FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

 

 

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 such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  ý  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  ý  No  o

 

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

		March 31, 2003			December 31, 2002
ASSETS
Investment in real estate
Land		$	1,807,226		$	1,803,577
Depreciable property		11,227,980			11,240,245
Construction in progress		2,428			2,441
		13,037,634			13,046,263
Accumulated depreciation		(2,194,190		)	(2,112,017		)
Investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation		10,843,444			10,934,246
Cash and cash equivalents		310,309			29,875
Investments in unconsolidated entities		515,741			509,789
Rents receivable		1,410			2,926
Deposits – restricted		173,121			141,278
Escrow deposits – mortgage		44,688			50,565
Deferred financing costs, net		33,780			32,144
Goodwill, net		30,000			30,000
Other assets		78,277			80,094
Total assets		$	12,030,770		$	11,810,917
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable		$	2,901,117		$	2,927,614
Notes, net		2,854,319			2,456,085
Line of credit		—			140,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		66,234			64,369
Accrued interest payable		64,987			63,151
Rents received in advance and other liabilities		167,641			165,095
Security deposits		45,192			45,333
Distributions payable		141,413			140,844
Total liabilities		6,240,903			6,002,491
Commitments and contingencies
Minority Interests – Partially Owned Properties		9,395			9,811
Partners’ capital:
Preference Units		946,076			946,157
Preference Interests		246,000			246,000
Junior Preference Units		5,846			5,846
General Partner		4,288,627			4,306,873
Limited Partners		345,983			349,646
Deferred compensation		(9,832		)	(12,118		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(42,228		)	(43,789		)
Total partners’ capital		5,780,472			5,798,615
Total liabilities and partners’ capital		$	12,030,770		$	11,810,917

 

See accompanying notes

 

2

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit data)
(Unaudited)

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003				2002
REVENUES
Rental income		$		480,219		$	485,144
Fee and asset management		2,488				1,718
Interest and other income		3,343				4,100
Total revenues		486,050				490,962
EXPENSES
Property and maintenance		132,281				122,578
Real estate taxes and insurance		52,433				49,771
Property management		15,901				19,490
Fee and asset management		1,770				1,862
Depreciation		117,816				110,992
Interest:
Expense incurred, net		80,809				84,331
Amortization of deferred financing costs		1,408				1,385
General and administrative		11,176				10,800
Impairment on technology investments		291				291
Total expenses		413,885				401,500
Income before allocation to Minority Interests, income from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations		72,165				89,462
Allocation to Minority Interests – Partially Owned Properties		(115			)	(806		)
Income from investments in unconsolidated entities		107				226
Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities		1,212				5,657
Income before discontinued operations		73,369				94,539
Net gain on sales of discontinued operations		70,672				2,816
Discontinued operations, net		416				9,964
Net income		$		144,457		$	107,319
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME:
Preference Units		$	19,046			$	19,391
Preference Interests		$	5,053			$	5,053
Junior Preference Units		$	81			$	81
General Partner		$	111,167			$	76,353
Limited Partners		9,110				6,441
Net income available to OP Units		$		120,277		$	82,794
Net income per OP Unit – basic		$		0.41		$	0.28
Net income per OP Unit – diluted		$		0.41		$	0.28
Weighted average OP Units outstanding – basic		292,949				294,106
Weighted average OP Units outstanding – diluted		297,646				297,229
Distributions declared per OP Unit outstanding		$		0.4325		$	0.4325

 

See accompanying notes

 

3

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit data)
(Unaudited)

 

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
Comprehensive income:
Net income		$	144,457		$	107,319
Other comprehensive income – derivative instruments:
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period		137			4,176
Equity in unrealized holding gains arising during the period – unconsolidated entities		1,194			3,033
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income		230			168
Comprehensive income		$	146,018		$	114,696

 

See accompanying notes

 

4

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	144,457		$	107,319
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Allocation to Minority Interests – Partially Owned Properties		115			806
Depreciation		118,918			116,768
Amortization of deferred financing costs		1,408			1,391
Amortization of discounts and premiums on debt		(239		)	(327		)
Amortization of deferred settlements on interest rate protection agreements		(68		)	(101		)
Impairment on technology investments		291			291
(Income) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(107		)	(226		)
Net (gain) on sales of discontinued operations		(70,672		)	(2,816		)
Net (gain) on sales of unconsolidated entities		(1,212		)	(5,657		)
Debt extinguishments – prepayment premiums/fees		183			97
Unrealized (gain) on interest rate protection agreements		(44		)	(62		)
Compensation paid with Company Common Shares		4,445			4,964
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in rents receivable		1,516			1,045
(Increase) decrease in deposits – restricted		(2,283		)	14,133
Decrease in other assets		322			18,446
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses		1,865			(7,498		)
Increase in accrued interest payable		1,836			9,963
(Decrease) increase in rents received in advance and other liabilities		(6,770		)	4,566
(Decrease) increase in security deposits		(141		)	287
Net cash provided by operating activities		193,820			263,389
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in real estate – acquisitions		(76,692		)	(26,100		)
Investment in real estate – development/other		(2,057		)	(24,338		)
Improvements to real estate		(33,602		)	(27,697		)
Additions to non-real estate property		(908		)	(3,004		)
Interest capitalized for real estate under development		—			(2,068		)
Interest capitalized for unconsolidated entities under development		(5,437		)	(3,816		)
Proceeds from disposition of real estate, net		190,906			31,722
Proceeds from disposition of furniture rental business		—			28,741
Proceeds from disposition of unconsolidated entities		1,213			11,317
Investments in unconsolidated entities		(4,227		)	(12,099		)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities		6,041			14,765
(Increase) in deposits on real estate acquisitions, net		(29,560		)	(6,288		)
Decrease in mortgage deposits		5,877			4,105
Business combinations, net of cash acquired		(18		)	(207		)
Other investing activities, net		—			193
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		51,536			(14,774		)

 

See accompanying notes

 

5

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Loan and bond acquisition costs		$	(3,153	)	$	(3,040	)
Mortgage notes payable:
Proceeds		48,680			20,772
Lump sum payoffs		(101,793		)	(18,267		)
Scheduled principal repayments		(8,285		)	(8,469		)
Prepayment premiums/fees		(183		)	(97		)
Notes, net:
Proceeds		398,816			397,064
Lump sum payoffs		—			(100,000		)
Scheduled principal repayments		(192		)	—
Line of credit:
Proceeds		172,000			245,000
Repayments		(312,000		)	(440,000		)
(Payments on) proceeds from settlement of interest rate protection agreements		(12,999		)	835
Proceeds from sale of OP Units		2,606			4,236
Proceeds from exercise of EQR options		4,270			9,777
Payment of offering costs		(71		)	(141		)
Distributions:
OP Units – General Partner		(117,242		)	(117,338		)
Preference Units		(19,048		)	(16,441		)
Preference Interests		(5,053		)	(5,080		)
Junior Preference Units		(81		)	(81		)
OP Units – Limited Partners		(9,645		)	(10,151		)
Minority Interests – Partially Owned Properties		(1,549		)	(9,120		)
Principal receipts on employee notes, net		—			85
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities		35,078			(50,456		)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		280,434			198,159
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		29,875			51,603
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	310,309		$	249,762
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for interest		$	83,579		$	81,566
Mortgage loans assumed through real estate acquisitions		$	34,968		$	—
Mortgage loans (assumed) by purchaser in real estate and furniture rental business dispositions		$	—		$	(1,680	)
Transfers to real estate held for disposition		$	—		$	3,505

 

See accompanying notes

 

6

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

 

1.                                      Business of the Company

 

ERP Operating Limited Partnership (“ERPOP”), an Illinois limited partnership, was formed in May 1993 to conduct the multifamily residential property business of Equity Residential (“EQR”).  EQR is a Maryland real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in March 1993 and is a fully integrated real estate company engaged in the acquisition, ownership, management and operation of multifamily properties.

