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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form 10-K

 

FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITIONAL REPORTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

     For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

Commission File No. 1-14306

 


 

BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland   94-1722214

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

44 Montgomery Street, 36th Floor

San Francisco, California 94104-4809

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(415) 445-6530

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Stock, $0.01 par value

8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

New York Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

New York Stock Exchange

 

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 x    No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act rule 12b-2).  Yes x    No ¨

 

At June 30, 2004, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s shares of Common Stock par value, $.01 per share, held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $1,744,000,000. At that date 50,178,878 shares were outstanding.

 



DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BRE Properties, Inc. to be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2004 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this report.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

In addition to historical information, we have made forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements pertain to, among other things, our capital resources, portfolio performance and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. You should not rely on these statements as predictions of future events because we cannot assure you that the events or circumstances reflected in the statements can be achieved or will occur. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “pro forma,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or their negative form or other variations, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, data or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise or incapable of being realized. The following factors, among others, could affect actual results and future events: defaults or non-renewal of leases, increased interest rates and operating costs, failure to obtain necessary outside financing, difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and in effecting acquisitions, failure to successfully integrate acquired properties and operations, inability to dispose of assets that no longer meet our investment criteria under acceptable terms and conditions, risks and uncertainties affecting property development and construction (including construction delays, cost overruns, inability to obtain necessary permits and public opposition to such activities), failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, environmental uncertainties, risks related to natural disasters, financial market fluctuations, changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates. Our success also depends on general economic trends, including interest rates, income tax laws, governmental regulation, legislation, population changes and other factors, including those risk factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this report as they may be updated from time to time by our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Do not rely solely on forward-looking statements, which only reflect management’s analysis. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

 

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BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

PART I

 

Item 1.    BUSINESS

 

References in the Annual Report on Form 10-K to “BRE,” “we” or “us” refer to BRE Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

 

Corporate Profile

 

We are a self-administered equity real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on the development, acquisition and management of multifamily apartment communities in seven targeted metropolitan markets of the Western United States. At December 31, 2004, our multifamily portfolio had real estate assets with a net book value of approximately $2.5 billion, which included: 85 wholly or majority owned completed multifamily communities, aggregating 24,198 units in California, Arizona, Washington, Utah and Colorado; two multifamily communities owned through joint venture agreements, comprised of 488 apartment units; and eight apartment communities in various stages of construction and development totaling 2,051 units. We have been a publicly traded company since our founding in 1970 and have paid 137 consecutive quarterly dividends to our shareholders since inception.

 

Our business touches one of the most personal aspects of our customers’ lives—the place they call home. We believe this creates not just a responsibility, but an opportunity to set ourselves apart by seeing things from our residents’ point of view and putting them first in all we do. The power of this viewpoint is that what is good for our resident is good for our company. As we build relationships with the people and communities we serve, we set ourselves apart in the marketplace and create long-term, income-producing investments for our shareholders. Our principal operating objective is to maximize the economic returns of our apartment communities so as to provide our shareholders with the greatest possible total return and value. To achieve this objective, we pursue the following primary strategies and goals:

 

    Maintain balance sheet strength and maximize financial flexibility to provide continued access to attractively priced capital for strategic growth opportunities;

 

    Communicate a clear, results-oriented strategic direction based on the five-year plan developed by our Board of Directors and Management, that is the driver behind all key decisions;

 

    Manage our business to yield a compelling combination of income and growth by achieving and maintaining high occupancy levels, dynamic pricing, and operating margin expansion through operating efficiencies and cost controls, and deploying new and recycled capital to supply constrained markets of the Western United States;

 

    Respond openly and honestly to all investors by disclosing financial results comprehensively and efficiently, and making our business transparent to investors through our public disclosure; and

 

    Create a valuable customer experience that focuses on services from residents’ point of view, and generates increased profitability from resident retention and referrals.

 

We believe we can best achieve our objectives by developing, acquiring and internally managing high-quality apartment communities in high-demand, supply-constrained locations in the most attractive places to live in the Western United States. Our communities are generally near the business, transportation, employment and recreation centers essential to customers who value the convenience, service and flexibility of rental living. Recognizing that customers have many housing choices, we focus on developing and acquiring apartment homes with customer-defined amenities and providing professional management services, delivered by well-trained associates. We have concentrated our investment and business focus in the Western United States because of certain characteristics of these markets that we find attractive, including the propensity to rent and a housing supply that currently cannot keep pace with population and employment growth. From time to time, we dispose

 

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of assets that do not meet our long-term investment criteria, recycling the capital derived from property sales into apartment communities in supply-constrained locations that offer higher long-term return opportunities.

 

Events During 2004

 

On January 29, 2004, we redeemed all 2,150,000 shares of 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.17118 per share. The redemption price was equal to the original issuance price of $25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date. We expensed the original preferred stock issuance costs during the fourth quarter of 2003, when we announced the redemption.

 

On March 15, 2004, we closed an offering of 4,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. The preferred shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRE_prc. Net proceeds from the offering, after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs, totaled approximately $96,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

On March 17, 2004, we closed an offering of $100,000,000 of dual-tranche Medium-Term Notes under a medium term note program initiated in 2001. The offering included $50,000,000 of five-year notes with a coupon rate of 3.58%, and $50,000,000 of 10-year notes with a coupon rate of 4.70%. Net proceeds from the offering, after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs, totaled approximately $99,437,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

During the first quarter of 2004, we increased the size of our secured credit facility with Fannie Mae (serviced by Prudential Multifamily Mortgage, Inc.) from $100,000,000 to $140,000,000. Borrowings under the secured credit facility totaled $140,000,000 at December 31, 2004. The credit facility is secured by nine multifamily communities, which are held by a consolidated subsidiary of BRE. The average borrowing rate was 2.3% for 2004, including the facility fee.

 

On December 9, 2004, we closed an offering of 3,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. The preferred shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRE_prd. Net proceeds from the offering, after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs, totaled approximately $72,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

On May 20, 2004, we amended our Articles of Incorporation to provide for our moving from a staggered board structure toward the election of all directors annually. Under the amendment, each of the classes of directors currently in office will serve out the balance of their current three-year terms, and afterwards their successors will be elected for one-year terms.

 

During 2004, we acquired six communities totaling 1,559 units for approximately $268,200,000. During first quarter 2004, we acquired four communities with an aggregate purchase price of $68,700,000: Summerwind Townhomes, with 200 units; Regency Palm Court, with 116 units; Windsor Court, with 95 units; and Tiffany Court, with 101 units, all located in Los Angeles, California. During the third and fourth quarters of 2004, we acquired two communities with a total of 423 units on contiguous parcels of land located in Redmond, Washington for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $62,400,000. Management of the two communities has been combined, so that they are now treated as one community—Evergreen Apartments. In December 2004, we acquired Villa Azure Apartments, with 624 units located in Los Angeles, California, for a purchase price of $137,100,000.

 

During 2004, we completed three development communities: Pinnacle at Westridge, with 234 units in Valencia, California; Pinnacle at Talega Phase II, with 110 units in San Clemente, California; and Pinnacle at Fullerton, with 192 units in Fullerton, California. Lease-up is complete at Talega II and Fullerton, and Westridge is 87% occupied as of December 31, 2004.

 

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During 2004, we sold three communities totaling 878 units: Pinnacle Stonecreek, with 226 units located in Phoenix Arizona; Pinnacle Reserve, with 492 units located in the Salt Lake City, Utah area; and Pinnacle Fort Union with 160 units, also located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The three communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $98,625,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of approximately $19,925,000.

 

During 2004, we completed the Chief Executive Officer transition from Frank C. McDowell to Constance B. Moore. During 2004, Mr. McDowell served as Vice Chairman and CEO, and Ms. Moore served as President and Chief Operating Officer. At the end of the year, the transition was deemed complete. Mr. McDowell retired on January 1, 2005, and Ms. Moore became President and CEO on that date.

 

Events During 2003

 

On April 4, 2003, we amended and restated our revolving unsecured credit facility through April 2006, maintaining an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.70%, plus a fee of 0.20% payable on the unused portion of the credit facility. The average borrowing rate was 2.7% for 2003 and 2.9% for 2004. We also elected to reduce the borrowing capacity from $450,000,000 to $350,000,000 on the unsecured credit facility at that time.

 

On May 2, 2003, we established a $100,000,000 Fannie Mae secured credit facility. The secured credit facility matures in 2008 and was originally secured by five multifamily communities. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at variable rates with maturities from one to nine months, plus a facility fee of up to 0.65%. The average borrowing rate, including the facility fee, was 2.1% in 2003. Drawings on the lines of credit are available to fund our investment activities and for general corporate purposes.

 

On September 16, 2003, we closed a public offering of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock. The shares were offered to the public through the underwriter at a public offering price of $33.10 per share. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter 2003, the underwriter exercised its over-allotment option to purchase an additional 450,000 shares. Net proceeds from the offering—after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs—totaled approximately $112,300,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

During 2003, we acquired three properties totaling 1,038 units for approximately $116,200,000. The properties are: Corona Pointe, acquired September 15, 2003, with 714 units located in Riverside, California; The Enclave at Town Square, acquired October 31, 2003, with 124 units located in Chino Hills, California; and Canyon Creek, acquired December 18, 2003, with 200 units located in Northridge, California.

 

During 2003, we also completed the development and lease-up of two communities: Pinnacle Denver Tech Center, with a total of 420 units located in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village, Colorado; and Pinnacle Talega Phase I, with 252 units located in San Clemente, California. Both communities went through the lease-up phase during 2003 and were stabilized as of December 31, 2003.

