $ 1,397  
Change in value of derivative liabilities
  $ 1,760     $ 24,945  
Change in unrealized gain of marketable securities
  $ 398     $ 3,208  
Mortgage notes assumed in connection with purchase of real estate
               
including the loan premiums recorded
  $ 20,927     $ 87,540  
Non-cash contribution from noncontrolling interest
  $ 800       -  
Change in construction payable
  $ 1,566     $ 714  
Transfer of real estate under development to rental properties
  $ 86,995     $ -  
Transfer of real estate under development to co-investments
  $ 54,472     $ -  

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
8

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
(1)  Organization and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements present the accounts of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), which include the accounts of the Company and Essex Portfolio, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership,” which holds the operating assets of the Company) and are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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, except as otherwise noted.  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, 2010.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 include the accounts of the Company and the Operating Partnership.  The Company is the sole general partner in the Operating Partnership, with a 93.7% general partnership interest as of September 30, 2011.  Total Operating Partnership units outstanding were 2,227,730 and 2,200,907 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and the redemption value of the units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $267.4 million and $251.4 million, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company owned or had ownership interests in 155 apartment communities, aggregating 32,076 units, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred interest co-investments,  (collectively, the “Communities”, and individually, a “Community”), six commercial buildings and five active development projects (collectively, the “Portfolio”).  The Communities are located in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ventura counties), Northern California (the San Francisco Bay Area) and the Seattle metropolitan area.

Fund Activities
 
Essex Apartment Value Fund II, L.P. (“Fund II”) is an investment fund formed by the Company to add value through rental growth and asset appreciation, utilizing the Company’s development, redevelopment and asset management capabilities.  Fund II has eight institutional investors, and the Company, with combined partner equity contributions of $265.9 million.  The Company contributed $75.0 million to Fund II, which represents a 28.2% interest as general partner and limited partner.  Fund II utilized leverage equal to approximately 55% upon the initial acquisition of the underlying real estate.  Fund II invested in apartment communities in the Company’s targeted West Coast markets and, as of September 30, 2011, owned 14 apartment communities and 2,971 units.  The Company records revenue for its asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services when earned, and promote income when realized if Fund II exceeds certain financial return benchmarks.

In 2011, the Company entered into a 50/50 programmatic joint venture, Wesco I, LLC (“Wesco”), with an institutional partner for a total equity commitment of $200 million.  Each partner’s equity commitment is $100 million, and Wesco will utilize leverage equal to approximately 50% to 60%.  The Company has contributed $56.8 million to Wesco, and as of September 30, 2011, Wesco owned 4 apartment communities with 1,693 units.  Investments must meet certain criteria to qualify for inclusion in the joint venture and both partners must approve any new acquisitions and material dispositions. The joint venture has an investment period of up to two years.  The Company will receive asset and property management fees, and may earn a promoted interest.  The Company accounts for this joint venture on the equity method.

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 entitled “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”), and any unrealized gain or loss is recorded as other comprehensive income (loss).  There were no impairment charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Realized gains and losses and interest income are included in interest and other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  Amortization of purchase discounts are included in interest income.
 
 
9

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
As of September 30, 2011, marketable securities consisted primarily of common stock and investments in mortgage backed securities and investment funds that invest in U.S. treasury or agency securities.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company classified its investments in mortgage backed securities, which mature in November 2019 and September 2020, as held to maturity, and accordingly, these securities are stated at their amortized cost of $45.5 million.  The estimated fair values of the mortgage backed securities (Level 2 securities) are approximately equal to the carrying values.

As of September 30, 2011 the Company classified the following marketable securities as available for sale (dollars in thousands):

   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gain/(Loss)
   
Fair Value
 
Investment-grade unsecured bonds
  $ 3,611     $ 373     $ 3,984  
Investment funds - US treasuries
    11,789       145       11,934  
Common stock
    14,513       (319 )     14,194  
Total
  $ 29,913     $ 199     $ 30,112  
 
   
December 31, 2010
 
         
Gross
       
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
       
   
Cost
   
Gain
   
Fair Value
 
Investment-grade unsecured bonds
  $ 22,243     $ 4,403     $ 26,646  
Investment funds - US treasuries
    14,345       582       14,927  
Common stock
    8,638       112       8,750  
Total
  $ 45,226     $ 5,097     $ 50,323  
 
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, 2011 and 2010, the proceeds from sales of available for sale securities totaled $26.8 million and $64.7 million, respectively.  These sales all resulted in gains, which totaled $4.5 million and $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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 1,068,693 and 1,096,871 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and the redemption value of the units, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock totaled $128.3 million and $125.3 million, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The consolidated total assets and liabilities related to these VIEs, net of intercompany eliminations, were approximately $215.9 million and $172.4 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2011 and $217.3 million and $168.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.  Interest holders in VIEs consolidated by the Company are allocated net income equal to the cash payments made to those interest holders or distributions from cash flow.  The remaining results of operations are generally allocated to the Company.  As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company did not have any VIE’s for which it was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share 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, “Stock Based Compensation Plans,” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010) are being amortized over the expected service periods.
 
Stock-based compensation expense for options and restricted stock totaled $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, and $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 totaled $0.6 million and $0.4 million and $3.6 million and $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  As of September 30, 2011, the intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding totaled $6.9 million.  As of September 30, 2011, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation granted under the stock option and restricted stock plans totaled $3.7 million.  The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1 to 6 years for the stock option plans and is expected to be recognized straight-line over 7 years for the restricted stock awards.
 
 
10


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
The Company has adopted an incentive program involving the issuance of Series Z and Series Z-1 Incentive Units (collectively referred to as “Z Units”) of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership.  Stock-based compensation expense for Z Units totaled $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $0.7 million and $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  On January 1, 2011, 131,409 Series Z Units were converted into common units of the Operating Partnership.