 

EQR is the general partner of, and as of March 31, 2003, owned an approximate 92.4% ownership interest in ERPOP.  ERPOP is, directly or indirectly, a partner, member or shareholder of numerous partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations which have been established primarily to own fee simple title to multifamily properties or to conduct property management activities and other businesses related to the ownership and operation of multifamily residential real estate.  As used herein, the term “Operating Partnership” includes ERPOP and those entities owned or controlled by it.  As used herein, the term “Company” means EQR and the Operating Partnership.

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership owned or had investments in 1,027 properties in 36 states consisting of 221,249 units.  An ownership breakdown includes:

 

		Number of Properties		Number of Units
Wholly Owned Properties		906		191,875
Partially Owned Properties (Consolidated)		36		6,931
Unconsolidated Properties		85		22,443
Total Properties		1,027		221,249

 

2.                                      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements in order to conform to the current year presentation.  Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2003.

 

The balance sheet at December 31, 2002 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

 

For further information, including definition of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Other

 

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64,

 

7

 

Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.  SFAS No. 145, among other items, rescinds the automatic classification of costs incurred on debt extinguishment as extraordinary charges.  Instead, gains and losses from debt extinguishment should only be classified as extraordinary if they meet the “unusual and infrequently occurring” criteria outlined in APB No. 30.  SFAS No. 145 is effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002.  The Operating Partnership adopted the standard effective January 1, 2003.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.  FIN No. 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both.  The consolidation requirements of FIN No. 46 apply immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003 and apply to older entities in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The Operating Partnership will adopt FIN No. 46 in the third quarter of 2003 but has not yet determined the effect that adoption will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

3.                                      Partners’ Capital

 

The following table presents the changes in the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2003:

 

		2003
Operating Partnership’s OP Units outstanding at January 1,		293,396,124
Issued to General Partner:
Conversion of Series E Preference Units		3,613
Employee Share Purchase Plan		126,273
Exercise of EQR options		218,980
Restricted EQR share grants, net		996,815
Operating Partnership’s OP Units outstanding at March 31,		294,741,805

 

The limited partners of the Operating Partnership as of March 31, 2003 include various individuals and entities that contributed their properties to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units (the “Limited Partners”) and own an approximate 7.6% ownership interest in ERPOP.  Subject to applicable securities law restrictions, the Limited Partners may exchange their OP Units for EQR Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

 

EQR contributes all net proceeds from its various equity offerings (including proceeds from exercise of options for EQR Common Shares) to the Operating Partnership.  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 March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

 

8

 

		Annual Dividend Rate per Unit(1)
					Amounts in thousands
					March 31, 2003			December 31, 2002
Preference Units:
9 1/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 500,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	22.81252		$	125,000		$	125,000
9 1/8% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 460,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	22.81252		115,000			115,000
8.60% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 700,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	21.50000		175,000			175,000
7.00% Series E Cumulative Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 2,544,864 and 2,548,114 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively		$	1.75000		63,622			63,703
7 ¼% Series G Convertible Cumulative Preference Units; liquidation value $250 per unit; 1,264,692 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	18.12500		316,173			316,173
7.00% Series H Cumulative Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 51,228 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	1.75000		1,281			1,281
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,000,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.14500		50,000			50,000
7.625% Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 4,000,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	1.90625		100,000			100,000
					$	946,076		$	946,157

 

(1)          Dividends on all series of Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates.  Dividend rates listed for Series B, C, D and G are Preference Unit rates and the equivalent depositary unit annual dividend rates are $2.281252, $2.281252, $2.15 and $1.8125, respectively. 

 

The following table presents the issued and outstanding “Preference Interests” as of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

 

9

 

		Annual Dividend Rate per Unit(1)
					Amounts in thousands
					March 31, 2003			December 31, 2002
Preference Interests:
8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preference Interests; liquidation value $50 per unit; 800,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.0000		$	40,000		$	40,000
8.50% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,100,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.2500		55,000			55,000
8.50% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 220,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.2500		11,000			11,000
8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 420,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.1875		21,000			21,000
8.50% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 1,000,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.2500		50,000			50,000
8.375% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 180,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	4.1875		9,000			9,000
7.875% Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 510,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	3.9375		25,500			25,500
7.625% Series H Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 190,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	3.8125		9,500			9,500
7.625% Series I Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 270,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	3.8125		13,500			13,500
7.625% Series J Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 230,000 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	3.8125		11,500			11,500
					$	246,000		$	246,000

 

(1)          Dividends on all series of Preference Interests are payable quarterly on March 25^th, June 25^th, September 25^th, and December 25^th of each year.

 

The following table presents the Operating Partnership’s issued and outstanding Junior Convertible Preference Units (the “Junior Preference Units”) as of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002:

 

10

 

		Annual Dividend Rate per Unit(1)
					Amounts in thousands
					March 31, 2003			December 31, 2002
Junior Preference Units:
Series A Junior Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $100 per unit; 56,616 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	5.46934		$	5,662		$	5,662
Series B Junior Convertible Preference Units; liquidation value $25 per unit; 7,367 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002		$	2.00000		184			184
					$	5,846		$	5,846

 

(1)          Dividends on both series of Junior Preference Units are payable quarterly at various pay dates.

 

4.                                      Real Estate

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership acquired the entire equity interest in the three properties listed below from unaffiliated parties for a total purchase price of $111.5 million.

 

Date Acquired		Property		Location		Number of Units		Acquisition Price (in thousands)
01/30/03		The Reserve @ Eisenhower		Alexandria, VA		226		$	41,000
02/14/03		Artisan Square		Northridge, CA		140		27,466
03/05/03		LaSalle		Beaverton, OR		554		43,000
						920		$	111,466

 

5.                                      Real Estate Dispositions

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership disposed of the seventeen properties listed below to unaffiliated parties.  The Operating Partnership recognized a net gain on sales of discontinued operations of approximately $70.7 million and a net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities of approximately $1.2 million.

 

Date Disposed		Property		Location		Number Of Units		Disposition Price (in thousands)
01/14/03		Strawberry Place		Plant City, FL		55		$	1,400
01/14/03		Smoketree Polo Club		Indio, CA		288		18,900
01/29/03		Amberwood I		Lake City, FL		50		1,175
01/30/03		Emerald Place		Bermuda Dunes, CA		240		20,125
01/30/03		Rolido Parque		Houston, TX		369		14,660
02/27/03		Fox Hill Commons		Vernon, CT		74		4,700
02/27/03		The Landings		Winter Haven, FL		60		1,475
02/27/03		Morningside		Titusville, FL		183		3,980
03/04/03		Colony Woods		Birmingham, AL		414		25,000
03/04/03		Hearthstone		San Antonio, TX		252		7,700
03/04/03		Northgate Village		San Antonio, TX		264		10,150
03/19/03		Lincoln Green I, II & III		San Antonio, TX		680		24,900
03/20/03		Meadows on the Lake		Birmingham, AL		200		10,900
03/20/03		Meadows in the Park		Birmingham, AL		200		10,900
03/20/03		Shoal Run		Birmingham, AL		276			14,350
03/31/03		Colony Place		Fort Myers, FL		300		20,600
Various		Four Lakes Condo Units		Lisle, IL		26		3,161
		Wholly Owned Properties				3,931		194,076
02/28/03		Kings Crossing I*		Jacksonville, FL		69		963
		Unconsolidated Properties				69		963
Total						4,000		$	195,039

 

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* Represents the Operating Partnership’s share of the net disposition proceeds.