 

During 2003, we sold three communities totaling 1,100 units: Berkshire Court, with 250 units, located in the Portland Oregon metro area and Brookdale Glenn with 354 units, also located in Portland, Oregon; and Newport Landing, with 480 units, located in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona. The sale of the two Portland area assets completed our exit from that market. The three communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $72,600,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of approximately $23,147,000.

 

During 2003, we settled a lawsuit that was filed by an unrelated third party in 2002 regarding the Pinnacle at MacArthur Place joint venture agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, we paid the third party $6,500,000 and retained full ownership of the asset. Also during 2003, we reached a settlement agreement regarding a class action lawsuit that was brought against us with respect to application fees charged residents from August 1998 to August 2003. Under terms of the settlement, we agreed to establish a $200,000 fund to reimburse the subject applicants up to $5.00 per applicant, and to pay certain related administration charges and legal expenses. Both settlement amounts, including all related legal and administrative costs, aggregate $7,305,000 and are reported as other expenses on the consolidated income statement.

 

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In November of 2003, we announced a one-year executive succession plan, culminating with the retirement of Frank C. McDowell, BRE’s President and Chief Executive Officer, from the role of Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2004. On January 1, 2004, Mr. McDowell assumed the role of Vice Chairman and CEO, and Constance B. Moore became BRE’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Moore was named President and CEO on January 1, 2005.

 

Events During 2002

 

On March 12, 2002, we issued $150,000,000 of five-year 5.95% senior unsecured notes in an underwritten public offering. On August 20, 2002, we issued $150,000,000 of seven-year 5.75% senior unsecured notes in an underwritten public offering. Net proceeds from the sales of these notes totaled approximately $297,407,000, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and our offering expenses, and were used to repay a portion of the borrowings under our existing unsecured credit facility.

 

On June 20, 2002, we closed the underwritten public offering of three million shares of 8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. The Series B Preferred Stock will be redeemable at $25 per share on or after June 20, 2007. The preferred shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol BRE_prb. Net proceeds from the offering totaled $72,291,000, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and our offering expenses, and were used to invest in additional multifamily communities and, pending such use, to temporarily repay borrowings under our then-existing unsecured credit facility.

 

During 2002, we consolidated five joint venture investments, transferring the assets from equity interests in real estate joint ventures to direct investments in real estate. With respect to two of the joint ventures, the consolidation reflected our acquisition of our joint venture partner’s ownership interest in the properties. These properties are: Pinnacle at Blue Ravine, a 260-unit apartment community located in Folsom, California; and Pinnacle Sonata, a 268-unit community located in Bothell, Washington. The acquisition price for our partner’s ownership interests was $56,520,000.

 

With respect to two of the joint ventures, the consolidation reflected the termination of the joint venture arrangements prior to funding. These properties are: Pinnacle at Stonecreek, a 226-unit community located in Phoenix, Arizona; and Pinnacle at the Creek, a 216-unit community located in the Denver suburb of Aurora, Colorado. The effect of the consolidation was an increase to direct investments in real estate of $48,515,000, a reduction of equity interests in and advances to real estate joint ventures of $26,297,000 and an assumption of secured indebtedness totaling $22,218,000. After consolidating these assets we paid down $6,722,000 of the related secured indebtedness.

 

With respect to the remaining joint venture property: Pinnacle at MacArthur Place, a 253-unit community located in the South Coast Metro Area of Orange County, California, the consolidation resulted from a dispute between us and our joint venture partner that prevented the closing and funding of the joint venture. As noted above, we settled the litigation in 2003. The effect of the consolidation was an increase to direct investments in real estate of $64,227,000, a reduction of equity interests in and advances to real estate joint ventures of $24,227,000 and an assumption of secured indebtedness totaling $40,000,000.

 

During 2002, we acquired an additional four properties totaling 848 units for approximately $100,000,000. The properties include: Bernardo Crest, with 216 units located in San Diego, California; Mission Trails, with 208 units also located in San Diego; Boulder Creek, with 264 units in Riverside, California; and Emerald Pointe Apartments, with 160 units located in Diamond Bar, California.

 

During 2002, we also completed the construction of Pinnacle at Otay Ranch I and II, with a total of 364 units located in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista, California; and Pinnacle at Lake Washington, with 180 units located in the Seattle suburb of Renton, Washington. We directly own both communities.

 

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During 2002, we sold three communities totaling 663 units: The Arbors at Warner Center, with 250 units, located in the Los Angeles metro area of Woodland Hills, California; Pinnacle Lakeside, with 253 units, located in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Carriage House, with 160 units, located in the Portland, Oregon metro area. The communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $58,300,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of $10,067,000. In connection with these transactions, we repaid approximately $13,216,000 in related secured mortgage debt.

 

Competition

 

All of our communities are located in developed areas that include other multifamily communities. There are numerous other multifamily properties and real estate companies within these areas that compete with us for residents and development and acquisition opportunities. Such competition could have a material effect on our ability to lease apartment homes at our existing communities or at any newly developed or acquired communities, and on the rents charged. We may be competing with others that have greater resources than us. In addition, other forms of residential properties, including condominiums and other single-family housing, provide housing alternatives to potential residents of upscale apartment communities.

 

Structure, Tax Status and Investment Policy

 

We believe we are organized and operate so as to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to Federal income tax to the extent we distribute 100% of our taxable income to our shareholders. REITs are subject to a number of complex organizational and operational requirements. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, our taxable income may be subject to income tax at regular corporate rates. See “Risk Factors—Tax Risks.”

 

Our long-range investment policy emphasizes the development, construction and acquisition of multifamily communities located in the Western United States. As circumstances warrant, certain properties may be sold and the proceeds reinvested into multifamily communities that our management believes better align with our growth objectives. Among other items, this policy is intended to enable our management to monitor developments in local real estate markets and to take an active role in managing our properties and improving their performance. The policy is subject to ongoing review by the Board of Directors and may be modified in the future to take into account changes in business or economic conditions, as circumstances warrant.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had 805 employees. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

 

Company Website

 

To view our current and periodic reports free of charge, please go to our website at www.breproperties.com. We make these postings as soon as reasonably practicable after our filings with the SEC. Our website contains copies of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters of each of our Audit and Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committees. This information is also available in print to any shareholder who requests it by contacting us at BRE Properties, Inc., 44 Montgomery St., 36th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94104, attention: Investor Relations. Information contained on our website is not and should not be deemed a part of this report or a part of any other report or filing with the SEC.

 

Investment Portfolio

 

See Part I, Item 2 (“Properties”) and Part II, Item 7 (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) of this report for a description of our individual investments and certain

 

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developments during the year with respect to these investments. See Part IV, Item 15, Schedule III (financial statement schedule), for additional information about our portfolio, including locations, costs and encumbrances.

 

Additionally, see Part II, Item 8 and Part IV, Item 15(d) of this report for our consolidated financial statements.

 

Executive Officers

 

The following persons were executive officers of BRE as of February 15, 2005:

 

Name


  

Age at

February 15,
2005


  

Position(s)


Constance B. Moore

   49    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Edward F. Lange, Jr.

   45    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Bradley P. Griggs

   47    Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer

Deirdre A. Kuring

   43    Executive Vice President, Asset Management

 

In November of 2003, we announced a one-year executive succession plan, culminating with the retirement of Frank C. McDowell, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, from the position of Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2004. On January 1, 2004, Mr. McDowell assumed the role of Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Constance B. Moore became our president and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Moore was named President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2005.

 

Ms. Moore joined the company in July of 2002 as an Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. On January 1, 2004, Ms. Moore became BRE’s President and Chief Operating Officer, assuming day-to-day operating responsibility for the Company. Ms. Moore was named President and CEO on January 1, 2005. Ms. Moore held several executive positions with Security Capital Group & Affiliates, an international real estate operating and investment management company, from 1993 to July 2002, including Co-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Archstone Communities Trust, a Colorado-based multifamily REIT. Ms. Moore holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

 

Mr. Lange has been in his current position since June 2000. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Health Care REIT, Inc., an Ohio-based senior housing real estate investment trust, from 1996 to June 2000. Mr. Lange holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Massachusetts.

 

Mr. Griggs has been in his current position since December 2000. He served as a Senior Vice President of Development for Homestead Village, Inc., an operator of extended stay lodging properties and a subsidiary of Security Capital Group, Inc. from 1995 to December 2000. Mr. Griggs holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo, California and is a registered California Architect.

 

Ms. Kuring was promoted to Executive Vice President in January 2003, and has served as an executive officer of BRE since November 2001. She served as Divisional Vice President, Pacific Northwest and Utah, from August 2000 to October 2001. From 1996 to August 2000, Ms. Kuring was a vice president for Archstone Communities Trust, a Colorado-based multifamily real estate investment trust. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Seattle University and is a Certified Property Manager.

 

There is no family relationship among any of our executive officers or Directors.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Risks Due to Investment in Real Estate

 

Decreased revenues or increased operating expenses may cause decreased yields from an investment in real property.

 

Real property investments are subject to varying degrees of risk. The yields available from investments in real estate depend upon the amount of revenues generated and expenses incurred. If properties do not generate revenues sufficient to meet operating expenses, including debt service and capital expenditures, our results from operations and ability to make distributions to our shareholders will be adversely affected. The performance of the economy in each of the areas in which the properties are located affects occupancy, market rental rates and expenses. These factors consequently can have an impact on revenues from the properties and their underlying values. The financial results and labor decisions of major local employers may also have an impact on the revenues from and value of certain properties.

