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Equity, Capital and Other Interests
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Equity Capital And Other Interests [Abstract]  
Equity, Capital and Other Interests
3.
Equity, Capital and Other Interests

The Company refers to “Common Shares” and “Units” (which refer to both OP Units and restricted units) as equity securities for EQR and “General Partner Units” and “Limited Partner Units” as equity securities for ERPOP. To provide a streamlined and more readable presentation of the disclosures for the Company and the Operating Partnership, several sections below refer to the respective terminology for each with the same financial information and separate sections are provided, where needed, to further distinguish any differences in financial information and terminology.

The following table presents the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and Units for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares outstanding at January 1,

 

 

378,429,708

 

 

 

375,527,195

 

 

 

372,302,000

 

Common Shares Issued:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion of OP Units

 

 

1,013,795

 

 

 

452,532

 

 

 

1,354,208

 

Issuance of Common Shares

 

 

 

 

 

1,740,550

 

 

 

 

Exercise of share options

 

 

495,690

 

 

 

468,021

 

 

 

1,710,692

 

Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

 

 

68,136

 

 

 

66,835

 

 

 

70,702

 

Restricted share grants, net

 

 

148,474

 

 

 

174,575

 

 

 

89,593

 

Common Shares Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchased and retired

 

 

(864,386

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares outstanding at December 31,

 

 

379,291,417

 

 

 

378,429,708

 

 

 

375,527,195

 

Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units outstanding at January 1,

 

 

12,429,737

 

 

 

12,659,027

 

 

 

13,858,073

 

Restricted unit grants, net

 

 

165,364

 

 

 

223,242

 

 

 

155,162

 

Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares

 

 

(1,013,795

)

 

 

(452,532

)

 

 

(1,354,208

)

Units outstanding at December 31,

 

 

11,581,306

 

 

 

12,429,737

 

 

 

12,659,027

 

Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at December 31,

 

 

390,872,723

 

 

 

390,859,445

 

 

 

388,186,222

 

Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership

 

 

3.0

%

 

 

3.2

%

 

 

3.3

%

 

The following table presents the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding General Partner Units and Limited Partner Units for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

General and Limited Partner Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,

 

 

390,859,445

 

 

 

388,186,222

 

 

 

386,160,073

 

Issued to General Partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of OP Units

 

 

 

 

 

1,740,550

 

 

 

 

Exercise of EQR share options

 

 

495,690

 

 

 

468,021

 

 

 

1,710,692

 

EQR’s Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)

 

 

68,136

 

 

 

66,835

 

 

 

70,702

 

EQR’s restricted share grants, net

 

 

148,474

 

 

 

174,575

 

 

 

89,593

 

Issued to Limited Partners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted unit grants, net

 

 

165,364

 

 

 

223,242

 

 

 

155,162

 

General Partner Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OP Units repurchased and retired

 

 

(864,386

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,

 

 

390,872,723

 

 

 

390,859,445

 

 

 

388,186,222

 

Limited Partner Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,

 

 

12,429,737

 

 

 

12,659,027

 

 

 

13,858,073

 

Limited Partner restricted unit grants, net

 

 

165,364

 

 

 

223,242

 

 

 

155,162

 

Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares

 

 

(1,013,795

)

 

 

(452,532

)

 

 

(1,354,208

)

Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,

 

 

11,581,306

 

 

 

12,429,737

 

 

 

12,659,027

 

Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership

 

 

3.0

%

 

 

3.2

%

 

 

3.3

%

 

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” and “Limited Partners Capital,” respectively, for the Company and the Operating Partnership. Subject to certain exceptions (including the “book-up” requirements of restricted units), the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital may exchange their Units with EQR for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis. The carrying value of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital (including redeemable interests) is allocated based on the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital in total in proportion to the number

of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital in total plus the total number of Common Shares/General Partner Units. Net income is allocated to the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital 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/Limited Partners Capital requesting an exchange of their Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital with EQR. Once the Operating Partnership elects not to redeem the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital for cash, EQR is obligated to deliver Common Shares to the exchanging holder of the Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital.

The Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital 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/Limited Partners Capital are differentiated and referred to as “Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership” and “Redeemable Limited Partners,” respectively. 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/Redeemable Limited Partners 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/Limited Partners Capital that are classified in permanent equity at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The carrying value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners is allocated based on the number of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners in proportion to the number of Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Limited Partners Capital in total. Such percentage of the total carrying value of Units/Limited Partner Units which is ascribed to the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners is then adjusted to the greater of carrying value or fair market value as described above. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners have a redemption value of approximately $289.2 million and $318.3 million, respectively, which represents the value of Common Shares that would be issued in exchange for the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners.