 

6.                                      Commitments to Acquire/Dispose of Real Estate

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements to acquire two multifamily properties containing 719 units from unaffiliated parties.  The Operating Partnership expects a combined purchase price of approximately $114.5 million.

 

As of March 31, 2003, in addition to the properties that were subsequently disposed of as discussed in Note 19, the Operating Partnership had entered into separate agreements to dispose of twenty-four multifamily properties containing 4,079 units to unaffiliated parties.  The Operating Partnership expects a combined disposition price of approximately $186.2 million.

 

The closings of these pending transactions are subject to certain contingencies and conditions, therefore, there can be no assurance that these transactions will be consummated or that the final terms thereof will not differ in material respects from those summarized in the preceding paragraphs.

 

7.                                      Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

 

The Operating Partnership has co-invested in various properties with unrelated third parties.  The following table summarizes the Operating Partnership’s investments in unconsolidated entities as of March 31, 2003 (amounts in thousands except for project and unit amounts):

 

		Institutional Joint Ventures			Stabilized Development Projects(1)			Projects Under Development			Lexford/ Other			Totals
Total projects		45			12			17			22			96		(2)
Total units		10,846			3,805			4,659			2,704			22,014		(2)
Operating Partnership’s percentage ownership of outstanding debt		25.0		%	100.0		%	100.0		%	11.1		%
Operating Partnership’s share of outstanding debt(4)		$	121,200		$	295,103		$	505,587	(3)	$	5,386		$	927,276

 

(1)          The Operating Partnership determines a project to be stabilized once it has maintained an average physical occupancy of 90% or more for a three-month period.

 

(2)          Includes twelve projects under development containing 3,223 units, which are not included in the

 

12

 

Operating Partnership’s property/unit counts at March 31, 2003.  Totals exclude Fort Lewis Military Housing consisting of one property and 3,652 units, which is not accounted for under the equity method of accounting.  The Fort Lewis Military Housing is included in the Operating Partnership’s property/unit counts at March 31, 2003.

 

(3)          A total of $763.5 million is available for funding under this construction debt, of which $505.6 million was funded and outstanding at March 31, 2003.

 

(4)          As of April 30, 2003, the Operating Partnership has funded $51.0 million as additional collateral on selected debt (see Note 8).  All remaining debt is non-recourse to EQR and the Operating Partnership.

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities include the Unconsolidated Properties as well as various development properties under construction or pending construction.  The Operating Partnership does not consolidate these entities as it does not have sole control of the major decisions (such as sale and/or financing/refinancing).  The Operating Partnership’s common equity ownership interests in these entities range from 4.5% to 50.0% at March 31, 2003.

 

These investments are accounted for utilizing the equity method of accounting.  Under the equity method of accounting, the net equity investment of the Operating Partnership is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets and after the project is completed, the consolidated statements of operations include the Operating Partnership’s share of net income or loss from the unconsolidated entity.  Prior to the project being completed, the Operating Partnership capitalizes interest on its equity contribution in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 58, Capitalization of Interest Cost in Financial Statements That Include Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method.  During the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Operating Partnership capitalized $5.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively, in interest cost related to its unconsolidated development projects (which reduced interest expense incurred in the consolidated statements of operations).

 

The Operating Partnership generally contributes between 25% and 35% of the project cost of the unconsolidated projects under development, with the remaining cost financed through third-party construction mortgages.

 

8.                                      Deposits - - Restricted

 

As of March 31, 2003, deposits-restricted totaled $173.1 million and primarily included the following:

 

•                  Deposits in the amount of $51.0 million held in third party escrow accounts to provide collateral for third party construction financing in connection with unconsolidated development projects;

•                  Approximately $55.0 million in tax-deferred (1031) exchange proceeds; and

•                  Approximately $67.1 million for resident security, utility, and other deposits.

 

9.                                      Mortgage Notes Payable

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership had outstanding mortgage indebtedness of approximately $2.9 billion.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Repaid $110.1 million of mortgage loans;

•                  Assumed $35.0 million of mortgage debt on certain properties in connection with their acquisitions; and

•                  Obtained $48.7 million of mortgage loans on certain properties.

 

As of March 31, 2003, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding mortgage

 

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indebtedness were at various dates through October 1, 2033.  At March 31, 2003, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 1.09% to 12.465%.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s mortgage debt was 6.02%.

 

10.                               Notes

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership had outstanding unsecured notes of approximately $2.9 billion net of a $7.0 million discount and including an $8.3 million premium.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Issued $400.0 million of ten-year 5.20% fixed-rate public notes, receiving net proceeds of $397.5 million.

 

As of March 31, 2003, scheduled maturities for the Operating Partnership’s outstanding notes were at various dates through 2029.  At March 31, 2003, the interest rate range on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 4.75% to 7.75%.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the weighted average interest rate on the Operating Partnership’s notes was 5.73%.

 

11.                               Line of Credit

 

The Operating Partnership has a revolving credit facility with potential borrowings of up to $700.0 million.  As of March 31, 2003, no amounts were outstanding and $53.3 million was restricted (dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing) on the line of credit.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the weighted average interest rate was 1.85%.  EQR has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s line of credit up to the maximum amount and for the full term of the facility.

 

12.                               Derivative Instruments

 

The following table summarizes the consolidated derivative instruments at March 31, 2003 (dollar amounts are in thousands):

 

		Cash Flow Hedges			Fair Value Hedges			Interest Rate Caps			Offsetting Receive Floating Swaps/Caps			Offsetting Pay Floating Swaps/Caps
Current Notional Balance		$	400,000		$	120,000		$	37,000		$	255,119		$	255,119
Lowest Possible Notional		$	400,000		$	120,000		$	37,000		$	251,410		$	251,410
Highest Possible Notional		$	400,000		$	120,000		$	37,000		$	431,444		$	431,444
Lowest Interest Rate		3.65125		%	7.25000		%	6.5		%	4.52800		%	4.45800		%
Highest Interest Rate		5.81000		%	7.25000		%	6.5		%	6.00000		%	6.00000		%
Earliest Maturity Date		2003			2005			2004			2003			2003
Latest Maturity Date		2005			2005			2004			2007			2007
Estimated Asset (Liability) Fair Value		$	(12,123	)	$	8,851		$	—		$	(2,261	)	$	2,184

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Company paid approximately $13.0 million to terminate eight forward starting interest rate swaps in conjunction with the issuance of $400.0 million of ten-year unsecured notes.  The $13.0 million payment will be deferred and recognized as additional interest expense over the ten-year life of the unsecured notes.