 

Other factors may further adversely affect revenues from and values of our properties. These factors include the general economic climate, local conditions in the areas in which properties are located such as an oversupply of apartment units or a reduction in the demand for apartment units, the attractiveness of the properties to residents, competition from other multifamily communities and our ability to provide adequate facilities maintenance, services and amenities. Our revenues would also be adversely affected if residents were unable to pay rent or we were unable to rent apartments on favorable terms. If we were unable to promptly relet or renew the leases for a significant number of apartment units, or if the rental rates upon renewal or reletting were significantly lower than expected rates, then our funds from operations would, and our ability to make expected distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt may, be adversely affected. There is also a risk that as leases on the properties expire, residents will vacate or enter into new leases on terms that are less favorable to us. Operating costs, including real estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, and mortgage payments, if any, do not, in general, decline when circumstances cause a reduction in income from a property. We could sustain a loss as a result of foreclosure on the property, if a property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and we are unable to meet our mortgage payments. In addition, applicable laws, including tax laws, interest rate levels and the availability of financing also affect revenues from properties and real estate values.

 

If we are unable to implement our growth strategy, or if we fail to identify, acquire or integrate new acquisitions, our results may suffer.

 

Our future growth will be dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to identify acceptable properties for development and acquisition, complete acquisitions and developments on favorable terms, successfully integrate acquired and newly developed properties, and obtain financing to support expansion. We cannot assure that we will be successful in implementing our growth strategy, that growth will continue at historical levels or at all, or that any expansion will improve operating results. The failure to identify, acquire and integrate new properties effectively could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Development and construction projects may not be completed or completed successfully.

 

As a general matter, property development and construction projects typically have a higher, and sometimes substantially higher, level of risk than the acquisition of existing properties. We intend to actively pursue development and construction of multifamily apartment communities. We cannot assure that we will complete

 

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development of the properties currently under development or any other development project that we may undertake. Risks associated with our development and construction activities may include the following:

 

    development opportunities may be abandoned;

 

    construction costs of multifamily apartment communities may exceed original estimates, possibly making the communities uneconomical;

 

    occupancy rates and rents at newly completed communities may not be sufficient to make the communities profitable;

 

    financing for the construction and development of projects may not be available on favorable terms or at all;

 

    construction and lease-up may not be completed on schedule; and

 

    expenses of operating a completed community may be higher than anticipated.

 

In addition, development and construction activities, regardless of whether or not they are ultimately successful, typically require a substantial portion of management’s time and attention. Development and construction activities are also subject to risks relating to the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, all necessary zoning, land-use, building, occupancy, and other required governmental permits and authorizations.

 

Investments in newly acquired properties may not perform in accordance with our expectations.

 

In the normal course of business, we typically evaluate potential acquisitions, enter into non-binding letters of intent, and may, at any time, enter into contracts to acquire and may acquire additional properties. However, we cannot assure that we will have the financial resources to make suitable acquisitions or those properties that satisfy our investment policies will be available for acquisition. Acquisitions of properties entail risks that investments will fail to perform in accordance with expectations. Estimates of the costs of improvements to bring an acquired property up to standards established for the market position intended for that property might prove inaccurate. Other risks may include rehabilitation costs exceeding original estimates, possibly making a project uneconomical; financing not being available on favorable terms or at all; and rehabilitation and lease-up not being completed on schedule. In addition, there are general real estate investment risks associated with any new real estate investment, including environmental risks. Although we undertake an evaluation of the physical condition of each new investment before it is acquired, certain defects or necessary repairs may not be detected until after the investment is acquired. This could significantly increase our total acquisition costs, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Illiquidity of real estate and reinvestment risk may reduce economic returns to investors.

 

Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and, therefore, tend to limit our ability to adjust our portfolio in response to changes in economic or other conditions. Additionally, the Internal Revenue Code places certain limits on the number of properties a REIT may sell without adverse tax consequences. To effect our current operating strategy, we have in the past raised, and will seek to continue to raise additional funds, both through outside financing and through the orderly disposition of assets that no longer meet our investment criteria. Depending upon interest rates, current development and acquisition opportunities and other factors, generally we will reinvest the proceeds in additional multifamily properties, although such funds may be employed in other uses. In the markets we have targeted for future acquisition of multifamily properties, there is considerable buying competition from other real estate companies, many of who may have greater resources, experience or expertise than we. In many cases, this competition for acquisition properties has resulted in an increase in property prices and a decrease in property yields. Due to the relatively low capitalization rates currently prevailing in the pricing of potential acquisitions of multifamily properties which meet our investment criteria, we cannot assure that the proceeds realized from the disposition of assets, which no longer meet our investment criteria, can be reinvested to produce

 

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economic returns comparable to those being realized from the properties disposed of, or that we will be able to acquire properties meeting our investment criteria. If we are unable to reinvest proceeds from the assets that no longer meet our investment criteria, or if properties acquired with such proceeds produce a lower rate of return than the properties disposed of, our results of operations may be materially affected. In addition, a delay in reinvestment of such proceeds may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We may seek to structure future dispositions as tax-free exchanges, where appropriate, utilizing the non-recognition provisions of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code to defer income taxation on the disposition of the exchanged property. For an exchange of these properties to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, certain technical requirements must be met. Given the competition for properties meeting our investment criteria, it may be difficult for us to identify suitable properties within the applicable time frames in order to meet the requirements of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. Even if we can structure a suitable tax-deferred exchange, as noted above, we cannot assure that we will reinvest the proceeds of any of these dispositions to produce economic returns comparable to those currently being realized from the properties which were disposed of.

 

Substantial competition among multifamily properties and real estate companies may adversely affect our rental revenues and development and acquisition opportunities.

 

All of the properties currently owned by us are located in developed areas. There are numerous other multifamily properties and real estate companies, many of which have greater financial and other resources than we have, within the market area of each of our properties which compete with us for residents and development and acquisition opportunities. The number of competitive multifamily properties and real estate companies in these areas could have a material effect on (1) our ability to rent the apartments and the rents charged, and (2) development and acquisition opportunities. The activities of these competitors could cause us to pay a higher price for a new property than we otherwise would have paid or may prevent us from purchasing a desired property at all, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Our operations are concentrated in the Western United States; we are subject to general economic conditions in the regions in which we operate.

 

Our portfolio is primarily located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, Seattle, the Denver area and Phoenix. Our performance could be adversely affected by economic conditions in, and other factors relating to, these geographic areas, including supply and demand for apartments in these areas, zoning and other regulatory conditions and competition from other properties and alternative forms of housing. In that regard, certain of these areas have in the recent past or are currently experiencing economic recessions and depressed conditions in the local real estate or rental markets. To the extent general economic or social conditions in any of these areas further deteriorate or any of these areas experiences natural disasters, the value of the portfolio, our results of operations and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt could be materially adversely affected.

 

Our insurance coverage is limited and may not cover all losses to our properties.

 

We carry comprehensive liability, fire, mold, extended coverage and rental loss insurance with respect to our properties with certain policy specifications, limits and deductibles. While as of December 31, 2004, we carried flood and earthquake insurance for our properties with an aggregate annual limit of $100,000,000, subject to substantial deductibles, we cannot assure that this coverage will be available on acceptable terms or at an acceptable cost, or at all, in the future, or if obtained, that the limits of those policies will cover the full cost of repair or replacement of covered properties. In addition, there may be certain extraordinary losses (such as those resulting from civil unrest or terrorist acts) that are not generally insured (or fully insured against) or underinsured losses (such as those resulting from claims in connection with the occurrence of mold, asbestos, and

 

11


lead) because they are either uninsurable or not economically insurable. Should an uninsured or underinsured loss occur to a property, we could be required to use our own funds for restoration or lose all or part of our investment in, and anticipated revenues from, the property and would continue to be obligated on any mortgage indebtedness on the property. Any such loss could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and pay amounts due on our debt.

 

One property, Red Hawk Ranch Apartments, a 453-unit operating community in Fremont, California, requires extensive replacement work to correct damage we believe was caused by construction defects. We estimate that the costs of remediation will approximate up to $26,000,000. We are currently pursuing litigation against the third party builder and various sub-contractors. However, we may be required to seek insurance coverage for some or all of the remediation costs. If we are not able to recover these costs either through litigation or from our insurance coverage, it would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Adverse changes in laws may affect our potential liability relating to our properties and our operations.

 

Increases in real estate taxes and income, service and transfer taxes cannot always be passed through to residents or users in the form of higher rents, and may adversely affect our cash available for distribution and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt. Similarly, changes in laws increasing the potential liability for environmental conditions existing on properties or increasing the restrictions on discharges or other conditions, as well as changes in laws affecting development, construction and safety requirements, may result in significant unanticipated expenditures, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and pay amounts due on our debt. In addition, future enactment of rent control or rent stabilization laws or other laws regulating multifamily housing may reduce rental revenues or increase operating costs.

 

Compliance with laws benefiting disabled persons may require us to make significant unanticipated expenditures or impact our investment strategy.

 

A number of federal, state and local laws (including the Americans with Disabilities Act) and regulations exist that may require modifications to existing buildings or restrict certain renovations by requiring improved access to such buildings by disabled persons and may require other structural features which add to the cost of buildings under construction. Legislation or regulations adopted in the future may impose further burdens or restrictions on us with respect to improved access by disabled persons. The costs of compliance with these laws and regulations may be substantial, and limits or restrictions on construction or completion of certain renovations may limit implementation of our investment strategy in certain instances or reduce overall returns on our investments, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt. We review our properties periodically to determine the level of compliance and, if necessary, take appropriate action to bring such properties into compliance. We believe, based on property reviews to date, that the costs of such compliance should not have a material adverse effect on us. These conclusions are based upon currently available information and data, and we cannot assure that further review and analysis of our properties, or future legal interpretations or legislative changes, will not significantly increase the costs of compliance.

