
.	Equity, Capital and Other Interests

Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests of Equity Residential

The following tables present the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and “Units” (which includes OP Units and restricted units) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:



	2016		2015		2014
Common Shares
Common Shares outstanding at January 1,	364,755,444		362,855,454		360,479,260
Common Shares Issued:
Conversion of OP Units	88,838		208,307		94,671
Exercise of share options	815,044		1,456,363		2,086,380
Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)	63,909		68,462		68,807
Restricted share grants, net	147,689		168,142		169,722
Common Shares Other:
Conversion of restricted shares to restricted units	—		(1,284	)	(12,146	)
Repurchased and retired	—		—		(31,240	)
Common Shares outstanding at December 31,	365,870,924		364,755,444		362,855,454
Units
Units outstanding at January 1,	14,427,164		14,298,691		14,180,376
Restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
Conversion of restricted shares to restricted units	—		1,284		12,146
Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares	(88,838	)	(208,307	)	(94,671	)
Units outstanding at December 31,	14,626,075		14,427,164		14,298,691
Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at December 31,	380,496,999		379,182,608		377,154,145
Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership	3.8	%	3.8	%	3.8	%

The equity positions of various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units, are collectively referred to as the “Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total plus the number of Common Shares. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.

The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging holder of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.

The Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares cannot be classified in permanent equity as it is not always completely within an issuer’s control to deliver registered shares. Therefore, settlement in cash is assumed and that responsibility for settlement in cash is deemed to fall to the Operating Partnership as the primary source of cash for EQR, resulting in presentation in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. The Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units that are classified in permanent equity at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of December 31, 2016, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership have a redemption value of approximately $442.1 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange with the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership Units.

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):



	2016			2015		2014
Balance at January 1,	$	566,783		$	500,733	$	363,144
Change in market value	(115,093		)	64,378		139,818
Change in carrying value	(9,598		)	1,672		(2,229		)
Balance at December 31,	$	442,092		$	566,783	$	500,733

Net proceeds from EQR Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings are contributed by EQR to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the Preferred Shares issued in the equity offering). As a result, the net offering proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of ERPOP.

The Company’s declaration of trust authorizes it to issue up to 100,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), with specific rights, preferences and other attributes as the Board of Trustees may determine, which may include preferences, powers and rights that are senior to the rights of holders of the Company’s Common Shares.

The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:



				Amounts in thousands
	Redemption Date (1)	Annual Dividend per Share (2)		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred; liquidation value $50 per share; 745,600 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015	12/10/26	$	4.145	$	37,280	$	37,280
				$	37,280	$	37,280


(1)	On or after the redemption date, redeemable preferred shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.


(2)	Dividends on Preferred Shares are payable quarterly.

During 2015, the Company repurchased and retired 254,400 Series K Preferred Shares with a par value of $12.7 million for total cash consideration of approximately $16.3 million. As a result of this partial redemption, the Company incurred a cash charge of approximately $3.5 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preferred Shares.

Capital and Redeemable Limited Partners of ERP Operating Limited Partnership

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership's issued and outstanding Units and in the limited partners' Units for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:



	2016		2015		2014
General and Limited Partner Units
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,	379,182,608		377,154,145		374,659,636
Issued to General Partner:
Exercise of EQR share options	815,044		1,456,363		2,086,380
EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)	63,909		68,462		68,807
EQR's restricted share grants, net	147,689		168,142		169,722
Issued to Limited Partners:
Restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
OP Units Other:
Repurchased and retired	—		—		(31,240	)
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,	380,496,999		379,182,608		377,154,145
Limited Partner Units
Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,	14,427,164		14,298,691		14,180,376
Limited Partner restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
Conversion of EQR restricted shares to restricted units	—		1,284		12,146
Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares	(88,838	)	(208,307	)	(94,671	)
Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,	14,626,075		14,427,164		14,298,691
Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership	3.8	%	3.8	%	3.8	%

The Limited Partners of the Operating Partnership as of December 31, 2016 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units, as well as the equity positions of the holders of restricted units. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), Limited Partners may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Limited Partner Units (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Limited Partner Units in total in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total plus the number of General Partner Units. Net income is allocated to the Limited Partner Units based on the weighted average ownership percentage during the period.