 

At March 31, 2003, certain unconsolidated development partnerships in which the Operating Partnership invested had entered into swaps to hedge the interest rate risk exposure on unconsolidated floating rate construction mortgage loans.  The Operating Partnership has recorded its proportionate share of these hedges on its consolidated balance sheets.  These swaps have been designated as cash flow

 

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hedges with a current aggregate notional amount of $363.2 million (notional amounts range from $142.1 million to $456.2 million over the terms of the swaps) at interest rates ranging from 1.78% to 6.94% maturing at various dates ranging from 2003 to 2005 with a net liability fair value of $12.1 million.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership recognized an unrealized gain of $0.7 million due to ineffectiveness of certain of these unconsolidated development derivatives (included in income from investments in unconsolidated entities).

 

On March 31, 2003, the net derivative instruments were reported at their fair value as other liabilities of approximately $3.3 million and as a reduction to investments in unconsolidated entities of approximately $12.1 million.  As of March 31, 2003, there were approximately $40.9 million in deferred losses, net, included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.  Based on the estimated fair values of the net derivative instruments at March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership may recognize an estimated $17.4 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss as additional interest expense during the twelve months ending March 31, 2004, of which $8.1 million is related to the unconsolidated development partnerships.

 

13.                               Calculation of Net Income Per Weighted Average OP Unit

 

The following tables set forth the computation of net income per OP Unit – basic and net income per OP Unit – diluted:

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
		(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit amounts)
Numerator:
Income before allocation to Minority Interests, income from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities, discontinued operations and allocation to preference unit/interest distributions		$	72,165		$	89,462
Allocation to Minority Interests – Partially Owned Properties		(115		)	(806		)
Income from investments in unconsolidated entities		107			226
Allocation to Preference Units		(19,046		)	(19,391		)
Allocation to Preference Interests		(5,053		)	(5,053		)
Allocation to Junior Preference Units		(81		)	(81		)
Income before net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations		47,977			64,357
Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities		1,212			5,657
Net gain on sales of discontinued operations		70,672			2,816
Discontinued operations, net		416			9,964
Numerator for net income per OP Unit – basic		120,277			82,794
Effect of dilutive securities:
Distributions on convertible preference units/interests		1,214			—
Numerator for net income per OP Unit – diluted		$	121,491		$	82,794
Denominator:
Denominator for net income per OP Unit – basic		292,949			294,106
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible preference units/interests		3,139			—
Dilution for OP Units issuable upon assumed exercise/vesting of EQR’s share options/restricted shares		1,558			3,123
Denominator for net income per OP Unit – diluted		297,646			297,229
Net income per OP Unit – basic		$	0.41		$	0.28
Net income per OP Unit – diluted		$	0.41		$	0.28

 

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		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
		(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit amounts)
Net income per OP Unit – basic:
Income before net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations per OP Unit – basic		$	0.17		$	0.22
Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities		—			0.02
Net gain on sales of discontinued operations		0.24			0.01
Discontinued operations, net		—			0.03
Net income per OP Unit – basic		$	0.41		$	0.28
Net income per OP Unit – diluted:
Income before net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations per OP Unit – diluted		$	0.17		$	0.22
Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities		—			0.02
Net gain on sales of discontinued operations		0.24			0.01
Discontinued operations, net		—			0.03
Net income per OP Unit – diluted		$	0.41		$	0.28

 

Convertible preference units/interests that could be converted into 11,807,095 and 15,853,687 weighted average Common Shares (which would be contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for OP Units) for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per OP Unit because the effects would be anti-dilutive.

 

14.                               Discontinued Operations

 

The Operating Partnership has presented separately as discontinued operations in all periods the results of operations for all wholly owned assets disposed of on or after January 1, 2002 (the date of adoption of SFAS No. 144).

 

The components of discontinued operations are outlined below and include the results of operations for the respective periods that the Operating Partnership owned such assets during each of the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, including the following:

 

•                  The Wholly Owned Properties sold during 2003 (see Note 5); and

•                  The Wholly Owned Properties and the furniture rental business sold during 2002.

 

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		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
		(Amounts in thousands)
REVENUES
Rental income		$	5,026		$	25,898
Interest and other income		11			10
Furniture income		—			1,365
Total revenues		5,037			27,273
EXPENSES(1)
Property and maintenance		2,871			6,809
Real estate taxes and insurance		587			2,849
Depreciation		1,102			5,776
Interest expense incurred, net		61			566
Amortization of deferred financing costs		—			6
Furniture expenses		—			1,303
Total expenses		4,621			17,309
Discontinued operations, net		$	416		$	9,964

 

(1)  Includes trailing expenses for Wholly Owned Properties sold in prior periods related to the Operating Partnership’s period of ownership.

 

15.                               Stock-Based Compensation

 

Prior to 2003, the Company had chosen to account for its stock-based compensation in accordance with APB No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, which resulted in no compensation expense for options issued with an exercise price equal to or exceeding the market value of EQR’s Common Shares on the date of grant (intrinsic method).  The Company has elected to expense its stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and its amendment (SFAS No. 148), Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, effective in the first quarter of 2003, which resulted in compensation expense being recorded based on the fair value of the stock compensation granted or modified.  Any Common Shares issued pursuant to EQR’s share option/restricted share/ESPP plans will result in the Operating Partnership issuing OP Units to EQR on a one-for-one basis.

 

SFAS No. 148 provides three transition methods for entities that adopt the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123.  The Company has chosen to use the “Prospective Method”.  This method requires that companies apply the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to only employee awards granted or modified after the beginning of the fiscal year in which the recognition provisions are first applied, or January 1, 2003.  Compensation expense under all of the Company’s plans is generally recognized over periods ranging from three months to five years.  Therefore, the cost related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards since the original effective date of SFAS No. 123.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per OP Unit if the fair value based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period presented:

 

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		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
		(Amounts in thousands except per OP Unit amounts)
Net income available to OP Units, as reported		$	120,277		$	82,794
Add:  Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income:
EQR’s restricted/performance shares		2,334			5,084
EQR’s share options(1)		1,707			—
EQR’s ESPP discount		490			—
Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards:
EQR’s restricted/performance shares		(2,334		)	(5,084		)
EQR’s share options(1)		(2,899		)	(1,527		)
EQR’s ESPP discount		(490		)	(658		)
Pro forma net income available to OP Units		$	119,085		$	80,609
Earnings per OP Unit:
Basic – as reported		$	0.41		$	0.28
Basic – pro forma		$	0.41		$	0.27
Diluted – as reported		$	0.41		$	0.28
Diluted – pro forma		$	0.40		$	0.27

 

(1)        Share options for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 included $1.4 million of expense recognition related to options granted in the first quarter of 2003 to EQR's former chief executive officer. These options vested immediately upon grant.

 

16.                               Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Operating Partnership, as an owner of real estate, is subject to various Federal, state and local environmental laws.  Compliance by the Operating Partnership with existing laws has not had a material adverse effect on the Operating Partnership’s financial condition and results of operations.  However, the Operating Partnership cannot predict the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on its current properties or on properties that it may acquire in the future.

 

The Operating Partnership does not believe there is any litigation pending or threatened against the Operating Partnership other than routine litigation arising out of the ordinary course of business, some of which is expected to be covered by liability insurance, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership.

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership has 17 projects in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2004.  The Operating Partnership funded a net total of $1.7 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2003 for the development of multifamily properties pursuant to its agreements with developers.  The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $5.0 million in connection with these properties during the remainder of 2003 and in 2004.  The three development agreements currently in place have the following key terms:

 

•                  The first development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project, to stipulate a value for such project and offer to sell its interest in the project to the Operating

 

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Partnership based on such value.  If the Operating Partnership chooses not to purchase the interest, it must agree to a sale of the project to an unrelated third party at such value.  The Operating Partnership’s partner must exercise this right as to all projects within five years after the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property.  The Operating Partnership has an obligation to fund up to an additional $13.0 million to guarantee third party construction financing, if required.