 

The operations of BRE Property Investors LLC are limited.

 

Thirteen of our properties are held by BRE Property Investors LLC, which is referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the operating company. We are the sole managing member of the operating company and, as of December 31, 2004, held approximately a 92% equity interest in it. Third parties as non-managing members hold the remaining equity interests in the operating company.

 

Under the terms of the limited liability company agreement governing the operations of the operating company, the operating company is required to maintain certain debt service coverage, debt-to-asset and other

 

12


financial ratios intended to protect the members’ rights to receive distributions. In addition, with respect to the outstanding debt for certain properties, the operating company is restricted from repaying its debt or taking certain other specified actions that could have adverse tax consequences for the members. Further, we, as the managing member, are restricted from taking certain other specified actions—either absolutely or without the consent of a majority in interest of the non-managing members (or of the non-managing members affected thereby)—including, but not limited to, any actions:

 

    that would make it impossible to carry out the business of the operating company;

 

    that would subject a non-managing member to liability as a managing member; or

 

    that would cause the operating company to institute bankruptcy proceedings or permit an automatic judgment to be entered against it by a creditor.

 

The requirement to maintain financial ratios and the restrictions on the actions of the operating company and us as managing member could have a material adverse affect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Further, under the terms of the operating company’s limited liability company agreement, the operating company must obtain the consent of a majority in interest of the non-managing members in order to:

 

    dispose of any of the properties held by the operating company (of which there are 13 properties with a gross cost of $364,376,000) in a taxable sale or exchange prior to respective dates which are specified in the operating company’s limited liability company agreement for each of the properties, ranging from eight to 10 years from November 18, 1997, or

 

    dissolve the operating company other than in certain limited circumstances specified in the operating company’s limited liability company agreement, such as a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or any merger, consolidation or other combination by us with or into another person, or reclassification, recapitalization or change of our outstanding equity interests.

 

These restrictions on our ability to dispose of a portion of our properties and to dissolve the operating company, even when such a disposition or dissolution of the operating company would be in our best interest, could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

The operating company also must distribute all available cash (as defined in the operating company’s limited liability company agreement) on a quarterly basis as follows: first, a priority distribution to members (other than us) until each member has received, cumulatively on a per operating company unit basis, distributions equal to the cumulative dividends declared with respect to one share of BRE common stock over the corresponding period (subject to adjustment from time to time as applicable to account for stock dividends, stock splits and similar transactions affecting BRE common stock); and second, the balance to us.

 

If the operating company’s available cash in any quarterly period is insufficient to permit distribution of the full amount of the priority distribution described above for that quarter, we are required to make a capital contribution to the operating company in an amount equal to the lesser of:

 

    the amount necessary to permit the full priority distribution, or

 

    an amount equal to the sum of any capital expenditures made by the operating company plus the sum of any payments made by the operating company on account of any loans to or investments in, or any guarantees of the obligations of, BRE or our affiliates for that quarterly period.

 

We may not voluntarily withdraw from the operating company or transfer all or any portion of our interest in the operating company without the consent of all of the non-managing members, except in certain limited

 

13


circumstances, such as a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or any merger, consolidation or other combination by us with or into another person, or any reclassification, recapitalization or change of our outstanding equity interests. Such restrictions on our withdrawal as the managing member of the operating company, and on our ability to transfer our interest in the operating company, could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Survey exceptions to certain title insurance policies may result in incomplete coverage in the event of a claim.

 

We have not obtained updated surveys for all of the properties we have acquired or developed. Because updated surveys were not always obtained, the title insurance policies obtained by us may contain exceptions for matters that an updated survey might have disclosed. Such matters might include such things as boundary encroachments, unrecorded easements or similar matters, which would have been reflected on a survey. Moreover, because no updated surveys were prepared for some properties, we cannot assure that the title insurance policies in fact cover the entirety of the real property, buildings, fixtures, and improvements which we believe they cover, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Risks Due to Real Estate Financing

 

We anticipate that future developments and acquisitions will be financed, in whole or in part, under various construction loans, lines of credit, and other forms of secured or unsecured financing or through the issuance of additional debt or equity by us. We expect periodically to review our financing options regarding the appropriate mix of debt and equity financing. Equity, rather than debt, financing of future developments or acquisitions could have a dilutive effect on the interests of our existing shareholders. Similarly, there are certain risks involved with financing future developments and acquisitions with debt, including those described below. In addition, if new developments are financed through construction loans, there is a risk that, upon completion of construction, permanent financing for such properties may not be available or may be available only on disadvantageous terms or that the cash flow from new properties will be insufficient to cover debt service. If a newly developed or acquired property is unsuccessful, our losses may exceed our investment in the property. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

We may be unable to renew, repay or refinance our outstanding debt.

 

We are subject to the normal risks associated with debt financing, including the risk that our cash flow will be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, the risk that indebtedness on our properties, or unsecured indebtedness, will not be able to be renewed, repaid or refinanced when due or that the terms of any renewal or refinancing will not be as favorable as the existing terms of such indebtedness. If we were unable to refinance our indebtedness on acceptable terms, or at all, we might be forced to dispose of one or more of the properties on disadvantageous terms, which might result in losses to us. Such losses could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and pay amounts due on our debt. Furthermore, if a property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and we are unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee could foreclose upon the property, appoint a receiver and receive an assignment of rents and leases or pursue other remedies, all with a consequent loss of our revenues and asset value. Foreclosures could also create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, thereby hindering our ability to meet the REIT distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Rising interest rates would increase the cost of our variable rate debt.

 

We have incurred and expect in the future to incur indebtedness and interest rate hedges that bear interest at variable rates. Accordingly, increases in interest rates would increase our interest costs, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders or cause us to be in default under certain debt instruments. In addition, an increase in market interest rates may lead holders of our common

 

14


shares to demand a higher yield on their shares from distributions by us, which could adversely affect the market price for our common stock.

 

We may incur additional debt in the future.

 

We currently fund the acquisition and development of multifamily communities partially through borrowings (including our lines of credit) as well as from other sources such as sales of properties which no longer meet our investment criteria or the contribution of property to joint ventures which may in turn secure debt. Our organizational documents do not contain any limitation on the amount of indebtedness that we may incur. Accordingly, subject to limitations on indebtedness set forth in various loan agreements, we could become more highly leveraged, resulting in an increase in debt service, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt and in an increased risk of default on our obligations.

 

The restrictive terms of certain of our indebtedness may cause acceleration of debt payments.

 

At December 31, 2004, we had outstanding borrowings of approximately $1.4 billion. Our indebtedness contains financial covenants as to minimum net worth, interest coverage ratios, maximum secured debt, and total debt to capital, among others. In the event that an event of default occurs, our lenders may declare borrowings under the respective loan agreements to be due and payable immediately, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Failure to hedge effectively against interest rates may adversely affect results of operations.

 

We sometimes seek to take advantage of interest rate volatility by using interest rate hedging arrangements, such as interest rate cap agreements and interest rate swap agreements, with the objective of lowering our overall borrowing costs. These agreements involve risks, such as the risk that the counterparties may fail to honor their obligations under these arrangements, that these arrangements may not be effective in reducing our borrowing costs, and that a court could rule that such an agreement is not legally enforceable. Hedging may reduce overall returns on our investments. Failure to hedge effectively may materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Potential Liability Under Environmental Laws

 

Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances in, on, around or under such property. Such laws often impose such liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of, or failure to remediate properly, hazardous or toxic substances may adversely affect the owner’s or operator’s ability to sell or rent the affected property or to borrow using the property as collateral. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances may also be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances at a disposal or treatment facility, whether or not the facility is owned or operated by the person. Certain environmental laws impose liability for release of asbestos-containing materials into the air, and third parties may also seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with asbestos-containing materials and other hazardous or toxic substances. Federal and state laws also regulate the operation and subsequent removal of certain underground storage tanks. In connection with the current or former ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management, development and/or control of real properties, we may be considered an owner or operator of such properties or as having arranged for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs, including governmental fines, and claims for injuries to persons and property.

 

15


Our current policy is to obtain a Phase I environmental study on each property we seek to acquire and to proceed accordingly. We cannot assure, however, that the Phase I environmental studies or other environmental studies undertaken with respect to any of our current or future properties will reveal:

 

    all or the full extent of potential environmental liabilities;

 

    that any prior owner or operator of a property did not create any material environmental condition unknown to us;

 

    that a material environmental condition does not otherwise exist as to any one or more of such properties; or

 

    that environmental matters will not have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

Certain environmental laws impose liability on a previous owner of property to the extent that hazardous or toxic substances were present during the prior ownership period. A transfer of the property does not relieve an owner of such liability. Thus, we may have liability with respect to properties previously sold by our predecessors or us.

 

Recently there has been an increasing number of lawsuits against owners and managers of multifamily properties alleging personal injury and property damage caused by the presence of mold in residential real estate. Some of these lawsuits have resulted in substantial monetary judgments or settlements. Insurance carriers have reacted to these liability awards by excluding mold related claims from standard policies and pricing mold endorsements separately. We have obtained a separate pollution insurance policy that covers mold-related claims and have adopted programs designed to minimize the existence of mold in any of our properties as well as guidelines for promptly addressing and resolving reports of mold. To the extent not covered by our pollution policy, the presence of significant mold could expose us to liability from residents and others if property damage, health concerns, or allegations thereof, arise.