Stock-based compensation for Z units capitalized totaled $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and 2010, and $0.3 million and $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  As of September 30, 2011, the intrinsic value of the Z-1 Units subject to future vesting totaled $15.6 million.  As of September 30, 2011, total unrecognized compensation cost related to Z-1 Units subject to future vesting totaled $6.3 million.  The unamortized cost is expected to be recognized over the next year to fourteen years subject to the achievement of the stated performance criteria.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company values its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy of valuation techniques described in the FASB statement entitled “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”.  Level 1 inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices observable for the asset or liability.   Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.  The Company uses Level 1 inputs for the fair values of its cash equivalents and its marketable securities except for unsecured bonds and mortgage backed securities.  The Company uses Level 2 inputs for its investments in unsecured bonds, mortgage backed securities, notes receivable, notes payable, and derivative liabilities.  These inputs include interest rates for similar financial instruments.  The Company’s valuation methodology for the swap related to the multifamily revenue refunding bonds for the 101 San Fernando apartment community, is described in more detail in Note 8.  The Company does not use Level 3 inputs to estimate fair values of any of its financial instruments.  The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

Management believes that the carrying amounts of its amounts outstanding under lines of credit, notes receivable and notes and other receivables approximate fair value as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 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 $1.77 billion of fixed rate debt, including unsecured bonds, at September 30, 2011 is approximately $1.88 billion and the fair value of the Company’s $242.2 million of variable rate debt, excluding borrowings under the lines of credit, at September 30, 2011 is $224.9 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, 2011 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.  The fair values of the Company’s investments in mortgage backed securities are approximately equal to the amortized cost carrying value of these securities.  Marketable securities and both the note payable and the swap related to multifamily revenue refunding bonds for the 101 San Fernando apartment community, are carried at fair value as of September 30, 2011, as discussed above and in Note 8.
 
Preferred Equity Transactions

In April, the Company issued 2,950,000 shares of 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series H”) at a price of $25.00 per share for net proceeds of $71.4 million, net of costs and original issuance discounts.  The Series H has no maturity date and generally may not be called by the Company before April 13, 2016.  Net proceeds from the Series H offering were used to redeem all of the 7.875% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units of Essex Portfolio, L.P. (“Series B”) with a liquidation value of $80.0 million, which resulted in excess of cash paid of $1.0 million over the carrying value of Series B due to deferred offering costs and original issuance discounts.
 
In June, the Company redeemed its 7.8125% Series F Preferred Stock (“Series F”) at liquidation value for $25.0 million which resulted in excess of cash paid of $0.9 million over the carrying value of Series F due to deferred offering costs and original issuance discounts.

Accounting Estimates and Reclassifications
 
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, 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 properties, 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.
 
 
11


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
Reclassifications for discontinued operations have been made to prior year statements of operations balances in order to conform to current year presentation.  Such reclassifications have no impact on reported earnings, cash flows, total assets or total liabilities.

(2)  Significant Transactions During the Third Quarter of 2011 and Subsequent Events

Acquisition

In September, the Company acquired the Bernard, a 63-unit community located in the Lower Queen Anne district of Seattle, Washington for $13.8 million.  As part of the transaction, the Company assumed a $9.4 million loan secured by the property at a fixed rate of 6.0% which matures in January 2019.  The interest rate was unfavorable compared to currently available market rates for mortgage loans, and thus the Company recorded a $1.1 million loan premium to reflect the debt at fair value along with a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the property.  This results in an effective interest rate for this loan of 4.0%.

Dispositions

During the quarter, the Company sold its preferred stock investment in Multifamily Technology Solutions, Inc, which owns MyNewPlace.com, a real estate technology company, for net proceeds of $1.6 million and a realized gain of $0.9 million.
 
Also, during the quarter, the Company also sold the View Pointe land parcel located in Newcastle, Washington for net proceeds of $1.4 million and a realized gain of $0.2 million.
 
Development

In September, the Company entered into a development joint venture with a regional developer for the construction of Fountain at La Brea, a 187-unit community with approximately 18,200 square feet of retail located in West Hollywood, California.  The regional developer contributed the land and the Company contributed approximately $9.0 million in cash for a 50% interest in the venture.  The joint venture acquired bond financing for the project in the amount of $54.5 million with a maturity date of October 2046 and entered into an interest rate swap transaction with respect to the bonds that terminates in September 2016 at a rate of SIFMA + 1.50.  As of September 30, 2011, $13.5 million of the bonds were outstanding.  The Company does not consolidate this joint venture and will account for it under the equity method of accounting.

During the quarter, the Company entered into a joint venture with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) to develop its 309-unit community located in West Dublin, California.   The Company contributed the land to the joint venture, and the Company will account for this joint venture on the equity method.  The Company will hold a 55% interest in the venture and will earn development, asset and property management fees, and may earn a promoted interest.

In October, the Company acquired the remaining 15% interest of a development joint venture for $0.8 million with the former land owner of a 12.6 acre operating retail site located in Santa Clara, California. The Company previously purchased an 85% interest in the venture in April, and the Company plans to entitle the 7.6 acre mixed-use site for 494 units, and an adjacent 5 acre parcel for retail.  The former joint venture partner has an option to purchase the retail parcel.

Co-investments

In July, the Company acquired Reveal (formerly Millennium at Warner Center), a 438-unit community located in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles through the Wesco joint venture.  The property, which was completed in 2010, was acquired for $132.9 million.  Wesco obtained a mortgage loan for $78.7 million at LIBOR + 1.9% secured by Reveal with a maturity of two years with two 1-year extensions.
 
 
12


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
In September, the Company acquired Redmond Hill, a group of four communities built between 1985 and 2003 consisting of 882-units in Redmond, Washington.  The properties, which will be operated as two separate communities, were acquired for $151.3 million through the Company’s previously announced programmatic joint venture, Wesco.  The Company intends to renovate portions of each property, beginning with building exteriors and community amenities, to be followed by apartment interior upgrades for a total cost of approximately $11.7 million.  In conjunction with the acquisition, Wesco obtained two 10-year loans totaling $97.1 million secured by Redmond Hill at a fixed rate of 4.06%.

Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Preferred Units
 
During the quarter, the Company sold 647,787 shares of common stock for $88.2 million, net of commissions, at an average per share price of $137.83.  Year to date through September, the Company has sold 1,959,411 shares of common stock for $256.8 million, net of commissions, at an average price of $132.65, and no stock has been sold to date in the fourth quarter.  The Company may sell an additional 1,066,889 shares under the current equity distribution program.
 
Bonds
 
During the quarter, the Company repaid tax-exempt bonds for $9.8 million associated with the Boulevard community, and in conjunction with this repayment of the bonds 35 apartment units were released from an affordable rent bond program.   The Company wrote-off $0.2 million of unamortized deferred charges related to the bonds.
 
Line of Credit
 
In August, the Company gave notice to terminate the $250 million secured line of credit facility with Freddie Mac which matures in December 2013.  As of September 30, 2011, $174.0 million is outstanding under this line of credit and the Company intends to repay this using proceeds form other borrowings. The 11 properties that are the security for this secured facility will be unencumbered upon termination of the secured facility.  Due to the early termination of the credit facility the Company has accelerated the amortization of the deferred facility charges, and the result is that an additional $0.3 million in amortization of deferred charges was recorded in the third quarter and another $0.3 million will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011.