 

•                  The second development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project, to require the Operating Partnership to purchase the partners’ interest in that project at a mutually agreeable price.  If the Operating Partnership and the partner are unable to agree on a price, both parties will obtain appraisals.  If the appraised values vary by more than 10%, both the Operating Partnership and its partner will agree on a third appraiser to determine which original appraisal is closest to its determination of value.  The Operating Partnership may elect at that time not to purchase the property and instead, authorize its partner to sell the project at or above the agreed-upon value to an unrelated third party.  Five years following the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property, the Operating Partnership must purchase, at the agreed-upon price, any projects remaining unsold.

 

•                  The third development partner has the exclusive right for six months following stabilization (generally defined as having achieved 90% occupancy for three consecutive months following the substantial completion of a project) to market a project for sale.  Thereafter, either the Operating Partnership or its development partner may market a project for sale.  If the Operating Partnership’s development partner proposes the sale, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the project at the price proposed by its partner or defer the sale until two independent appraisers appraise the project.  If the two appraised values vary by more than 5%, a third appraiser will be chosen to determine the fair market value of the property.  Once a value has been determined, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the property or authorize its development partner to sell the project at the agreed-upon value.

 

In connection with one of its mergers, the Operating Partnership provided a credit enhancement with respect to certain tax-exempt bonds issued to finance certain public improvements at a multifamily development project.  As of March 31, 2003, this enhancement was still in effect at a commitment amount of $12.7 million.

 

17.                               Asset Impairment

 

For both the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Operating Partnership recorded approximately $0.3 million of asset impairment charges related to its technology investments.  These charges were the result of a review of the existing investments reflected on the consolidated balance sheet.  These impairment losses are reflected on the consolidated statements of operations in total expenses and include the write-down of assets classified as other assets.

 

18.                               Reportable Segments

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by senior management.  Senior management decides how resources are allocated and assesses performance on a monthly basis.

 

The Operating Partnership’s primary business is owning, managing, and operating multifamily residential properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents and includes ECH.  Senior management evaluates the performance of each of our apartment communities on an individual basis, however, each of our apartment communities has similar economic characteristics, residents, and products and services so they have been aggregated into one reportable segment.  The Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment comprises approximately 98.8%

 

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of total revenues for both the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.  The Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment comprises approximately 99.8% and 99.7% of total assets at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

 

The primary financial measure for the Operating Partnership’s rental real estate segment is net operating income (“NOI”), which represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense (all as reflected in the accompanying statements of operations).  Current year NOI is compared to prior year NOI and current year budgeted NOI as a measure of financial performance.  NOI from our rental real estate totaled approximately $279.6 million and $293.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

During the acquisition, development and/or disposition of real estate, the Operating Partnership considers its NOI return on total investment as the primary measure of financial performance.

 

The Operating Partnership’s fee and asset management activity is immaterial and does not meet the threshold requirements of a reportable segment as provided for in SFAS No. 131.

 

All revenues are from external customers and there is no customer who contributed 10% or more of the Operating Partnership’s total revenues during the quarters ended March 31, 2003 or 2002.

 

19.                               Subsequent Events/Other

 

Subsequent to March 31, 2003 and through April 30, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Disposed of three properties consisting of 761 units for approximately $28.5 million; and

•                  Repaid $12.9 million of mortgage debt at/or prior to maturity.

 

 

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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

For further information including definitions for capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Operating Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Forward-looking statements in this report are intended to be made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The words “believes”, “estimates”, “expects” and “anticipates” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Operating Partnership to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

•                  The total number of development units, cost of development and completion dates as well as anticipated capital expenditures for replacements and building improvements all reflect the Operating Partnership’s best estimates and are subject to uncertainties arising from changing economic conditions (such as the cost of labor and construction materials), competition and local government regulation;

•                  Alternative sources of capital to the Operating Partnership or labor and materials required for maintenance, repair, capital expenditure or development are more expensive than anticipated;

•                  Occupancy levels and market rents may be adversely affected by national and local economic and market conditions including, without limitation, new construction of multifamily housing, continuing decline in employment, availability of low interest mortgages for single-family home buyers and the potential for geopolitical instability, all of which are beyond the Operating Partnership’s control; and

•                  Additional factors as discussed in Part I of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly those under “Risk Factors”.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  The Operating Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  Forward-looking statements and related uncertainties are also included in Note 6 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes the number of properties and related units for the periods presented:

 

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		Properties		Units		Purchase / Sale Price $ Millions
At December 31, 2001		1,076		224,801
Q1 2002 Acquisitions		1		368		$	26.0
Q1 2002 Dispositions		(5	)	(757	)	$	43.7
Q1 2002 Completed Developments		1		588
At March 31, 2002		1,073		225,000
Q2/Q3/Q4 2002 Acquisitions		11		3,266		$	263.9
Ft. Lewis Joint Venture		1		3,652
Q2/Q3/Q4 2002 Dispositions		(53	)	(9,956	)	$	502.5
Q2/Q3/Q4 2002 Completed Developments		7		1,613
Q2/Q3/Q4 2002 Unit Configuration Changes		—		16
At December 31, 2002		1,039		223,591
Q1 2003 Acquisitions		3		920		$	111.5
Q1 2003 Dispositions		(17	)	(4,000	)	$	195.0
Q1 2003 Completed Developments		2		738
At March 31, 2003		1,027		221,249

 

Significant changes in revenues between the quarters presented have resulted primarily from reduced rental income through increased concessions or reduced apartment rents and occupancy at many of our properties.  Significant changes in expenses have resulted from increases in property and maintenance expenses including payroll, maintenance, building, utilities and leasing and advertising as well as real estate taxes.  In addition, the Operating Partnership’s acquisition, disposition and completed development activity has impacted overall results of operations for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.  These changes are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

 

Properties that the Operating Partnership owned for both of the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and March 31, 2002 (the “First Quarter 2003 Same Store Properties”), which represented 191,278 units, also impacted the Operating Partnership’s results of operations and are discussed as well in the following paragraphs.

 

Comparison of the quarter ended March 31, 2003 to the quarter ended March 31, 2002

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, income before allocation to Minority Interests, income from investments in unconsolidated entities, net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities and discontinued operations decreased by approximately $17.3 million when compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

Revenues from the First Quarter 2003 Same Store Properties decreased primarily as a result of lower overall physical occupancy, increased concessions and lower rental rates charged to both new and renewal residents.  Property operating expenses from the First Quarter 2003 Same Store Properties increased mainly due to higher utility, maintenance, building and payroll costs.  The following tables provide comparative revenue, expense, net operating income (“NOI”) and weighted average occupancy for the First Quarter 2003 Same Store Properties (NOI represents rental income less: 1) property and maintenance expense; 2) real estate taxes and insurance expense; and 3) property management expense):

 

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First Quarter 2003 vs. First Quarter 2002
Quarter over Quarter Same-Store Results

 

$ in Millions – 191,278 Same-Store Units

 

Description		Revenues			Expenses			NOI
Q1 2003		$	448.1		$	176.8		$	271.3
Q1 2002		$	464.3		$	164.2		$	300.1
Change		$	(16.2	)	$	12.6		$	(28.8	)
Change		(3.5		)%	7.7		%	(9.6		)%

 

Same-Store Occupancy Statistics

 

 

The Operating Partnership’s primary financial measure for evaluating each of its apartment communities is NOI.  The Operating Partnership believes that NOI is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because it is a direct measure of the actual operating results of the Operating Partnership’s apartment communities.