 

Risks Associated with Our Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our business could be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting.

 

The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements or misrepresentations. As part of management’s on-going review of our accounting policies and internal control over financial reporting, on January 31, 2005, management determined that there was a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to recognition of certain costs and expenses as incurred rather than as paid. This weakness resulted in certain expenses being recorded out of period and led to the restatement in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of our results for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000, and the interim periods presented herein. In connection with correcting this error, management has taken appropriate action to modify our system of internal control over financial reporting to remediate the material weakness. While management will continue to review the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we can not assure you that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives all of the time. Other deficiencies, particularly a material weakness, in internal control over financial reporting which may occur in the future could result in misstatements of our results of operations, restatements of our financial statements, a decline in our stock price, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operation, financial condition or liquidity.

 

Ranking of Securities and Subordination of Claims

 

A portion of our operations is conducted through our subsidiaries, including the operating company. Our cash flow and the consequent ability to make distributions and other payments on our equity securities and to

 

16


service our debt will be partially dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to us, or upon loans or other payments of funds made by our subsidiaries to us. In addition, debt or other arrangements of our subsidiaries may impose restrictions that affect, among other things, our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other distributions or loans to us.

 

Likewise, a portion of our consolidated assets is owned by our subsidiaries, effectively subordinating certain of our unsecured indebtedness to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness, trade payables, lease obligations and guarantees of our subsidiaries. The operating company has guaranteed amounts due under our $350,000,000 bank credit facility with a syndicate of banks. Likewise, any other of our subsidiaries with assets or net income which, when multiplied by our effective percentage ownership interest in such subsidiary exceeds $30,000,000 or 5% of our consolidated net income, respectively, is required to guarantee the repayment of borrowings under the credit facility. The operating company and other of our subsidiaries may also, from time to time, guarantee other of our indebtedness. Therefore, our rights and rights of our creditors, including the holders of other unsecured indebtedness, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be effectively subordinate to any security interests in or mortgages or other liens on the assets of such subsidiary and would be subordinate to any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by us.

 

Provisions in our Charter and Bylaws That Could Limit a Change in Control or Deter a Takeover

 

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities). In order to protect us against risk of losing our status as a REIT due to a concentration of ownership among our shareholders, our charter provides that any shareholder must, upon demand, disclose to our board of directors in writing such information with respect to such shareholder’s direct and indirect ownership of the shares of our stock as we deem necessary to permit us to comply or to verify compliance with the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, or the requirements of any other taxing authority. Our charter further provides, among other things, that if our board of directors determines, in good faith, that direct or indirect ownership of BRE stock has or may become concentrated to an extent that would prevent us from qualifying as a REIT, our board of directors may prevent the transfer of BRE stock or call for redemption (by lot or other means affecting one or more shareholders selected in the sole discretion of our board of directors) of a number of shares of BRE stock sufficient in the opinion of our board of directors to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of BRE stock into conformity with the requirements for maintaining REIT status. These limitations may have the effect of precluding acquisition of control of us by a third party without consent of our board of directors.

 

In addition, certain other provisions contained in our charter and bylaws may have the effect of discouraging a third-party from making an acquisition proposal for us and may thereby inhibit a change in control. Our charter includes provisions granting our board of directors the authority to issue preferred stock from time to time and to establish the terms, preferences and rights of such preferred stock without the approval of our shareholders, restrictions on our shareholders’ ability to remove directors and fill vacancies on our board of directors, restrictions on unsolicited business combinations and restrictions on our shareholders’ ability to amend our charter. Our bylaws contain restrictions on our shareholders’ ability to call special meetings of our board of directors and to take action without a meeting, provisions granting our board of directors the power to amend our bylaws, provisions allowing our board of directors to increase its size, and restrictions on the transfer of shares of our capital stock with respect to the preservation of our REIT status. Such provisions may deter tender offers for BRE stock, which offers may be attractive to our shareholders, or deter purchases of large blocks of BRE stock, thereby limiting the opportunity for shareholders to receive a premium for their shares of BRE stock over then-prevailing market prices.

 

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Tax Risks

 

We may be subject to tax liabilities if we fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

Although management believes that we are organized and are operating so as to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, we cannot assure that we have in fact operated or will be able to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain so qualified. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Internal Revenue Code provisions for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations and the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. For example, in order to qualify as a REIT, at least 95% of our taxable gross income in any year must be derived from qualifying sources, and we must make distributions to shareholders aggregating annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains). Thus, to the extent revenues from non-qualifying sources such as income from third-party management represents more than 5% of our gross income in any taxable year, we will not satisfy the 95% income test and may fail to qualify as a REIT, unless certain relief provisions apply. Even if those relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to our excess non-qualifying income, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt. Additionally, in order to qualify as a REIT, we must meet certain tests with respect to the nature of our assets. If we fail to meet any of the asset tests and do not cure such failure within the applicable period, unless certain relief provisions apply, we would not qualify as a REIT, which could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt.

 

If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at corporate rates, which would likely have a material adverse effect on us, our share price and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and to pay amounts due on our debt. In addition, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. This treatment would reduce funds available for investment or distribution to our shareholders because of the additional tax liability to us for the year or years involved. In addition, we would no longer be required to make distributions to our shareholders. To the extent that distributions to our shareholders would have been made in anticipation of qualifying as a REIT, we might be required to borrow funds or to liquidate certain investments to pay the applicable tax. Finally, we cannot assure that new legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not change the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification.

 

Item 2.    PROPERTIES

 

General

 

In addition to the information in this Item 2, certain information regarding our property portfolio is contained in Schedule III (financial statement schedule) under Part IV, Item 15(d).

 

Multifamily Property Data

 

Our multifamily properties represent 100% of our real estate portfolio and 99% of our total revenue.

 

Multifamily Properties


   2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 

Percentage of total portfolio at cost, as of December 31

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %

Percentage of total revenues, for the year ended December 31

   99 %   99 %   99 %   99 %   98 %

 

No single multifamily property accounted for more than 10% of revenues in any of the five years ended December 31, 2004.

 

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The following table discloses certain operating data about our consolidated multifamily units:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 

Total number of units

     24,198       22,981       22,371       20,419       20,195  

Portfolio occupancy1

     94 %     94 %     94 %     94 %     96 %

Average monthly rent per unit

   $ 1,133     $ 1,078     $ 1,114     $ 1,141     $ 1,084  

Total number of properties

     85       80       81       72       72  

 

This table summarizes data about our operating multifamily properties:

 

Market


   Percentage
of Revenue2


    Percentage
of NOI2


    Units

   Number of
Communities


   Occupancy3

   

Market

Rent4


Los Angeles/Orange County

   28 %   28 %   6,825    25    95 %   $ 1,265

San Diego

   19 %   20 %   3,711    13    95 %   $ 1,331

San Francisco Bay Area

   18 %   18 %   3,488    10    94 %   $ 1,348

Seattle

   13 %   12 %   3,572    14    94 %   $ 967

Sacramento

   8 %   8 %   2,156    10    94 %   $ 1,017

Phoenix

   7 %   7 %   2,214    6    95 %   $ 786

Denver

   5 %   5 %   1,620    5    93 %   $ 798

Salt Lake City

   2 %   2 %   612    2    95 %   $ 753
    

 

 
  
  

 

Total/Weighted Average

   100 %   100 %   24,198    85    94 %   $ 1,133

1   Portfolio occupancy is calculated by dividing the total occupied units by the total units in the portfolio at the end of the year. Apartment units are generally leased to residents for rental terms not exceeding one year.
2   Represents the aggregate revenue and net operating income (NOI) from properties in each market divided by the total revenue and net operating income of multifamily properties for the year ended December 31, 2004, and includes the results of properties acquired and developed during 2004 from the date of acquisition and completion. Excludes revenues and NOI from properties sold during 2004. Accordingly, these results do not reflect a full year of operations for properties acquired or completed in 2004.
3   Represents average physical occupancy for all stabilized properties for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. The total is a weighted average by units for all communities shown.
4   Represents average prevailing market rent per unit for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. The total is a weighted average by units for all communities shown.

 

The following table summarizes our “same-store” operating results. “Same-store” properties are defined as properties that have been completed, stabilized and owned by us for at least two years.

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)  

Number of same-store units

   19,012     18,656     18,563     17,782     17,775  

Same-store units % of total units

   79 %   81 %   83 %   87 %   88 %

Same-store revenue increase (decrease)

   0 %   (4 %)   (3 %)   6 %   7 %

Same-store expense increase

   3 %   2 %   2 %   3 %   3 %

Same-store NOI (decrease) increase

   (1 %)   (6 %)   (5 %)   7 %   9 %

 

Our business focus is the ownership and operation of multifamily communities; we evaluate performance and allocate resources primarily based on the net operating income (“NOI”) of an individual multifamily community. We define NOI as the excess of all revenue generated by the community (primarily rental revenue) less direct real estate expenses. Accordingly, NOI does not take into account community-specific costs such as

 

19


depreciation, capitalized expenditures and interest expense. NOI, including NOI from discontinued operations, totaled approximately $207,000,000; $194,000,000 (restated) and $199,000,000 (restated) for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

A reconciliation of net income available to common shareholders to NOI for the three years ended December 31, 2004 is as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (amounts in thousands)  
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 61,427     $ 70,175     $ 87,171  

Interest, including discontinued operations

     66,826       59,617       57,132  

Provision for depreciation, including discontinued operations

     64,212       53,352       47,535  

Minority interests in income from consolidated subsidiaries

     2,509       3,196       3,682  

(Gain) on sales of investments and rental properties

     (19,925 )     (23,147 )     (14,929 )

General and administrative

     12,657       10,260       10,716  

Dividends attributable to preferred stock

     12,114       10,629       7,765  

Redemption related preferred stock issuance costs

     —         2,166       —    

Other expenses

     6,807       7,305       —    
    


 


 


Net operating income

   $ 206,627     $ 193,553     $ 199,072  
    


 


 


 

We consider community level and portfolio-wide NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it helps both investors and management to understand the core property operations prior to the allocation of general and administrative costs. This is more reflective of the operating performance of the real estate, and allows for an easier comparison of the operating performance of single assets or groups of assets. In addition, because prospective buyers of real estate have different overhead structures, with varying marginal impact to overhead by acquiring real estate, NOI is considered by many in the real estate industry to be a useful measure for determining the value of a real estate asset or groups of assets.