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership/Redeemable Limited Partners for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively (amounts in thousands):

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Balance at January 1,

 

$

318,273

 

 

$

498,977

 

 

$

338,951

 

Change in market value

 

 

(7,667

)

 

 

(176,490

)

 

 

158,598

 

Change in carrying value

 

 

(21,358

)

 

 

(4,214

)

 

 

1,428

 

Balance at December 31,

 

$

289,248

 

 

$

318,273

 

 

$

498,977

 

 

Net proceeds from EQR Common Share and Preferred Share (see definition below) offerings and proceeds from exercise of options for Common Shares 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 proceeds from Common Shares and Preferred Shares are allocated for the Company between shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership and for the Operating Partnership between General Partner’s Capital and Limited Partners Capital to account for the change in their respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity.

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/Preference Units as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts in thousands

 

 

 

 

 

Annual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call

 

Dividend Per

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Date (1)

 

Share/Unit (2)

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Preferred Shares/Preference Units of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value;
  
100,000,000 shares authorized:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares/Preference
   Units; liquidation value $
50 per share/unit; 745,600 shares/units issued
   and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022

 

12/10/2026

 

$

4.145

 

 

$

37,280

 

 

$

37,280

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

37,280

 

 

$

37,280

 

 

(1)
On or after the call date, redeemable Preferred Shares/Preference Units may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company or the Operating Partnership, respectively, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share/unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.
(2)
Dividends on Preferred Shares/Preference Units are payable quarterly.

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 in May 2022 and expires in May 2025. 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).

The Company has an At-The-Market (“ATM”) share offering program which allows EQR to issue Common Shares from time to time into the existing trading market at current market prices or through negotiated transactions, including under forward sale arrangements. The current program matures in May 2025 and gives us the authority to issue up to 13.0 million shares, all of which remain available for issuance as of December 31, 2023.

Forward sale agreements under the ATM program allow the Company, at its election, to settle the agreements by issuing Common Shares in exchange for net proceeds at the then-applicable forward sale price specified by the agreement or, alternatively, to settle the agreements in whole or in part through the delivery or receipt of Common Shares or cash. Issuances of shares under these forward sale agreements are classified as equity transactions. Accordingly, no amounts relating to the forward sale agreements are recorded in the consolidated financial statements until settlement occurs. Prior to any settlements, the only impact to the consolidated financial statements is the inclusion of incremental shares, if any, within the calculation of diluted net income per share using the treasury stock method (see Note 11 for additional discussion). The actual forward price per share to be received by the Company upon settlement will be determined on the applicable settlement date based on adjustments made to the initial forward price to reflect the then-current overnight federal funds rate and the amount of dividends paid to holders of the Company’s Common Shares over the term of the forward sale agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2021 and part of the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had forward sale agreements outstanding for approximately 1.7 million Common Shares at a weighted average initial forward price per share of $83.25. During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Company settled all of the outstanding forward sale agreements, at a weighted average forward price per share of $80.22, which is inclusive of adjustments made to reflect the then-current federal funds rate and the amount of dividends paid to holders of the Company's Common Shares, for net proceeds of approximately $139.6 million. Concurrent with this transaction, ERPOP issued the same amount of OP Units to EQR in exchange for the net proceeds.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased and subsequently retired approximately $49.1 million (864,386 shares at a weighted average price per share of $56.79) of its Common Shares in the open market under its share repurchase program. Concurrent with these transactions, ERPOP repurchased and retired the same amount of OP Units previously issued to EQR. As of December 31, 2023, EQR had remaining authorization to repurchase up to 12,135,614 of its shares. See Note 18 for further discussion.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, ERPOP issued $0.9 million of 3.00% Series Q Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units (the "Series Q Preference Units") in connection with the buyout of the noncontrolling interest in a consolidated operating property. The 933,454 Series Q Preference Units have a liquidation value of $1.00 per unit and pay distributions quarterly at the annual rate of

$0.03 per unit. The Series Q Preference Units can be redeemed for, at EQR's/ERPOP's option, Common Shares, OP Units and/or cash upon the occurrence of specific events laid out in the agreement. If redeemed for Common Shares or OP Units, the number of shares/units issued is based on the Common Share price. The Series Q Preference Units increased the balance of Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties in the consolidated balance sheets.