 

For properties that the Operating Partnership acquired prior to January 1, 2002 and expects to continue to own through December 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership anticipates the following operating results for the full year ending December 31, 2003:

 

2003 Same-Store Operating Assumptions

 

Physical Occupancy		93.0%
Revenue Change		(3.5%) to (1.2%)
Expense Change		2.8%) to 5.2%
NOI Change		(9.2%) to (3.7%)
Dispositions		$ 700 million

 

These 2003 operating assumptions are based on current expectations and are forward-looking.

 

Rental income from properties other than First Quarter 2003 Same Store Properties increased by approximately $11.3 million primarily as a result of revenue from properties acquired in 2002 and 2003 and additional Partially Owned Properties consolidated in the fourth quarter of 2002.

 

Interest and other income decreased by approximately $0.8 million, primarily as a result of lower interest rates being earned on short-term investment accounts along with lower balances on deposit in tax-deferred exchange accounts.

 

Property management expenses include off-site expenses associated with the self-management of the Operating Partnership’s properties.  These expenses decreased by approximately $3.6 million or 18.4%.  This decrease is primarily attributable to a reversal of a profit sharing accrual in the first quarter of 2003 related to the 2002 calendar year as the Operating Partnership didn’t achieve its stated goals and management elected not to make a discretionary contribution to the plan.  In addition, the Company recorded lower expense in connection with granting less restricted shares to its employees in the first quarter of 2003.

 

Fee and asset management revenues, net of fee and asset management expenses, increased by $0.9 million as a result of managing additional units at Fort Lewis, Washington starting in April 2002.  As of

 

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March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Operating Partnership managed 18,896 units and 16,539 units, respectively, for third parties and unconsolidated entities.

 

The Operating Partnership recorded impairment charges on its technology investments of approximately $0.3 million for both quarters presented.  See Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing costs, decreased approximately $3.5 million primarily due to lower variable interest rates.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership capitalized interest costs of approximately $5.4 million as compared to $5.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.  This capitalization of interest primarily related to equity investments in unconsolidated entities engaged in development activities.  The effective interest cost on all indebtedness for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was 6.39% as compared to 6.51% for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

General and administrative expenses, which include corporate operating expenses, increased approximately $0.4 million between the periods under comparison.  This increase was primarily due to the Company’s election to begin expensing stock-based compensation effective January 1, 2003 (see Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) partially offset by lower expenses recorded in connection with granting less restricted shares to employees in the first quarter of 2003.

 

Income from investments in unconsolidated entities decreased approximately $0.1 million between the periods under comparison.  This decrease is primarily the result of increased equity losses partially offset by unrealized gains on derivative instruments.

 

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations increased approximately $67.9 million between the periods under comparison.  This increase is primarily the result of a greater number of properties sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, including two California properties, as well as the fact that many such sold properties were more fully depreciated.

 

Discontinued operations, net, decreased approximately $9.5 million between the periods under comparison.  See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of January 1, 2003, the Operating Partnership had approximately $29.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $499.2 million available under its line of credit (net of $60.8 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing).  After taking into effect the various transactions discussed in the following paragraphs and the net cash provided by operating activities, the Operating Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents balance at March 31, 2003 was approximately $310.3 million and the amount available on the Operating Partnership’s line of credit was $646.7 million (net of $53.3 million which was restricted/dedicated to support letters of credit and not available for borrowing).

 

Part of the Operating Partnership’s acquisition and development funding strategy and the funding of investments in various unconsolidated entities is to utilize its line of credit and to subsequently repay the line of credit from the disposition of properties, retained cash flows or the issuance of additional equity or debt securities.  Continuing to utilize this strategy during the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Disposed of seventeen properties (including one Unconsolidated Property) and received net proceeds of approximately $192.1 million;

•                  Issued $400.0 million of 5.20% fixed rate unsecured debt receiving net proceeds of $397.5 million;

 

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•                  Issued approximately 0.3 million OP Units and received net proceeds of $6.9 million; and

•                  Obtained $48.7 million in new mortgage financing.

 

All of these proceeds were utilized to:

 

•                  Purchase additional properties;

•                  Repay the line of credit;

•                  Repay mortgage indebtedness on selected properties;

•                  Invest in unconsolidated development projects; and

•                  Invest in unconsolidated entities.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Acquired three properties utilizing cash of $76.7 million;

•                  Repaid $140.0 million on its line of credit;

•                  Repaid $110.1 million of mortgage loans; and

•                  Funded a net of $1.7 million under its development agreements.

 

Depending on its analysis of market prices, economic conditions, and other opportunities for the investment of available capital, the Company may repurchase up to an additional $85.0 million of its Common Shares pursuant to its existing share buyback program authorized by the Board of Trustees.  The Operating Partnership, in turn, would repurchase $85.0 million of its OP Units held by EQR.  The Company did not repurchase any of its Common Shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

 

The Operating Partnership’s total debt summary and debt maturity schedule as of March 31, 2003, are as follows:

 

Debt Summary as of March 31, 2003

 

 

* Net of the effect of any interest rate protection agreements.

 

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Debt Maturity Schedule as of March 31, 2003

 

 

* Includes $300 million with a final maturity of 2015 that is putable/callable in 2005.

 

The Operating Partnership’s “Consolidated Debt-to-Total Market Capitalization Ratio” as of March 31, 2003 is presented in the following table.  The Operating Partnership calculates the equity component of its market capitalization as the sum of (i) the total outstanding OP Units at the equivalent market value of the closing price of EQR’s Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) the “OP Unit Equivalent” of all convertible preference interests/units; and (iii) the liquidation value of all perpetual preference interests/units outstanding.

 

Capitalization as of March 31, 2003

 

 

26

 

Convertible Preference Units, Preference Interests and Junior Preference Units
as of March 31, 2003

 

		Units		Conversion Ratio		OP Unit Equivalents
Preference Units:
Series E		2,544,864		1.1128		2,831,925
Series G		1,264,692		8.5360		10,795,408
Series H		51,228		1.4480		74,178
Preference Interests:
Series H		190,000		1.5108		287,052
Series I		270,000		1.4542		392,634
Series J		230,000		1.4108		324,484
Junior Preference Units:
Series A		56,616		4.081600		231,084
Series B		7,367		1.020408		7,517
Total						14,944,282

 

The Operating Partnership’s policy is to maintain a ratio of consolidated debt-to-total market capitalization of less than 50%.

 

From April 1, 2003 through April 30, 2003, the Operating Partnership:

 

•                  Disposed of three properties consisting of 761 units for approximately $28.5 million; and

•                  Repaid $12.9 million of mortgage debt at/or prior to maturity.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

 

As of March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership has 17 projects in various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2004.  The three development agreements currently in place have the following key terms:

 

•                  The first development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project, to stipulate a value for such project and offer to sell its interest in the project to the Operating Partnership based on such value.  If the Operating Partnership chooses not to purchase the interest, it must agree to a sale of the project to an unrelated third party at such value.  The Operating Partnership’s partner must exercise this right as to all projects within five years after the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property.  The Operating Partnership has an obligation to fund up to an additional $13.0 million to guarantee third party construction financing, if required.