 

However, because NOI excludes depreciation and does not capture the change in the value of our communities resulting from operational use and market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures required to adequately maintain the communities (all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our results from operations), the utility of NOI as a measure of our performance is limited. Other equity REITs may not calculate NOI consistently with our definition and, accordingly, our NOI may not be comparable to such other REITs’ NOI. Accordingly, NOI should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance. NOI should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to pay dividends or make distributions. NOI also should not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities (computed in accordance with GAAP).

 

Properties Completed during 2004

 

During 2004, we completed three development communities: Pinnacle at Westridge, with 234 units in Valencia, California; Pinnacle at Talega Phase II, with 110 units in San Clemente, California; and Pinnacle at Fullerton, with 192 units in Fullerton, California.

 

Development Properties

 

The following table provides data on our eight multifamily properties that are currently under various stages of development and construction. Completion of the development properties is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including construction delays and cost overruns. We cannot assure that these properties will be

 

20


completed, or that they will be completed by the estimated dates, or for the estimated amounts, or will contain the number of proposed units shown in the table below.

 

(Dollar amounts in millions)

Property Name


  

Location


  

Proposed

Number of

Units


  

Costs
Incurred

to Date—

December 31,
2004


 

Estimated

Total

Cost


  

Estimated

Cost to

Complete


  

Estimated

Completion

Date1


Direct Investment

                                  

The Heights

   Chino Hills, CA    208    $ 27.5   $ 38.9    $ 11.4    4Q/2005

Bridgeport Cove

   Santa Clarita, CA    188      18.7     40.5      21.8    3Q/2006

Galleria at Towngate

   Moreno Valley, CA    268      11.4     39.2      27.8    3Q/2006

Renaissance at Uptown Orange

   Orange, CA    460      33.7     104.1      70.4    2Q/2007

The Stuart at Sierra Madre Villa

   Pasadena, CA    188      17.6     54.2      36.6    2Q/2007
         
  

 

  

    

Total Construction in Progress

        1,312    $ 108.92   $ 276.9    $ 168.0     
         
  

 

  

    
                                    

Property Name


  

Location


  

Proposed

Number of

Units


  

Costs
Incurred

to Date—

December 31,
2004


 

Estimated

Total

Cost


  

Estimated

Construction
Start


    

Land under development3

                                  

Bay Vista Apartments

   Emeryville, CA    224    $ 12.8   $ 60.0      3Q/2005     

Belcarra Apartments

   Bellevue, WA    320      21.8     71.4      2Q/2006     

Denny Way Apartments

   Seattle, WA    195      8.6     47.8      2Q/2006     
         
  

 

           

Total Land Under Development

        739    $ 43.2   $ 179.2            
         
  

 

           

1   “Completion” is defined as our estimate of when an entire project will have a final certificate of occupancy issued and be ready for occupancy. Completion dates have been updated to reflect our current estimates of receipt of final certificates of occupancy, which are dependent on several factors, including construction delays and the inability to obtain necessary public approvals.
2   Reflects all recorded costs incurred as of December 31, 2004, recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as “direct investments in real estate-construction in progress.”
3   Land under development represents projects in various stages of pre-development, development, and initial construction, for which construction or supply contracts have not yet been finalized. As these contracts are finalized, projects are transferred to construction in progress on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

Insurance, Property Taxes and Income Tax Basis

 

We carry comprehensive liability, fire, pollution, extended coverage and rental loss insurance on our properties with certain policy specifications, limits and deductibles. In addition, at December 31, 2004, we carried flood and earthquake coverage with an annual aggregate limit of $100,000,000 (after policy deductibles ranging from 2%-5% of damages). Management believes the properties are adequately covered by such insurance.

 

Property taxes on portfolio properties are assessed on asset values based on the valuation method and tax rate used by the respective jurisdictions. The gross carrying value of our direct investments in operating rental properties was $2,538,171,000 as of December 31, 2004. On the same date our assets had an underlying federal income tax basis of approximately $2,298,831,000, reflecting, among other factors, the carryover of basis on tax-deferred exchanges.

 

Headquarters

 

We lease our corporate headquarters at 44 Montgomery Street, 36th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94104-4809, from OTR, an Ohio general partnership. The lease covers 15,170 rentable square feet at annual per square foot rents, which were $43.00 as of December 31, 2004. The lease term ends on January 31, 2006. We

 

21


have executed a new lease, which will move our corporate headquarters to 525 Market Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-4809. The lease covers 28,339 rentable square feet at annual per square foot rents, which average $25.76 for the lease term. The lease term is 126 months commencing August 1, 2005. We also maintain regional offices in: Seattle, Washington; Irvine and San Diego, California; Phoenix, Arizona; and Denver, Colorado.

 

Item 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

On April 14, 1997, we purchased Red Hawk Ranch Apartments, a 453-unit operating community in Fremont, California, from an unrelated third party builder. The community now requires extensive replacement work to correct damage we believe was caused by construction defects. On March 18, 2003, we filed suit in the Alameda County Superior Court against the builder and other parties to protect against statutes of limitation. We have conducted testing to determine the extent of the damage. Based upon the testing that has been performed to date, we have discovered that the exterior shell of each building at the community has been compromised. As a result, during second quarter 2004 we expanded the size and scope of the lawsuit.

 

We plan to commence reconstruction during the first six months of 2005 and expect to have the community restored during the next 18 to 21 months. We are actively pursuing the litigation against the third party builder and various sub-contractors.

 

While management expects that costs of remediation will approximate up to $26,000,000, and future plaintiff litigation costs may exceed $3 million, due to the preliminary nature of the damage assessment, claims and litigation, it is not possible to predict or determine the outcome of legal actions, nor is it reasonably possible to accurately estimate the full range of costs associated with the matter at this time.

 

In addition to the legal proceeding described above, we are defending various claims and legal actions that arise in our normal course of business. While it is not feasible to predict or determine the ultimate outcome of these matters, in the opinion of management, none of these actions will have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Item 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

22


PART II

 

Item 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BRE”. As of February 11, 2005, there were approximately 4,700 recordholders of BRE’s common stock and the last reported sales price on the NYSE was $39.82. The number of holders does not include shares held of record by a broker or clearing agency, but does include each such broker or clearing agency as one recordholder. As of February 11, 2005, there were approximately 21,000 beneficial holders of BRE’s common stock.

 

This table shows the high and low sales prices of our common stock reported on the NYSE Composite Tape and the dividends we paid for each common share:

 

     Years ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

     Stock Price

  

Dividends

Paid


   Stock Price

  

Dividends

Paid


     High

   Low

      High

   Low

  

First Quarter

   $ 34.98    $ 31.97    $ 0.4875    $ 32.08    $ 28.15    $ 0.4875

Second Quarter

   $ 35.18    $ 29.90    $ 0.4875    $ 33.30    $ 29.52    $ 0.4875

Third Quarter

   $ 38.76    $ 33.83    $ 0.4875    $ 34.90    $ 31.95    $ 0.4875

Fourth Quarter

   $ 42.54    $ 38.12    $ 0.4875    $ 34.45    $ 31.20    $ 0.4875

 

Since 1970, when BRE was founded, we have made regular and uninterrupted quarterly distributions to shareholders. The payment of distributions by BRE is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depends on numerous factors, including our cash flow, financial condition and capital requirements, REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and other factors.

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2004, an aggregate 1,661 limited partnership units in BRE Property Investors LLC were exchanged for shares of BRE common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2004, an aggregate 9,336 limited partnership units in BRE Property Investors LLC were exchanged for shares of BRE common stock. The exchange of limited partnership units for shares of our common stock was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D.

 

23


Item 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The selected financial data below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and notes. The results are affected by numerous acquisitions and dispositions as discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Therefore, the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report are not directly comparable to prior years. In addition, the selected financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 have been restated to reflect certain adjustments to our consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.