In September, the Company amended the existing unsecured line of credit facility to increase the capacity to $425 million from $275 million with an accordion feature to expand the facility to $500 million.  The borrowing rate is LIBOR + 1.25% and an annual facility fee of 0.25%.  Interest on the credit facility floats at a margin over LIBOR plus a facility fee, which are tied to the Company’s senior unsecured credit ratings.  The term of the amended facility is three years and provides for two, 1-year extension options.
 
 
13

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
(3) Co-investments
 
The Company has joint venture investments in co-investments, which are accounted for under the equity method.  The joint ventures own, operate and develop apartment communities.

The following table details the Company's co-investments (dollars in thousands):
 
             
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
             
Investments in joint ventures accounted for under the equity  method of accounting:
           
             
Partnership interest in Fund II
  $ 64,505     $ 66,000  
Membership interest in Wesco
    55,444       -  
Membership interest in a limited liability company that owns  Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place
    25,781       29,187  
Total operating co-investments
    145,730       95,187  
Membership interest in a limited liability company that owns and is developing Cadence and West Dublin
    68,368       -  
Membership interest in a limited liability company that owns  and is developing Queen Anne
    17,000       -  
Membership interest in a limited liability company that owns and is developing Fountain at La Brea
    9,186       -  
Total development co-investments
    94,554       -  
                 
Preferred interests in limited liability companies that own  apartment communities in downtown Los Angeles with preferred returns of 9% and 10%
    22,792       -  
Preferred interest in a related limited liability company that owns Madison Park at Anaheim with a preferred return of 13%
    12,334       12,014  
Total preferred interest investments
    35,126       12,014  
                 
Investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting:
               
Series A and B-2 Preferred Stock interests in Multifamily Technology Solutions, Inc.
    -       639  
Total co-investments
  $ 275,410     $ 107,840  
 
 
14

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
The combined summarized balance sheet and statements of operations for co-investments, which are accounted for under the equity method, are as follows (dollars in thousands).

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Balance sheets:
           
Rental properties and real estate under development
  $ 1,405,295     $ 750,808  
Other assets
    58,806       15,864  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,464,101     $ 766,672  
                 
Debt
  $ 886,632     $ 450,693  
Other liabilities
    56,050       7,076  
Equity
    521,419       308,903  
                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 1,464,101     $ 766,672  
                 
Company's share of equity
  $ 275,410     $ 107,201  
 
`
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Statements of operations:
                       
Property revenues
  $ 28,286     $ 13,824     $ 70,882     $ 38,634  
Property operating expenses
    (11,699 )     (6,513 )     (29,394 )     (17,176 )
Net property operating income
    16,587       7,311       41,488       21,458  
                                 
Interest expense
    (7,354 )     (3,262 )     (22,764 )     (9,174 )
General and administrative
    (82 )     -       (1,104 )     -  
Depreciation and amortization
    (11,957 )     (5,419 )     (29,963 )     (14,628 )
                                 
Net loss
  $ (2,806 )   $ (1,370 )   $ (12,343 )   $ (2,344 )
                                 
Company's share of operating income (loss)
    (602 )     (626 )     (1,249 )     (1,027 )
Company's preferred interest/gain - Multifamily Technology Solutions, Inc.
    919       -       919       -  
Company's share of net income (loss)
  $ 317     $ (626 )   $ (330 )   $ (1,027 )
 
(4)  Notes and Other Receivables
 
Notes receivable secured by real estate, and other receivables consist of the following as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at 6.3%, due February 2014
  $ 17,446     $ 16,708  
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at 8.8%, due December 2012
    10,930       10,930  
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at 9.8%, due March 2012
    7,390       7,331  
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at LIBOR + 8.0%, due December 2012
    6,443       6,513  
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at 6.5%, due November 2011
    3,199       3,221  
Note receivable, secured, bearing interest at 8.0%, due November 2011
    971       971  
Other receivables
    5,220       3,770  
    $ 51,599     $ 49,444  
 
 
15

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
(5)   Related Party Transactions
 
Management and other fees from affiliates include management, development and redevelopment fees from co-investments of $1.9 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $4.6 million and $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and a property acquisition fee of $0.5 million from the limited liability company that owns Skyline at MacArthur Place for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  All of these fees are net of intercompany amounts eliminated by the Company.

An Executive Vice President of the Company invested $4.0 million for a 6% limited partnership interest in a partnership with the Company that acquired a 50% interest in a limited liability company that acquired Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place.  The Executive Vice President’s investment is equal to a pro-rata share of the contributions, and distributions resulting from distributable cash generated by Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place will be calculated in the same manner as the calculation of distributions to the third party investor.  The Executive Vice President does not participate in any promote interest or fees paid to the Company by the Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place joint venture.

(6)   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 co-investments, real estate under development, cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, notes receivable, other assets and deferred charges.  The revenues, net operating income, and assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (dollars in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues:
                       
Southern California
  $ 56,945     $ 50,666     $ 167,649     $ 151,662  
Northern California
    37,757       32,770       109,624       92,731  
Seattle Metro
    20,530       17,932       60,495       51,377  
Other real estate assets
    2,886       2,000       8,216       6,034  
Total property revenues
  $ 118,118     $ 103,368     $ 345,984     $ 301,804  
                                 
Net operating income:
                               
Southern California
  $ 36,780     $ 32,742     $ 109,105     $ 100,191  
Northern California
    24,790       20,922       72,129       59,966  
Seattle Metro
    12,964       10,882       38,294       31,581  
Other real estate assets
    2,235       1,116       5,944       3,501  
Total net operating income
    76,769       65,662       225,472       195,239  
                                 
Depreciation
    (38,137 )     (31,531 )     (112,563 )     (93,068 )
Interest expense before amortization
    (22,096 )     (21,025 )     (66,612 )     (61,085 )
Amortization expense
    (2,936 )     (1,177 )     (8,527 )     (2,958 )
Interest and other income
    2,741       5,788       12,357       20,730  
General and administrative
    (6,066 )     (6,175 )     (18,551 )     (17,988 )
Impairment and other charges
    -       (1,615 )     -       (1,615 )
Management and other fees from affiliates
    1,940       959       4,585       3,458  
Equity income (loss) from co-investments
    317       (626 )     (330 )     (1,027 )
Loss on early retirement of debt
    (567 )     -       (820 )     (10 )
Income before discontinued operations
  $ 11,965     $ 10,260     $ 35,011     $ 41,676  
 
 
16

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
Total assets for each of the reportable operating segments are summarized as follows as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Assets:
           