 

•                        The second development partner has the right, at any time following completion of a project, to require the Operating Partnership to purchase the partners’ interest in that project at a mutually agreeable price.  If the Operating Partnership and the partner are unable to agree on a price, both parties will obtain appraisals.  If the appraised values vary by more than 10%, both the Operating Partnership and its partner will agree on a third appraiser to determine which original appraisal is closest to its determination of value.  The Operating Partnership may elect at that time not to purchase the property and instead, authorize its partner to sell the project at or above the agreed-upon value to an unrelated third party.  Five years following the receipt of the final certificate of occupancy on the last developed property, the Operating Partnership must purchase, at the agreed-upon price, any projects remaining unsold.

 

•                        The third development partner has the exclusive right for six months following stabilization

 

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(generally defined as having achieved 90% occupancy for three consecutive months following the substantial completion of a project) to market a project for sale.  Thereafter, either the Operating Partnership or its development partner may market a project for sale.  If the Operating Partnership’s development partner proposes the sale, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the project at the price proposed by its partner or defer the sale until two independent appraisers appraise the project.  If the two appraised values vary by more than 5%, a third appraiser will be chosen to determine the fair market value of the property.  Once a value has been determined, the Operating Partnership may elect to purchase the property or authorize its development partner to sell the project at the agreed-upon value.

 

In connection with one of its mergers, the Operating Partnership provided a credit enhancement with respect to certain tax-exempt bonds issued to finance certain public improvements at a multifamily development project.  As of April 30, 2003, this enhancement was still in effect at a commitment amount of $12.7 million.

 

As of April 30, 2003, the Operating Partnership has a commitment to fund $6.1 million to Constellation Real Technologies, LLC, a real estate technology company.

 

See also Note 7 and the third paragraph of Note 16 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Operating Partnership’s investments in unconsolidated entities.

 

Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate

 

Our policy with respect to capital expenditures is generally to capitalize expenditures that improve the value of the property or extend the useful life of the component asset of the property.  We track improvements to real estate in two major categories and several subcategories:

 

•	Replacements (inside the unit).  These include:
	•	carpets and hardwood floors;
	•	appliances;
	•	mechanical equipment such as individual furnace/air units, hot water heaters, etc;
	•	furniture and fixtures such as kitchen/bath cabinets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, sinks, tubs, toilets, mirrors, countertops, etc;
	•	flooring such as vinyl, linoleum or tile; and
	•	blinds/shades

 

 

We typically capitalize for established properties approximately $260 to $290 per unit annually for inside the unit replacements.  All replacements are depreciated over a five-year estimated useful life.  We expense as incurred all maintenance and turnover costs such as cleaning, interior painting of individual units and the repair of any replacement item noted above.

 

•	Building improvements (outside the unit).  These include:
	•	roof replacement and major repairs;
	•	paving or major resurfacing of parking lots, curbs and sidewalks;
	•	amenities and common areas such as pools, exterior sports and playground equipment, lobbies, clubhouses, laundry rooms, alarm and security systems and offices;
	•	major building mechanical equipment systems;
	•	interior and exterior structural repair and exterior painting and siding;
	•	major landscaping and grounds improvement; and
	•	vehicles and office and maintenance equipment.

 

We typically capitalize for established properties approximately $380 to $390 per unit annually for outside the unit building improvements.  All building improvements are depreciated over a five to ten-year

 

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estimated useful life.  We expense as incurred all recurring expenditures that do not improve the value of the asset or extend its useful life.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, our actual improvements to real estate totaled approximately $33.6 million.  This includes the following detail (amounts in thousands except for unit and per unit amounts):

 

Capitalized Improvements to Real Estate
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

 

		Total Units (1)		Replacements			Avg. Per Unit			Building Improvements			Avg. Per Unit			Total			Avg. Per Unit
Established Properties(2)		181,447		$	12,693		$	70		$	15,276		$	84		$	27,969		$	154
New Acquisition Properties(3)		9,443		432			48			1,567			176			1,999			224
Other(4)		7,916		1,466						2,168						3,634
Total		198,806		$	14,591					$	19,011					$	33,602

 

(1)                      Total units exclude 22,443 unconsolidated units.

(2)                      Wholly Owned Properties acquired prior to January 1, 2001.

(3)                      Wholly Owned Properties acquired during 2001, 2002 and 2003.  Per unit amounts are based on a weighted average of 8,914 units.

(4)                      Includes properties either Partially Owned or sold during the period, commercial space and condominium conversions.

 

We anticipate capitalizing annually an average of approximately $640 to $680 per unit for inside and outside the unit capital expenditures to our established properties.  The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $110.0 million for capital expenditures for replacements and building improvements for all consolidated properties for the remainder of 2003.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Operating Partnership’s total non-real estate capital additions, such as computer software, computer equipment, and furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements to the Operating Partnership’s property management offices and its corporate offices, was approximately $0.9 million.  The Operating Partnership expects to fund approximately $4.0 million in total additions to non-real estate property for the remainder of 2003.

 

Improvements to real estate and additions to non-real estate property were funded from net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

In the normal course of business, the Operating Partnership is exposed to the effect of interest rate changes.  The Operating Partnership limits these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures including the use of derivatives to hedge interest rate risk on debt instruments.

 

The Operating Partnership has a policy of only entering into contracts with major financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors.  When viewed in conjunction with the underlying and offsetting exposure that the derivatives are designed to hedge, the Operating Partnership has not sustained a material loss from those instruments nor does it anticipate any material adverse effect on its net income or financial position in the future from the use of derivatives.

 

See Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments at March 31, 2003.

 

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Other

 

Total distributions paid in April 2003 amounted to $143.6 million (excluding distributions on Partially Owned Properties), which included certain distributions declared in the first quarter of 2003.

 

The Operating Partnership expects to meet its short-term liquidity requirements, including capital expenditures related to maintaining its existing properties and certain scheduled unsecured note and mortgage note repayments, generally through its working capital, net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under its line of credit.  The Operating Partnership considers its cash provided by operating activities to be adequate to meet operating requirements and payments of distributions.  The Operating Partnership also expects to meet its long-term liquidity requirements, such as scheduled unsecured note and mortgage debt maturities, property acquisitions, financing of construction and development activities and capital improvements through the issuance of unsecured notes and equity securities, including additional OP Units, and proceeds received from the disposition of certain properties.  In addition, the Operating Partnership has certain unencumbered properties available to secure additional mortgage borrowings in the event that the public capital markets are unavailable or the cost of alternative sources of capital is too high.  The fair value of these unencumbered properties are in excess of the required value the Operating Partnership must maintain in order to comply with covenants under its unsecured notes and line of credit.

 

The Operating Partnership has a revolving credit facility with potential borrowings of up to $700.0 million.  This facility matures in May 2005 and will be used to fund property acquisitions, costs for certain properties under development and short term liquidity requirements.  As of April 30, 2003, no amounts were outstanding under this facility.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Operating Partnership has identified six significant accounting policies as critical accounting policies.  These critical accounting policies are those that have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and those requiring significant judgments and estimates.  With respect to these critical accounting policies, management believes that the application of judgments and assessments is consistently applied and produces financial information that fairly presents the results of operations for all periods presented.  The six critical accounting policies are:

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill

 

The Operating Partnership periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in real estate and goodwill, for impairment indicators.  The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, expected holding period of each asset and legal and environmental concerns.  Future events could occur which would cause the Operating Partnership to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted.