 

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)  
           (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)  

Operating Results

                                        

Rental and ancillary revenues

   $ 280,642     $ 256,230     $ 242,258     $ 225,395     $ 217,114  

Revenues from discontinued operations

     16,551       18,553       31,602       30,518       29,236  

Partnership and other income

     3,190       2,344       4,347       7,763       7,127  
    


 


 


 


 


Total revenues

   $ 300,383     $ 277,127     $ 278,207     $ 263,676     $ 253,477  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 61,427     $ 70,175     $ 87,171     $ 78,971     $ 36,521  

Plus:

                                        

Net (gain) loss on sales of investments and rental properties

     (19,925 )     (23,147 )     (14,929 )     327       35,693  

Depreciation from continuing operations

     61,296       49,644       41,500       34,527       32,478  

Depreciation from discontinued operations

     2,916       3,708       6,035       5,801       4,947  

Depreciation related to unconsolidated entities

     1,013       1,094       1,332       1,490       197  

Minority interest convertible into common shares

     1,915       2,216       2,963       3,413       4,614  
    


 


 


 


 


Funds from operations (FFO) 1

   $ 108,642     $ 103,690     $ 124,072     $ 124,529     $ 114,450  
    


 


 


 


 


Other expenses2

   $ 6,807     $ 7,305     $ —       $ 7,163     $ 8,765  

Net cash flows generated by operating activities

   $ 136,205     $ 114,995     $ 137,177     $ 133,638     $ 120,884  

Net cash flows used in investing activities

   ($ 327,114 )   ($ 146,363 )   ($ 209,983 )   ($ 184,776 )   ($ 103,022 )

Net cash flows generated by (used in) financing activities

   $ 189,804     $ 31,580     $ 69,807     $ 54,768     ($ 31,412 )

Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders and distributions to minority members

   $ 112,330     $ 105,829     $ 101,163     $ 95,025     $ 88,700  

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

     50,200       47,070       45,860       46,235       45,181  

Dilutive effect of stock options

     625       375       350       400       350  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted (EPS)

     50,825       47,445       46,210       46,635       45,531  

Plus—Operating Company Units3

     985       1,145       1,560       1,875       2,739  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted (FFO)

     51,810       48,590       47,770       48,510       48,270  

Shares outstanding at end of period

     50,419       49,992       45,871       45,807       45,895  

Operating company units outstanding at end of period

     1,019       973       1,206       1,639       2,287  

Net income per share—basic

     $1.22       $1.49       $1.90       $1.71       $0.81  

Net income per share—assuming dilution

     $1.21       $1.48       $1.89       $1.69       $0.80  

Dividends paid to common shareholders

     $1.95       $1.95       $1.95       $1.86       $1.70  

Balance sheet information and other data

                                        

Real estate portfolio, net of depreciation

   $ 2,480,417     $ 2,184,947     $ 2,064,009     $ 1,824,811     $ 1,679,644  

Total assets

   $ 2,518,941     $ 2,233,264     $ 2,112,116     $ 1,883,114     $ 1,726,557  

Total debt

   $ 1,378,566     $ 1,192,329     $ 1,173,764     $ 1,008,431     $ 825,253  

Minority interest

   $ 35,675     $ 38,859     $ 45,147     $ 52,151     $ 69,712  

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,046,647     $ 956,803     $ 847,601     $ 782,186     $ 798,223  

1   FFO is used by industry analysts and investors as a supplemental performance measure of an equity REIT. FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts as net income or loss (computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States) excluding extraordinary items as defined under GAAP and gains or losses from sales of previously depreciated real estate assets, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. We calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition.

 

24


     We believe that FFO is a meaningful supplemental measure of our operating performance because historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time, as reflected through depreciation. Because real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, management considers FFO an appropriate supplemental performance measure because it excludes historical cost depreciation, as well as gains or losses related to sales of previously depreciated property, from GAAP net income. By excluding depreciation and gains or losses on sales of real estate, management uses FFO to measure returns on its investments in real estate assets. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. Management also believes that FFO, combined with the required GAAP presentations, is useful to investors in providing more meaningful comparisons of the operating performance of a company’s real estate between periods or as compared to other companies. FFO does not represent net income or cash flows from operations as defined by GAAP and is not intended to indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. It should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of a REIT’s operating performance or to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. Our FFO may not be comparable to the FFO of other REITs due to the fact that not all REITs use the NAREIT definition.
2   Other expenses for 2004 represent a CEO retirement charge of $4.1M and Red Hawk Ranch litigation and consulting costs totaling $2.7M. Other expenses for 2003 represent settlement charges and fees related to the Pinnacle at MacArthur joint venture dispute and class action application fee suit. Other expenses for 2001 and 2000 represent losses from Velocity HSI, Inc., our former Internet business that was spun off on August 15, 2000.
3   Under SFAS 128, Earnings per Share, common share equivalents deemed to be anti-dilutive are excluded from the diluted per share calculations.

 

Item 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in this Item 7 has been restated to reflect certain adjustments to our consolidated financial statements for 2003 and 2002, contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Executive Summary

 

We are a self-administered equity real estate investment trust or “REIT” focused on the development, acquisition and management of multifamily apartment communities in seven metropolitan markets of the Western United States. At December 31, 2004, our portfolio had real estate assets with a net book value of approximately $2.5 billion that included 85 wholly or majority owned completed apartment communities, aggregating 24,198 units; two multifamily communities owned in joint ventures, comprised of 488 apartment units; and eight apartment communities in various stages of construction and development, totaling 2,051 units. We earn revenue and generate cash primarily by collecting monthly rent from our apartment residents.

 

Our 2003 and 2002 operating results reflect deteriorating national and regional economic conditions and the corresponding impact on our market level rents and occupancy, with modest recovery reflected in 2004. Operating metrics toward the end of 2000, including market rents, occupancy and turnover, reflected national and regional economic cycles at peak levels, just prior to entering a recessionary phase. Recessionary pressures and weakening employment conditions that accelerated during 2001 continued throughout 2002 and 2003, resulting in depressed market rents, flat average occupancy levels and higher than normal resident turnover levels. In 2004, the economic factors stabilized in most of our markets, resulting in flat to modest improvement in operating metrics.

 

25


We have experienced sustained growth in our Southern California markets, which comprised 48% of our real estate net operating income in 2004. Market rents in Southern California have increased 12% over the past three years and occupancy and turnover have remained stable. Management has focused its efforts on growth in the Southern California markets due to these market dynamics, and has acquired 2,174 units, completed the development of 788 units and commenced construction on another 1,312 units in the region during the last two years.

 

Economic conditions and continued job losses had the greatest impact in our San Francisco Bay Area market. During 2004, market level rents in our San Francisco Bay Area communities continued to decline from 2000 peak levels. Market rent in our Bay Area portfolio peaked in the third quarter of 2000 at approximately $2,000 per unit and has declined sequentially each of the past four years, to an average of $1,348 per unit in 2004. Management does not expect market rents to recover in this region until there is discernable job growth. We continue to closely monitor and act upon the key operating metrics – market rent, occupancy, and turnover – in each of our markets.

 

Our 85 wholly or majority owned apartment communities can be categorized as follows to better understand our overall results:

 

    19,012 units in 68 communities were completed and stabilized for all of 2004 and 2003 (“same-store” communities);

 

    2,597 units in nine communities were acquired in 2004 or 2003 and as a result did not have comparable year-over-year operating results;

 

    1,208 units in four development communities were completed and stabilized during 2004 and 2003 and as a result did not have comparable year-over-year operating results;

 

    928 units in three communities are classified as held for sale at December 31, 2004; and

 

    453 units in one community require significant reconstruction.

 

In addition to year-over-year economic operating performance, our results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2004 were affected by income derived from acquisitions and completions of apartment communities, offset by the cost of capital associated with financing these transactions. Our book capitalization grew to $2.5 billion at December 31, 2004, from $1.8 billion at December 31, 2001, reflecting capital raised through offerings of debt, perpetual preferred stock and common stock.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Comparison of the Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

Revenues

 

Total revenues were $300,383,000 in 2004, $277,127,000 in 2003, and $278,207,000 in 2002, including revenues from discontinued operations. The increase in rental and ancillary income in 2004 and 2003 was primarily derived from properties acquired, developed, and consolidated during the past three years. “Same-store” communities in 2004 produced a modest increase of $482,000 (0.2%) as compared to 2003. The 2004 increase in “same-store” revenues followed two years of declining “same-store” revenues, (4%) and (3%) for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. A summary of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 follows:

 

     2004 Total

   % of Total
Revenues


    2003 Total

   % of Total
Revenues


    2002 Total

   % of Total
Revenues


 

Rental income

   $ 267,997,000    89 %   $ 244,982,000    88 %   $ 232,029,000    84 %

Ancillary income

     12,645,000    4 %     11,248,000    4 %     10,229,000    4 %

Revenues from discontinued operations

     16,551,000    6 %     18,553,000    7 %     31,602,000    11 %

Partnership income

     1,558,000    %     882,000    %     3,393,000    1 %

Other income

     1,632,000    1 %     1,462,000    1 %     954,000    %
    

  

 

  

 

  

Total revenue

   $ 300,383,000    100 %   $ 277,127,000    100 %   $ 278,207,000    100 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

26


Rental and Ancillary Income

 

As described above, the increase in rental and ancillary revenues primarily relates to acquired and developed communities. The following table summarizes our multifamily property acquisitions, development properties completed and dispositions for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 (dollar amounts are gross acquisition costs in the case of acquisitions, total delivered cost in the case of completed development communities and gross sales prices in the case of property dispositions):

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

     # of units

   $

   # of units

   $

   # of units

   $

Multifamily

                             

Property acquisitions

   1,559    268,218,000    1,038    116,183,000    1,376    156,500,000

Development properties completed

   536    107,800,000    672    97,900,000    1,013    168,000,000

Property dispositions

   878    98,600,000    1,100    72,600,000    663    58,300,000

 

The property acquisitions and development properties completed, noted above, are considered “Non same-store communities” and increased rental and ancillary revenues by $23,930,000 and $22,160,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In 2004, on a “same-store” basis, rental and ancillary revenues increased $482,000, or 0.2%, primarily due to stable to slightly positive operating metrics. Monthly market rents in the “same-store” portfolio grew to $1,116 per unit from $1,104 in 2003. Due to the staggered nature of lease expiration dates, market rent increases are not immediately reflected in actual leased rents. As a result, leased rent per unit per month grew only $4 from 2003 to 2004. In 2003, increased revenues from non “same-store” communities were offset by negative “same-store” operating results. On a “same-store” basis, rental and ancillary revenues decreased $8,188,000, or 4%, from 2002 to 2003 primarily due to average market rent per unit decreasing approximately 4%.