Southern California
  $ 1,482,611     $ 1,428,264  
Northern California
    1,137,647       1,119,555  
Seattle Metro
    566,506       560,463  
Other real estate assets
    97,809       80,726  
Net reportable operating segments - real estate assets
    3,284,573       3,189,008  
Real estate under development
    145,226       217,531  
Cash and cash equivalents
    33,017       35,694  
Marketable securities
    75,624       92,310  
Co-investments
    275,410       107,840  
Notes and other receivables
    51,599       49,444  
Other non-segment assets
    39,716       41,060  
Total assets
  $ 3,905,165     $ 3,732,887  
 
 
17

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
(7)   Net Income Per Common Share
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per share and unit data)

   
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
         
Weighted-
   
Per
         
Weighted-
   
Per
 
         
average
   
Common
         
average
   
Common
 
         
Common
   
Share
         
Common
   
Share
 
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Amount
 
Basic:
                                   
Income from operations available to common stockholders
  $ 8,505       33,122     $ 0.26     $ 6,224       29,691     $ 0.21  
                                                 
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
    (818 )     33,122       (0.03 )     153       29,691       -  
      7,687             $ 0.23       6,377             $ 0.21  
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)(2)
    -       87               -       71          
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders
    8,505       33,209     $ 0.26       6,224       29,762     $ 0.21  
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders
    (818 )     33,209       (0.03 )     153       29,762       -  
    $ 7,687             $ 0.23     $ 6,377             $ 0.21  
 
      Nine Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
       September 30, 2011      September 30, 2010  
            Weighted      Per            Weighted      Per  
           Average      Common            Average      Common  
           Common      Share           Common      Share  
     Income     Shares      Amount      Income      Shares      Amount  
                                     
Basic:
                                   
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders
  $ 22,096       32,216     $ 0.69     $ 28,555       29,334     $ 0.97  
Income from discontinued operations    available to common stockholders
    4,336       32,216       0.13       431       29,334       0.02  
      26,432             $ 0.82       28,986             $ 0.99  
                                                 
Effect of Dilutive Securities (1)(2)
    -       89               -       65          
                                                 
Diluted:
                                               
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (1)
    22,096       32,305       0.69     $ 28,555       29,399       0.97  
Income from discontinued operations   available to common stockholders
    4,336       32,305       0.13       431       29,399       0.02  
    $ 26,432             $ 0.82     $ 28,986             $ 0.99  
 
 
(1)
Weighted average convertible limited partnership units of 2,228,404 and 2,233,088, which includes vested Series Z incentive units, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and weighted average convertible limited partnership units of 2,200,907 and 2,325,220 which includes vested Series Z incentive units, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, were not included in the determination of diluted EPS because they were 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.

Stock options of 22,000 and 116,747 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and 29,500 and 133,432 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average market price of the common shares for the three and six months ended and, therefore, were anti-dilutive.

All shares of cumulative convertible preferred stock Series G have been excluded from diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, as the effect was anti-dilutive.

 
(2)
Net income allocated to convertible limited partnership units, which includes vested Series Z units, aggregating $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 respectively, and $2.2 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, have been excluded from income available to common stock holders for the calculation of net 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.
 
 
18

 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
(8)   Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
Currently, the Company uses interest rate cap contracts to manage certain interest rate risks and previously the Company also used forward starting swaps to manage interest rate risks.  As of September 30, 2011, there are no outstanding forward starting interest rate swaps. 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.

During July 2010, the Company entered into a swap transaction (the “swap”) with respect to $38.0 million of multifamily revenue refunding bonds for the 101 San Fernando apartment community (the “Bonds”) with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”).  This swap is not designated as a hedge; accordingly the change in fair value of the swap is recorded as a gain or loss in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.  Under the terms of the Swap, the Company pays a variable amount equal to the SIFMA Index plus a fixed spread on a notional amount that starts at $35.2 million and over the three-year term of the swap increases ratably to $38.0 million.  In return, Citibank pays an amount equal to the coupon on the Bonds multiplied by the outstanding par value of the bonds, $38.0 million.  The Swap has a termination date of July 12, 2013 and may be terminated by the Company at anytime commencing after July 2012 and by Citibank if certain events occur.  Upon termination of the swap, whether early or on the stated termination date, a payment based on the change in value of the Bonds will occur.  Should the Bonds decline in value from the $35.2 million estimated value of the Bonds at the inception of the swap, the Company will be obligated to make a payment equal to 100% of the price depreciation.  Should the Bonds increase in value, Citibank will be obligated to make a payment equal to approximately 85% of the price appreciation. As of September 30, 2011, the fair value of the swap was a liability of approximately $1.6 million.

As of September 30, 2011 the Company had twelve interest rate cap contracts totaling a notional amount of $191.9 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 the Company’s $202.9 million of tax exempt variable rate debt.  The aggregate carrying value of the interest rate cap contracts was an asset of $0.1 million.  During the first quarter of 2011, the Company settled its remaining $20.0 million of forward starting swaps for a $2.3 million payment to the counterparty.  The amortization of the  forward starting swap settlement amounts along with the changes in the fair value of the interest rate cap contracts are reflected in other comprehensive (loss) income in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.  The overall fair value of the Company’s derivatives changed by $4.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to a net liability of $1.6 million as of September 30, 2011.

(9)   Discontinued Operations

In the normal course of business, the Company will receive offers for sale of its communities, either solicited or unsolicited. For those offers that are accepted, the prospective buyer will usually require a due diligence period before consummation of the transaction.  It is not unusual for matters to arise that result in the withdrawal or rejection of the offer during this process.  The Company classifies real estate as "held for sale" when the sale is considered to be probable.

The Company sold Woodlawn Colonial, a 159 unit community located in Chula Vista, California for $16.0 million for a gain of $4.4 million net of internal disposition costs and California state taxes of $0.9 million.  The property was purchased in 2002 as part of the John M. Sachs, Inc. merger.
 
 
19


ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011 and 2010
(Unaudited)
 
The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Company owned such assets, as described above (dollars in thousands).

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Rental revenues
  $ -     $ 453     $ 595     $ 1,337  
Property operating expenses
    -       (180 )     (228 )     (542 )
Depreciation and amortization
    -       (107 )     (115 )     (317 )
Income from real estate sold
    -       166       252       478  
Gain on sale
    -       -       5,854       -  
Internal disposition costs and taxes
    (880 )     -       (1,469 )     -  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
  $ (880 )   $ 166     $ 4,637     $ 478  

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

The Company provided a loan and construction completion guarantee to the lender in order to fulfill the lender’s standard financing requirements related to the construction of the Queen Anne community.  The outstanding balance for the construction loan is included in the debt line item in the balance sheet of the co-investments included in Note 3.  The construction completion guarantee is for the life of the loan, which is scheduled to mature on July 1, 2014, with two, one-year extension options at the Queen Anne joint venture’s option.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all terms of the construction loan and the construction of the community is expected to be completed on time and within budget.  The maximum exposure of the guarantee as of September 30, 2011 was $79.1 million based on the construction costs that were budgeted to be incurred to complete the construction.
 
