Business Combinations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Business Combinations

Merger of MAA and Colonial

On October 1, 2013, MAA completed its merger with Colonial. As part of the merger, we acquired 115 wholly-owned apartment communities encompassing 34,370 units principally located in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States. In addition to the apartment communities, we also acquired four commercial properties totaling approximately 806,000 square feet. The additions have caused us to nearly double in size as a result of the merger. The net assets and results of operations of Colonial are included in our consolidated financial statements from the closing date, October 1, 2013, going forward.

The total purchase price of approximately $2.2 billion was determined based on the number of Colonial shares and Colonial OP Units outstanding as of October 1, 2013. In all cases in which MAA’s stock price was a determining factor in arriving at final consideration for the merger, the stock price used to determine the purchase price was the opening price of MAA’s common stock on October 1, 2013 ($62.56 per share). The total purchase price includes $7.3 million of other consideration, a majority of which relates to assumed stock compensation plans. As a result of the merger, we issued approximately 31.9 million shares of MAA common stock and approximately 2.6 million OP units.

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 805, Business Combinations, which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their acquisition date fair values.

For larger, portfolio style acquisitions, like the merger, management engages a third party valuation specialist to assist with the fair value assessment, which includes an allocation of the purchase price. Similar to management's methods, the third party generally uses cash flow analysis as well as an income approach and a market approach to determine the fair value of assets acquired. The third party uses stabilized NOI and a market specific capitalization and discount rates. Management reviews the inputs used by the third party specialist as well as the allocation of the purchase price provided by the third party to ensure reasonableness and that the procedures are performed in accordance with management's policy. The allocation of the purchase price is based on management’s assessment, which may differ as more information becomes available. Subsequent adjustments made to the purchase price allocation, if any, are made within the allocation period, which typically does not exceed one year.

The allocation of the purchase price described above requires a significant amount of judgment and represents the Company's best estimate of the fair value as of the acquisition date. The following purchase price allocation was based on our valuation as well as estimates and assumptions of the acquisition date fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. While the current allocation of the purchase price is substantially complete, the valuation of the real estate properties and certain other assets and liabilities is in the process of being finalized. We do not expect future revisions, if any, to have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Thepurchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):

Land	$	469,396
Buildings and improvements	3,075,642
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	96,377
Development and capital improvements in progress	113,368
Undeveloped land	58,400
Properties held for sale	33,300
Lease intangible assets	57,946
Cash and cash equivalents	63,454
Restricted cash	6,825
Deferred costs and other assets, excluding lease intangible assets	87,713
Total assets acquired	4,062,421
Notes payable	(1,759,550)
Fair market value of interest rate swaps	(14,961)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities	(125,034)
Total liabilities assumed, including debt	(1,899,545		)
Total purchase price	$	2,162,876

We incurred merger and integration related expenses of $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. These amounts were expensed as incurred and are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the items titled Merger related expenses, primarily severance, legal, and professional costs and Integration related expenses, primarily related to temporary systems, staffing, and facilities costs.

The allocation of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed has changed from the allocation reported in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2014. The changes were based on information concerning the subject assets and liabilities that was not yet available at the time of the 10-K filing. These adjustments had no material impact on the results of operations.