 

Depreciation of Investment in Real Estate

 

The Operating Partnership depreciates the building component of its investment in real estate over a 30-year estimated useful life, building improvements over a 5-year to 10-year estimated useful life and both the furniture, fixtures and equipment and replacements components over a 5-year estimated useful life, all of which are judgmental determinations.

 

Cost Capitalization

 

See the Capitalization of Fixed Assets and Improvements to Real Estate section for discussion of the policy with respect to capitalization vs. expensing of fixed asset/repair and maintenance costs.  In

 

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addition, the Operating Partnership capitalizes the payroll and associated costs of employees directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on the supervision of major capital projects.  These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as an increase to depreciable property.

 

The Operating Partnership follows the guidance in SFAS No. 67, Accounting for Costs and Initial Rental Operations of Real Estate Projects, for all development projects and uses its professional judgment in determining whether such costs meet the criteria for capitalization or must be expensed as incurred.  The Operating Partnership capitalizes interest, real estate taxes and insurance and payroll and associated costs for those individuals directly responsible for and who spend all of their time on development activities.  The Operating Partnership expenses as incurred all payroll costs of employees working directly at our properties, except for costs that are incurred during the initial lease-up phase on a development project.  An allocated portion of payroll costs is capitalized based upon the occupancy of the project until stabilized occupancy is achieved.  Stabilized occupancy is always deemed to have occurred no later than one year from cessation of major development activities.  The incremental payroll and associated costs are capitalized to the projects under development based upon the effort directly identifiable with such projects.  These costs are reflected on the balance sheet as either construction in progress or a separate component of investments in unconsolidated entities.  The Operating Partnership ceases the capitalization of such costs as the property becomes substantially complete and ready for its intended use.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments

 

The valuation of financial instruments under SFAS No. 107 and SFAS No. 133 and its amendments (SFAS Nos. 137 and 138) requires the Operating Partnership to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments.  The Operating Partnership, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Operating Partnership bases its estimates on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Rental income attributable to leases is recorded when due from residents and is recognized monthly as it is earned, which is not materially different than on a straight-line basis.  Leases entered into between a resident and a property for the rental of an apartment unit are generally year-to-year, renewable upon consent of both parties on an annual or monthly basis.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Prior to 2003, the Company had chosen to account for its stock-based compensation in accordance with APB No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, which resulted in no compensation expense for options issued with an exercise price equal to or exceeding the market value of EQR’s Common Shares on the date of grant (intrinsic method).  The Company has elected to expense its stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and its amendment (SFAS No. 148), Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, effective in the first quarter of 2003, which resulted in compensation expense being recorded based on the fair value of the stock compensation granted or modified.  Any Common Shares issued pursuant to EQR’s share option/restricted share/ESPP plans will result in the Operating Partnership issuing OP Units to EQR on a one-for-one basis.

 

SFAS No. 148 provides three transition methods for entities that adopt the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123.  The Company has chosen to use the “Prospective Method”.  This method requires that companies apply the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to only employee awards granted or modified after the beginning of the fiscal year in which the recognition provisions are first applied, or January 1, 2003.  Compensation expense under all of the Company’s plans is generally recognized over periods ranging from three months to five years.  Therefore, the cost related to stock-based

 

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employee compensation included in the determination of net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards since the original effective date of SFAS No. 123.  See Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

Funds From Operations

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) available to OP Units decreased $23.4 million, or 12.2%, as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

The following is a reconciliation of net income available to OP Units to FFO available to OP Units for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002:

 

Funds From Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

		Quarter Ended March 31,
		2003			2002
Net income available to OP Units		$	120,277		$	82,794
Adjustments:
Depreciation		117,816			110,992
Depreciation – Non-real estate additions		(2,275		)	(1,977		)
Depreciation – Partially Owned Properties		(2,039		)	(1,871		)
Depreciation – Unconsolidated Properties		5,195			4,490
Net gain on sales of unconsolidated entities		(1,212		)	(5,657		)
Discontinued operations:
Depreciation		1,102			5,776
Net gain on sales of depreciable property		(70,229		)	(2,477		)
FFO available to OP Units – basic(1)(2)		$	168,635		$	192,070

 

(1)       The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) defines funds from operations (“FFO”) (April 2002 White Paper) as net income (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of property, plus depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures will be calculated to reflect funds from operations on the same basis.  The April 2002 White Paper states that gain or loss on sales of property is excluded from FFO for previously depreciated operating properties only.  Once the Operating Partnership commences the conversion of units to condominiums, it simultaneously discontinues depreciation of such property.  Accordingly, the Operating Partnership included in FFO its incremental gains or losses from the sale of condominium units to third parties, which represented net gains of $443 and $339 for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

(2)       The Operating Partnership believes that FFO is helpful to investors as a supplemental measure of the operating performance of a real estate company because, along with cash flows from operating activities, financing activities and investing activities, it provides investors an understanding of the ability of the Operating Partnership to incur and service debt and to make capital expenditures.  FFO in and of itself does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of the Operating Partnership’s performance or to net cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP as a measure of liquidity and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.  The Operating Partnership’s calculation of FFO may differ from other real estate companies due to variations among the Operating Partnership’s and other real estate companies’ accounting policies for replacement type items and, accordingly,

 

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may not be comparable to such other real estate companies.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Operating Partnership’s market risk has not changed materially from the amounts and information reported in Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, to the Operating Partnership’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.  See also Note 12 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of derivative instruments.

 

Item 4. Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Operating Partnership carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Operating Partnership’s management including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of EQR, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14.  Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information.  There have been no significant changes to the internal controls of the Operating Partnership or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the completion of this evaluation.

 

PART II.                        OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.           Legal Proceedings

 

There have been no new or significant developments related to the legal proceedings that were discussed in Part I, Item III of the Operating Partnership’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Item 6.           Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(A)                              Exhibits:

 

12                                    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.

 

99.1                           Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Bruce W. Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

99.2                           Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.

 

(B)                                Reports on Form 8-K:

 

A report on Form 8-K dated March 19, 2003 containing additional information on the prospectus supplement for the Operating Partnership’s $400.0 million unsecured note offering.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

BY: EQUITY RESIDENTIAL,

ITS GENERAL PARTNER

Date:

May 13, 2003

By:

/s/

David J. Neithercut

David J. Neithercut

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Date:

May 13, 2003

By:

/s/

Michael J. McHugh

Michael J. McHugh

Executive Vice President,

Chief Accounting Officer

and Treasurer

 

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CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Bruce W. Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of Equity Residential, general partner of ERP Operating Limited Partnership, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ERP Operating Limited Partnership;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a)              Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b)             Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

c)              Presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a)              All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b)             Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date:  May 13, 2003

 

			/s/ Bruce W. Duncan
			Bruce W. Duncan
			Chief Executive Officer of Equity Residential

 

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CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, David J. Neithercut, Chief Financial Officer of Equity Residential, general partner of ERP Operating Limited Partnership, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ERP Operating Limited Partnership;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a)              Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b)             Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

c)              Presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a)              All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b)             Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date:  May 13, 2003

 

				/s/ David J. Neithercut
				David J. Neithercut
				Chief Financial Officer of Equity Residential

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit		Document
12		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges.
99.1		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Bruce W. Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.
99.2		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of David J. Neithercut, Chief Financial Officer of Registrant’s General Partner.