The Company provided a payment guarantee to the counterparty in relation to the total return swap entered into by the joint venture responsible for the development of the Fountain at La Brea community.  Further the Company has guaranteed completion of development and debt service for Fountain at La Brea.  The outstanding balance for the loan is included in the debt line item in the 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 total return swap which is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2016.  The maximum exposure of the guarantee as of September 30, 2011 was $13.5 million based on the current 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 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
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, 2011, the Company had ownership interests in 155 apartment communities, comprising 32,076 apartment units, excluding the Company’s ownership in preferred interest co-investments.  The Company’s apartment communities are located in the following major West Coast regions:

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

As of September 30, 2011, the Company also had ownership interests in six commercial buildings with approximately 354,800 square feet.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company's consolidated development pipeline was comprised of one consolidated development project and three land parcels held for future development or sale aggregating 582 units, with total incurred costs of $145.2 million.  The estimated remaining project costs are $10.8 million and the total active development project costs are $156.0 million.
 
 
20


The Company has four unconsolidated joint venture development projects, Queen Anne, a 275 unit condominium project, West Dublin, a 309 unit project, Fountain at La Brea, a 187 unit project and Cadence a three-phase project with 280 units in phase 1.  Development is underway for the first of three phases for Cadence which is comprised of 280 units.  As of September 30, 2011, total costs incurred are $132.6 million, with estimated remaining project costs of $251.8 million for total estimated costs of $346.9 million.

The Company’s consolidated apartment communities are as follows:
 
   
As of September 30, 2011
   
As of September 30, 2010
 
   
Apartment Units
   
%
   
Apartment Units
   
%
 
Southern California
    13,204       49 %     12,334       48 %
Northern California
    7,817       29 %     7,696       30 %
Seattle Metro
    6,042       22 %     5,701       22 %
Total
    27,063       100 %     25,731       100 %
 
Co-investments accounted for using the equity method including Fund II, Wesco communities, Essex Skyline at MacArthur Place, and preferred equity co-investments communities, totaling 7,915 units, are not included in the table above for both years presented above.

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

The 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, 2011 and 2010) decreased 130 basis points to 95.4% as of September 30, 2011 from 96.7% as of September 30, 2010.  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.
 
Market rates are determined using a variety of factors such as effective rental rates at the property based on recently signed leases and asking rates for comparable properties in the market.  The recently signed effective rates at the property are used as the starting point in the determination of the market rates of vacant units.  The Company then increases or decreases 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.
 
 
21

 
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, 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 quarter ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Southern California
    95.4 %     96.5 %
Northern California
    95.6 %     97.1 %
Seattle Metro
    95.1 %     96.7 %
 
The following table provides a breakdown of revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to the Quarterly Same-Property portfolio:
 
         
Three Months Ended
             
   
Number of
   
September 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
Properties
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
 
Property Revenues (dollars in thousands)
                       
Quarterly Same-Property:
                             
Southern California
    58     $ 51,955     $ 50,619     $ 1,336       2.6 %
Northern California
    27       31,026       29,209       1,817       6.2  
Seattle Metro
    23       15,507       14,757       750       5.1  
Total Quarterly Same-Property revenues.
    108       98,488       94,585       3,903       4.1  
Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues (1)
            19,630       8,783       10,847       123.5  
Total property revenues
          $ 118,118     $ 103,368     $ 14,750       14.3 %

 
(1)
Includes ten communities acquired after July 1, 2010, three redevelopment communities, eight development communities, and four commercial buildings.

Quarterly Same-Property Revenues increased by $3.9 million or 4.1% to $98.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $94.6 million in the third quarter of 2010.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $4.9 million as reflected in an increase of 5.3% in average rental rates from $1,321 per unit in the third quarter of 2010 to $1,391 per unit in the third quarter of 2011.  Scheduled rents increased by 3.4%, 7.8%, and 6.9% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively.  The increases related to gross income were partially offset by a decrease in Quarterly Same-Property financial occupancy from 96.7% for the third quarter of 2010 to 95.4% for the third quarter of 2011.  On a sequential basis the Company experienced quarterly same-property revenue growth from the second quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2011 of 1.0%, resulting from sequential revenue growth in all three regions.

Quarterly Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $10.8 million or 124% to $19.6 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2010.  The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from eight development communities (Joule, Fourth & U, Via, Axis 2300, Allegro, Bellerive, Muse, and Santee Village), ten communities acquired since July 1, 2010 (101 San Fernando, The Commons, Bella Villagio, Family Tree, 416 on Broadway, Anavia, Santee Court, Corbella at Juanita Bay, Courtyard off Main, and Bernard) and the acquisition of the Santa Clara retail center.

Management and Other Fees From Affiliates increased by $1.0 million compared to the third quarter of 2010 due to the development, asset, and property management fees earned from the Wesco, CPPIB, and Queen Anne joint ventures.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $2.4 million or 8.9% to $30.0 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $27.6 million in the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to the acquisition of ten communities and one retail center, and the lease-up of eight development properties.  Same-Property operating expenses excluding real estate taxes increased by $0.5 million or 1.5% for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, due primarily to an increase of $0.6 million in the timing of maintenance, repair and turnover costs.

Real Estate taxes increased by $1.2 million or 11.8% for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010 due primarily to the acquisition of ten communities and one retail center, and the lease-up of development communities which resulted in an increase in property taxes of $1.4 million.  Same-Property real estate taxes decreased by $0.1 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010 due to a reduction in assessed property valuations for select communities located in California, and a decrease in assessed valuations for select properties in the Seattle Metro.

Depreciation expense increased by $6.6 million or 21.0% for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, due to the acquisition of  ten communities and one retail center, the lease-up of eight development properties, the capitalization of approximately $60.4 million in additions to rental properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the capitalization of approximately $52.0 million in additions to rental properties during 2010, including $16.3 million spent on redevelopment and revenue generating capital expenditures.
 
 
22


Impairment and other charges decreased $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010 due to $1.6 million in expense recorded by the Company due to the ineffectiveness of certain forward-starting swaps during the third quarter of 2010.

Interest expense before amortization increased by $1.1 million or 5.1% for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to the increase in average outstanding debt partially offset by $0.8 million of higher capitalized interest in the third quarter 2011 compared to the third quarter 2010.