The Operating Partnership has the right but not the obligation to make a cash payment instead of issuing Common Shares to any and all holders of Limited Partner Units requesting an exchange of their OP Units with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Limited Partner Units for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging limited partner.

The Limited Partner Units are classified as either mezzanine equity or permanent equity. If EQR is required, either by contract or securities law, to deliver registered Common Shares, such Limited Partner Units are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Limited Partner Units”. Instruments that require settlement in registered shares cannot be classified in permanent equity as it is not always completely within an issuer's control to deliver registered shares. Therefore, settlement in cash is assumed and that responsibility for settlement in cash is deemed to fall to the Operating Partnership as the primary source of cash for EQR, resulting in presentation in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. The Redeemable Limited Partner Units are adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value based on the Common Share price of EQR at the end of each respective reporting period. EQR has the ability to deliver unregistered Common Shares for the remaining portion of the Limited Partner Units that are classified in permanent equity at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Limited Partner Units in proportion to the number of Limited Partner Units in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Limited Partner Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Limited Partner Units is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of December 31, 2016, the Redeemable Limited Partner Units have a redemption value of approximately $442.1 million, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange with the Redeemable Limited Partner Units.

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):



	2016			2015		2014
Balance at January 1,	$	566,783		$	500,733	$	363,144
Change in market value	(115,093		)	64,378		139,818
Change in carrying value	(9,598		)	1,672		(2,229		)
Balance at December 31,	$	442,092		$	566,783	$	500,733

EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares) to ERPOP. In return for those contributions, EQR receives a number of OP Units in ERPOP equal to the number of Common Shares it has issued in the equity offering (or in the case of a preferred equity offering, a number of preference units in ERPOP equal in number and having the same terms as the preferred shares issued in the equity offering).

The following table presents the Operating Partnership's issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:



				Amounts in thousands
	Redemption Date (1)	Annual Dividend per Unit (2)		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Preference Units:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 745,600 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015	12/10/26	$	4.145	$	37,280	$	37,280
				$	37,280	$	37,280


(1)	On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares.


(2)	Dividends on Preference Units are payable quarterly.

During 2015, the Operating Partnership repurchased and retired 254,400 Series K Preferred Shares with a par value of $12.7 million for total cash consideration of approximately $16.3 million, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares. As a result of this partial redemption, the Operating Partnership incurred a cash charge of approximately $3.5 million which was recorded as a premium on the redemption of Preference Units.

Other

EQR and ERPOP currently have an active universal shelf registration statement for the issuance of equity and debt securities that automatically became effective upon filing with the SEC on June 28, 2016 and expires on June 28, 2019. Per the terms of ERPOP’s partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds of all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis) or preference units (on a one-for-one preferred share per preference unit basis).

In September 2009, the Company announced the establishment of an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which would allow EQR to sell Common Shares from time to time into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Per the terms of ERPOP's partnership agreement, EQR contributes the net proceeds from all equity offerings to the capital of ERPOP in exchange for additional OP Units (on a one-for-one Common Share per OP Unit basis). The program currently has a maturity of June 2019. EQR has the authority to issue 13.0 million shares but has not issued any shares under this program since September 2012.

The Company may repurchase up to 13.0 million Common Shares under its share repurchase program. No shares were repurchased during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. As of December 31, 2016, EQR has authorization to repurchase up to 13.0 million of its shares under the repurchase program.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, EQR repurchased 31,240 of its Common Shares at an average price of $56.87 per share for total consideration of $1.8 million. These shares were retired subsequent to the repurchases. Concurrent with these transactions, ERPOP repurchased and retired 31,240 OP Units previously issued to EQR. All of the shares repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2014 were repurchased from employees at the then current market prices to cover the minimum statutory tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of employees' restricted shares.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company acquired all of its partners' interests in one consolidated partially owned property consisting of 268 apartment units and one consolidated partially owned land parcel for $5.5 million. In conjunction with these transactions, the Company reduced paid in capital (included in general partner's capital in the Operating Partnership's financial statements) by $2.3 million, Noncontrolling Interests – Partially Owned Properties by $2.2 million and other liabilities by $1.0 million.