Amortization expense increased by $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to the amortization of settlement of forward swaps primarily during the third and fourth quarter of 2010 that were applied to new 10-year secured mortgage loans.

Interest and other income decreased by $3.0 million for the third quarter of 2011 primarily due to $3.4 million of interest income earned during the 2010 period on the Santee Court note receivable that was purchased at a 20% discount to the outstanding principal on this loan during the second quarter of 2010.  No interest on this note was earned during the 2011 period since the note was settled in connection with the Company’s acquisition of the Santee Court community during the fourth quarter of 2010.  There was also a decrease of $1.1 million of interest income earned on marketable securities composed of investment grade unsecured bonds due to the sales of these investments during 2010, offset by $0.6 million increase in income from mortgage backed securities that were purchased in the fourth quarter of 2010 and a $0.2 million gain on the sale of the View Pointe land parcel.

Equity income (loss) in co-investments increased by $0.9 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, due primarily to the gain on the sale of co-investment of $0.9 million.

Discontinued operations decreased by $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to state taxes recorded in the third quarter of 2011 related to the gain from the sale of Woodlawn Colonial in the second quarter of 2011.

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Our average financial occupancies for the Company’s stabilized apartment communities or “2011/2010 Same-Properties” (stabilized properties consolidated by the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010) decreased 70 basis points to 96.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from 97.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The regional breakdown of the Company’s 2011/2010 Same-Property portfolio for financial occupancy for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

     
Nine Months Ended
     
September 30,
     
2011
 
2010
Southern California
   
96.2%
 
96.9%
Northern California
   
96.6%
 
97.5%
Seattle Metro
   
96.3%
 
97.3%
 
 
23


The following table illustrates a breakdown of revenue amounts, including revenues attributable to 2011/2010 Same-Properties.

         
Nine Months Ended
             
   
Number of
   
September 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
Properties
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
Change
 
Property Revenues (dollars in thousands)
                       
2011/2010 Same-Properties:
                             
Southern California
    58     $ 154,982     $ 151,615     $ 3,367       2.2 %
Northern California
    27       91,298       87,456       3,842       4.4  
Seattle Metro
    23       45,817       44,393       1,424       3.2  
Total 2011/2010 Same-Property revenues
    108       292,097       283,464       8,633       3.0  
2011/2010 Non-Same Property Revenues (1)
            53,887       18,340       35,547       193.8  
Total property revenues
          $ 345,984     $ 301,804     $ 44,180       14.6 %
 
(1) Includes eleven communities acquired after January 1, 2010, three redevelopment communities, eight development communities, and four commercial buildings.

2011/2010 Same-Property Revenues increased by $8.6 million or 3.0% to $292.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $283.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in scheduled rents of $9.7 million as reflected in an increase of 3.5% in average rental rates from $1,310 per unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to $1,356 per unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Scheduled rents increased in all regions by 2.4%, 5.2%, and 3.9% in Southern California, Northern California, and Seattle Metro, respectively.  Also, utility billings income increased $0.8 million and other income increased $0.4 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increases related to gross income were partially offset by a decrease in 2011/2010 Same-Property financial occupancy of 70 basis points or $2.5 million, from 97.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 to 96.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

2011/2010 Non-Same Property Revenues increased by $35.5 million or 194% to $53.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $18.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was primarily due to revenue generated from eight development communities (Joule, Fourth & U, Via, Axis 2300, Allegro, Bellerive, Muse, and Santee Village), eleven communities acquired since January 1, 2010 (Elevation, 101 San Fernando, The Commons, Bella Villagio, Family Tree, 416 on Broadway, Anavia, Santee Court, Corbella at Juanita Bay, Courtyard off Main, and Bernard) and the acquisition of the Santa Clara retail center.
   
Management and Other Fees From Affiliates increased by $1.1 million compared to the nine months of 2010 primarily due to the development, asset, and property management fees earned from the Wesco, CPP, and Queen Anne joint ventures.

Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased $10.4 million or 13.4% to $87.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $77.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the acquisition of eleven communities and one retail center, and the lease-up of eight development properties.  2010/2011 Same-Property operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes increased by $2.5 million or 3.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 2010, due mainly to an increase of $1.8 million in the timing of maintenance, repair, and turnover costs, and an increase of $0.6 million or 3.0% in utility costs.

Real Estate taxes expense increased by $3.6 million or 12.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 primarily due to the acquisition of eleven communities and one retail center, and the lease up of eight development properties which resulted in an increase in property taxes of $4.4 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  2010/2011 Same-property real taxes decreased $0.6 million due to the reduction in property assessed valuations for select communities located in California, and a decrease in assessed valuations for select properties in the Seattle Metro.

Depreciation expense increased by $19.5 million or 20.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, due to the acquisition of eleven communities and one retail center, the lease up of eight development properties, and the capitalization of approximately $60.4 million in additions to rental properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the capitalization of approximately $52.0 million in additions to rental properties during 2010, including $16.3 million spent on redevelopment and revenue generating capital expenditures.
 
 
24


Impairment and other charges decreased $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to $1.6 million in expense recorded by the Company due to the ineffectiveness of certain forward-starting swaps during the third quarter of 2010.

Interest expense before amortization increased by $5.5 million or 9.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the increase in average outstanding debt partially offset by $0.4 million higher capitalized interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Amortization expense increased by $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the settlement of forward swaps primarily during the third and fourth quarter of 2010, which were applied to new 10-year secured mortgage loans.

Interest and other income decreased by $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 primarily due to a decrease of $4.5 million in gain on sale of marketable securities and a $4.0 million decrease in interest income on the Santee Court note receivable.  The Company sold marketable securities for a gain of $4.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared $9.0 million in gains generated from the sale of marketable securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  As a result of the Company’s acquisition of Santee Court during the fourth quarter of 2010 and settlement of the note receivable in conjunction with the acquisition, there was a decrease of $4.0 million of interest income earned on the Santee Court note.

Discontinued operations increased by $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to the sale of Woodlawn Colonial for $16 million at a gain of $4.4 million, net of internal disposition costs and taxes.

Liquidity and Capital

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $9.0 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $75.6 million in marketable securities, of which $30.1 million were held 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.

The Company has three lines of credit aggregating $690.0 million as of September 30, 2011.  The Company had a $425.0 million unsecured line of credit with an accordion option to $500.0 million.  As of September 30, 2011 there was a $59.0 million balance on this unsecured line.  The underlying interest rate on the $425.0 million line is based on a tiered rate structure tied to Fitch and S&P ratings on the credit facility and the rate was LIBOR plus 1.25%.  This facility matures in December 2014 with two one-year extensions, exercisable by the Company.  The Company also has a $250.0 million credit facility from Freddie Mac, which matures in December 2013.  This line is secured by eleven apartment communities.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $174.0 million outstanding under this line of credit at an average interest rate of 1.1%.  The underlying interest rate on this line is between 99 and 150 basis points over the Freddie Mac Reference Rate and the interest rate is subject to change by the lender in November 2011.  The Company has elected to terminate the line of credit in the fourth quarter and accordingly accelerated the amortization of the related deferred finance charges totaling $0.3 million for the third and fourth quarters of 2011.  During the first quarter, the Company entered into a new working capital unsecured line of credit agreement for $15.0 million.  As of September 30, 2011 there was $11.8 million outstanding on this unsecured line.  The underlying interest rate on the $15.0 million line is based on a tiered rate structure tied to Fitch and S&P ratings on the credit facility of LIBOR plus 1.25%.  This facility matures in January 2012 with one one-year extension, exercisable by the Company.

The Company’s unsecured bonds and unsecured line of credit agreements contain debt covenants related to limitations on indebtedness and liabilities and maintenance of minimum levels of consolidated earnings before depreciation, interest and amortization.  The Company was in compliance with the line of credit covenants as of September 30, 2011.
 
 
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During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued $265.0 million of unsecured bonds through private placement offerings, $150.0 million at 4.4% with a maturity date of March 2016, $40.0 million at 4.5% with a maturity date of September 2017, and $75.0 million at 4.92% with a maturity date of December 2019.  The proceeds from the bond offerings were used primarily to repay outstanding mortgages, redeem the Series F Preferred Stock, and pay down the Company’s line of credit.

In January 2011, additional banks entered into equity distribution agreements with the Company including Barclays Capital Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., Liquidnet, Inc., and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.  Pursuant to its equity distribution program the Company issued 1,959,411 shares of common stock for $256.8 million, net of fees and commissions, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  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 pay down debt, acquire apartment communities and fund the development pipeline.  As of September 30, 2011 the Company may sell an additional 1,066,889 shares under the current equity distribution program.

During March 2010, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement with the SEC, allowing the Company to sell an undetermined number or amount of certain equity and debt securities as defined in the prospectus.

In April, the Company issued 2,950,000 shares of 7.125% Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Series H”) at a price of $25.00 per share for net proceeds of $71.4 million, net of costs and original issuance discounts.  The Series H has no maturity date and generally may not be called by the Company before April 13, 2016.  Net proceeds from the Series H offering were used to redeem all of the 7.875% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units of Essex Portfolio, L.P. (“Series B”) with a liquidation value of $80.0 million, which resulted in excess of cash paid of $1.0 million over the carrying value of Series B due to deferred offering costs and original issuance discounts.
 
In June, the Company redeemed its 7.8125% Series F Preferred Stock (“Series F”) at liquidation value for $25.0 million which resulted in excess of cash paid of $0.9 million over the carrying value of Series F due to deferred offering costs and original issuance discounts.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company’s mortgage notes payable totaled $1.8 billion which consisted of $1.5 billion in fixed rate debt with interest rates varying from 3.7% to 7.4% and maturity dates ranging from 2012 to 2021 and $242.2 million of variable rate debt with a weighted average interest rate of 1.6% ($202.9 million of the variable debt is tax-exempt variable rate demand notes).  The tax-exempt variable rate demand notes have maturity dates ranging from 2025 to 2039, and $191.9 million are subject to interest rate caps.

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

The Company’s current financing activities have been impacted by the instability and tightening in the credit markets which has led to an increase in spreads and pricing of secured and unsecured debt.  Our strong balance sheet, the established relationships with our unsecured lines of credit bank group and access to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac secured debt financing have provided some insulation to us from the turmoil being experienced by many other real estate companies.  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.  The Company has experienced more restrictive loan to value and debt service coverage ratio limits and an expansion in credit spreads.   Continued turmoil in the capital markets could negatively impact the Company’s ability to make acquisitions, develop communities, obtain new financing, and refinance existing borrowing at attractive rates.

Derivative Activity
 
Currently, the Company uses interest rate cap contracts to manage certain interest rate risks and previously the Company also used forward starting swaps to manage interest rate risks.  As of September 30, 2011, there are no outstanding forward starting interest rate swaps. 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.

During July 2010, the Company entered into a swap transaction (the “swap”) with respect to $38.0 million of multifamily revenue refunding bonds for the 101 San Fernando apartment community (the “Bonds”) with Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”).  This swap is not designated as a hedge; accordingly the change in fair value of the swap is recorded as a gain or loss in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.  Under the terms of the Swap, the Company pays a variable amount equal to the SIFMA Index plus a fixed spread on a notional amount that starts at $35.2 million and over the three-year term of the swap increases ratably to $38.0 million.  In return, Citibank pays an amount equal to the coupon on the Bonds multiplied by the outstanding par value of the bonds, $38.0 million.  The Swap has a termination date of July 12, 2013 and may be terminated by the Company at anytime commencing after July 2012 and by Citibank if certain events occur.  Upon termination of the swap, whether early or on the stated termination date, a payment based on the change in value of the Bonds will occur.  Should the Bonds decline in value from the $35.2 million estimated value of the Bonds at the inception of the swap, the Company will be obligated to make a payment equal to 100% of the price depreciation.  Should the Bonds increase in value, Citibank will be obligated to make a payment equal to approximately 85% of the price appreciation. As of September 30, 2011, the fair value of the swap was a liability of approximately $1.6 million.
 
 
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As of September 30, 2011 the Company had twelve interest rate cap contracts totaling a notional amount of $191.9 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 the Company’s $202.9 million of tax exempt variable rate debt.  The aggregate carrying value of the interest rate cap contracts was an asset of $0.1 million.  During the first quarter of 2011, the Company settled its remaining $20.0 million of forward starting swaps for a $2.3 million payment to the counterparty.  The amortization of forward starting swap settlement amounts along with the changes in the fair values of the interest rate cap contracts are reflected in other comprehensive (loss) income in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.  The overall fair value of the Company’s derivatives changed by $4.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to a net liability of $1.6 million as of September 30, 2011.

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, 2011, the Company had one consolidated and four unconsolidated joint venture development projects aggregating 1,335 units for an estimated cost of $458.9 million, of which $258.4 million remains to be expended.

The Company owned three land parcels held for future development or sale aggregating an estimated 298 units as of September 30, 2011.  The aggregate carrying value for these three land parcels was $44.0 million as of September 30, 2011.  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 properties, if any.

Redevelopment

The Company defines redevelopment activities as existing properties owned or recently acquired, which have been targeted for additional investment by the Company with the expectation of increased financial returns through property improvement.  The Company’s redevelopment strategy strives to improve the financial and physical aspects of the Company’s redevelopment apartment communities and to target at least an 8 to 10 percent return on the incremental renovation investment.  Many of the Company’s properties are older and in excellent neighborhoods, providing lower density with large floor plans that represent attractive redevelopment opportunities.  During redevelopment, apartment units may not be available for rent and, as a result, may have less than stabilized operations.  As of September 30, 2011, the Company had five redevelopment communities aggregating 1,220 apartment units with estimated redevelopment costs of $75.3 million, of which approximately $32.4 million remains to be expended.

Alternative Capital Sources

Fund II has eight institutional investors, and the Company, with combined partner equity contributions of $265.9 million that were fully contributed as of 2008.  The Company contributed $75.0 million to Fund II, which represents a 28.2% interest as general partner and limited partner.   Fund II utilized leverage equal to approximately 55% upon the initial acquisition of the underlying real estate.  Fund II invested in apartment communities in the Company’s targeted West Coast markets and, as of September 30, 2011, owned fourteen apartment communities.  The Company records revenue for its asset management, property management, development and redevelopment services when earned, and promote income when realized if Fund II exceeds certain financial return benchmarks.

In 2011, the Company entered into a 50/50 programmatic joint venture, Wesco, with an institutional partner for a total equity commitment of $200 million.  Each partner’s equity commitment is $100 million, and Wesco will utilize leverage equal to approximately 50% to 60%.  The Company has contributed $56.8 million to Wesco, and as of September 30, 2011, Wesco owned 4 apartment communities with 1,693 units.  Investments must meet certain criteria to qualify for inclusion in the joint venture and both partners must approve any new acquisitions and material dispositions. The joint venture has an investment period of up to two years.  The Company will receive asset and property management fees, and may earn a promoted interest.  The Company accounts for this joint venture on the equity method.
 
 
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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 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.
 
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, 2010.
 
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 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, 2010, and those risk factors and special considerations set forth in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this information.
 
Funds from Operations (“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 remain the primary measure of performance and that FFO is only meaningful when it is used in conjunction with net earnings. 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.
 
 
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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 from the sale of previously depreciated properties.  The Company agrees that these two NAREIT adjustments are useful to investors for the following reasons:
 
 
(a) 
historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes, through depreciation charges, that the value of real estate assets diminishes 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 from the sales of previously depreciated operating real estate assets allows investors and analysts to readily identify the operating results of the long-term assets that form the core of a REIT’s activity and assists in comparing those operating results between periods.
 
Management believes that it has consistently applied the NAREIT definition of FFO to all periods presented.  However, there is judgment involved and other REITs’ calculation of FFO may vary from the NAREIT definition for this measure, and thus their disclosure of FFO may not be comparable to the Company’s calculation.
 
The following table sets forth the Company’s calculation of FFO for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands except for per share data):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 7,687     $ 6,377     $ 26,432     $ 28,986  
Adjustments:
                               
Depreciation and amortization
    38,137       31,638       112,678       93,385  
Loss (Gains) not included in FFO, net of internal disposition costs
    880       -       (4,384 )     -  
Noncontrolling interest and co-investments (1)
    3,819       1,914       9,909       5,954  
Funds from operations
  $ 50,523     $ 39,929     $ 144,635     $ 128,325  
                                 
Funds from operations per share - diluted
  $ 1.43     $ 1.25     $ 4.19     $ 4.05  
                                 
Weighted average number
                               
shares outstanding diluted (2)
    35,437,693       31,963,327       34,537,774       31,723,857  
 
(1)
Amount includes the following: (i) noncontrolling interest related to Operating Partnership units, and (ii) add back of depreciation expense from unconsolidated co-investments and less depreciation attributable to third-party ownership of consolidated co-investments.
(2)
Assumes conversion of all dilutive outstanding operating partnership interests in the Operating Partnership.
 
 
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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.  The Company had twelve interest rate cap contracts totaling a notional amount of $191.9 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 the Company’s $202.9 million of tax exempt variable rate debt.  The interest rate caps are designated as cash flow hedges, and the Company does not have any fair value hedges as of September 30, 2011.

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.  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
 
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
Fair value
 
                                                   
(In thousands)
                                                 
Fixed rate debt
  $ -       30,438       181,452       77,572       70,643       1,413,183       $ 1,773,288     $ 1,885,000  
Average interest rate
    -       5.4 %     5.6 %     5.3 %     5.2 %     5.8 %       5.8 %        
Variable rate debt
  $ 174,000       17,423       33,599       59,000       -       202,904   (1)   $ 486,926     $ 469,724  
Average interest rate
    1.1 %     3.7 %     1.6 %     2.2 %     -       1.5 %       1.5 %        
 
 (1) $191.9 million subject to interest rate caps.
 
The table incorporates only those exposures that exist as of September 30, 2011; 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
 
As of September 30, 2011, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (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, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 30, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file 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 our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
 
Part II -- Other Information

Item 1: Legal Proceedings
 
Recently there has 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 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, 2011, no potential liabilities for mold and other environmental liabilities are quantifiable and an estimate of possible loss cannot be made.
 
 
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The Company carries comprehensive liability, fire, extended coverage and rental loss insurance for each of the Company’s communities.  Insured risks for comprehensive liability covers claims in excess of $25,000 per incident, and property insurance covers losses in excess of a $5.0 million deductible per incident.  There are, however, certain types of extraordinary losses, such as, for example, losses for terrorism and earthquake, for which the Company does not have insurance. Substantially all of the Properties are located in areas that are subject to earthquakes.
 
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

There were no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in Item IA of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Item 6: Exhibits
 
 A.  Exhibits    
       
       
  10.1  
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated September 16, 2011.
       
  12.1   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
       
  31.1   Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
  31.2   Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
  32.1   Certification of Michael J. Schall, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
  32.2   Certification of Michael T. Dance, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
        101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
       
 
         101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
       
 
          101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
       
 
         101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
       
 
         101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
       
 
         101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
*XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed herewith, is not part of a registration statement or Prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
 
 
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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST, INC.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
   
     
 
Date: November 4, 2011
 
     
 
By:  /S/ BRYAN G. HUNT
 
     
 
Bryan G. Hunt
 
 
First Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
 
     
 
By:  /S/ MICHAEL T. DANCE
 
     
 
Michael T. Dance
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer
 
 
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