 

    

2004

Increase/(Decrease)


  

2003

Increase/(Decrease)


 

Same-store Communities

   $ 482,000    ($ 8,188,000 )

Non Same-store Communities

     23,930,000      22,160,000  
    

  


Total increase in rental and ancillary revenues (excluding revenues from discontinued operations)

   $ 24,412,000    $ 13,972,000  
    

  


 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Number of wholly or majority owned operating properties at December 31,.

   85     80     81  

Average portfolio occupancy rates for operating properties

   94 %   94 %   94 %

 

Portfolio occupancy is calculated by dividing the total occupied units by the total units in stabilized communities in the portfolio.

 

Partnership income

 

Partnership income totaled $1,558,000; $882,000 and $3,393,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in 2004 from 2003 is driven by gains on the sales of underlying assets in an unconsolidated partnership in 2004. The decrease in 2003 from 2002 is driven by the consolidation of five previously unconsolidated communities during 2002, which resulted in fewer partnerships contributing partnership income.

 

27


Expenses

 

Real estate expenses

 

A   summary of real estate expenses, excluding discontinued operations, follows:
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Real estate expenses

   $ 88,433,000     $ 77,599,000     $ 68,347,000  

Percent of total revenues (excluding revenues from discontinued operations)

     31 %     30 %     28 %

“Same-store” expense % change

     3 %     2 %     2 %

 

Real estate expenses for multifamily rental properties (which include repairs and maintenance, utilities, on-site staff payroll, property taxes, insurance, advertising and other direct operating expenses) increased $10,834,000 or 14% for the year ended December 31, 2004, as compared to the prior year. The 1,559 units acquired and 536 units developed in 2004, combined with 2003 acquisition and development units operating for a full year, drive the year-over-year increase. Additionally, “same-store” expenses increased by $2,249,000, or 3% in 2004, primarily driven by an increase in repairs and maintenance expenses. The overall level of “same-store” expense increase was consistent with historical levels. In 2003, real estate expenses increased by $9,252,000 or 14% because of the 1,710 units acquired or developed in 2003, combined with 2002 acquisition and development units operating for a full year.

 

Provision for depreciation

 

The provision for depreciation, excluding depreciation from discontinued operations, increased by $11,652,000 (23%) for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to 2003, and increased by $8,144,000 (20%) for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to 2002. The increases in 2004 and 2003 resulted primarily from higher depreciable bases on new property acquisitions and development properties completed. Additionally, depreciation recorded in 2004 includes $2,600,000 in accelerated depreciation recorded on components of our Red Hawk Ranch community that require reconstruction.

 

Interest expense

 

During the past three years, our interest expense has increased due to higher average debt balances to support our acquisition and development activities and a reduced level of capitalized interest. Capitalized interest decreased during both 2004 and 2003 due to the delivery and completion of certain properties in construction. Weighted average interest rates did not change from 2003 to 2004, and decreased from 6.0% in 2002 to 5.6% in 2003. Interest expense, excluding interest expense from discontinued operations, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Interest on unsecured senior notes

   $ 56,025,000     $ 52,683,000     $ 46,043,000  

Interest on mortgage loans payable

     7,301,000       8,723,000       12,867,000  

Interest on lines of credit

     9,663,000       7,136,000       9,211,000  
    


 


 


Total interest incurred

   $ 72,989,000     $ 68,542,000     $ 68,121,000  

Capitalized interest

     (6,163,000 )     (9,117,000 )     (12,015,000 )
    


 


 


Total interest expense

   $ 66,826,000     $ 59,425,000     $ 56,106,000  
    


 


 


 

28


Year-end debt balances at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 follow:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Unsecured senior notes

   $ 848,201,000     $ 763,915,000     $ 774,570,000  

Lines of credit

     327,000,000       296,000,000       181,000,000  

Mortgage loans payable

     203,365,000       132,414,000       218,194,000  
    


 


 


Total debt

   $ 1,378,566,000     $ 1,192,329,000     $ 1,173,764,000  
    


 


 


Weighted average interest rate for all debt at end of period

     5.6 %     5.6 %     6.0 %
    


 


 


 

General and administrative expenses

 

General and administrative expenses for the three years ended December 31, 2004 were as follows:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

General and administrative expenses

   $ 12,657,000     $ 10,260,000     $ 10,716,000  

As a percentage of total revenues (including revenues from discontinued operations)

     4.2 %     3.7 %     3.9 %

 

The increase in 2004 is primarily due to increases in compensation, costs associated with compliance with Sarbanes Section 404, other professional fees and insurance costs. In addition, in 2003 we began expensing the cost associated with stock options in accordance with FAS 123. Stock option expense included in general and administrative expense totaled $904,000 and $454,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Office rent totaling $1,179,000; $1,283,000 and $1,213,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, is included in general and administrative expense.

 

Net gain (loss) on sales of investments

 

During 2002, we sold our minority partnership interest in a commercial property for a net gain on sale of approximately $7,200,000. We also sold our investment in shares of common stock of Corrigo, Inc., a non-affiliated technology company, for a loss of $800,000. In addition, we sold excess land at a loss of approximately $1,500,000. These three transactions completed the disposition of our non-multifamily investments and resulted in a net gain of approximately $4,900,000.

 

Other expenses

 

Other expenses of $6,807,000 in 2004 include a CEO retirement charge of $4,080,000 and $2,727,000 for legal and consulting charges related to Red Hawk Ranch. On December 13, 2004, the board of directors determined the leadership transition between the CEO, Mr. Frank McDowell, and Ms. Constance Moore was complete. As a result, future service by Mr. McDowell as an executive consultant, as specified in his Executive Transition Employment Agreement, was no longer viewed as necessary. The board and Mr. McDowell mutually agreed to exercise the early termination without cause provision of this agreement, such that Mr. McDowell retired from BRE and the board effective January 1, 2005. The early termination resulted in a one-time charge of approximately $4,080,000 during fourth quarter 2004, rather than recognizing a monthly expense over the next two years of service by Mr. McDowell. The charge is comprised of approximately $2,050,000 in cash payments and $2,030,000 in non-cash charges related to the fair value of stock options and restricted shares that vested under the agreement.

 

 

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Also included in Other expenses in 2004 are legal and consulting charges related to the Red Hawk Ranch litigation totaling $2,727,000. The expense represents litigation and consulting costs incurred in connection with the construction defect litigation we are pursuing against the builder of our Red Hawk Ranch Community, located in Fremont, California. The charges reported include litigation costs and consulting fees incurred to date during destructive testing, to determine the extent of the damage and required reconstruction.

 

Other expenses in 2003 represent legal settlement charges that are outside our normal course of business. During 2003, we executed a settlement agreement in connection with litigation with an unrelated third party regarding the Pinnacle at MacArthur Place joint venture agreement. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, we paid the third party $6,500,000 and retained full ownership of the asset. Pinnacle at MacArthur Place is a recently developed and stabilized, 253-unit community in Santa Ana, California. Also during 2003, we reached a settlement agreement regarding a class action lawsuit brought against us with respect to application fees charged to residents from August 1998 to August 2003. Under the terms of the settlement, we agreed to establish a $200,000 fund to reimburse prior applicants up to $5.00 per applicant, and to pay certain related administration charges and legal expenses. The combined settlement amounts, legal fees and related expenses aggregate $7,305,000, and are reported as other expenses on our consolidated statement of income.

 

Minority interests in income

 

Minority interests in income relate to the earnings attributable to the minority members of our consolidated subsidiaries and were $2,509,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004, down from $3,196,000 and $3,682,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Minority interests and consequently, minority interests in income declined each year as operating company unit holders of BRE Property Investors LLC exchanged their units for shares of BRE common stock. Conversions of operating company units to common shares totaled 9,336; 233,083 and 433,112 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Discontinued operations

 

SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” requires the results of operations for properties sold during the period or designated as held for sale at the end of the period to be classified as discontinued operations. The property-specific components of net earnings that are classified as discontinued operations include all property-related revenues and operating expenses, depreciation expense recognized prior to the classification as held for sale, and property-specific interest expense to the extent there is secured debt on the property. In addition, the net gain or loss on the eventual disposal of properties held for sale is reported as discontinued operations.

 

During 2004, we sold three operating communities with a total of 878 units. The communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $98,600,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of approximately $19,925,000. At December 31, 2004, three operating communities were classified as held for sale under the provisions of SFAS 144. No depreciation has been recorded on these communities since October 2004.

 

During 2003, we sold three operating communities with a total of 1,100 units. The communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $72,600,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of approximately $23,100,000. During 2002, we sold three operating communities with a total of 663 units. The communities were sold for an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $59,300,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of approximately $10,100,000.

 

The net gain on sale and the combined results of operations for these twelve communities for each year presented are included in discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of income. These amounts totaled $28,237,000; $31,825,000 and $23,820,000 for the years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The assets held for sale at December 31, 2004 have also been reclassified as held for sale on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2003.

 

 

30


Dividends attributable to preferred stock

 

Dividends attributable to preferred stock represent the dividends on our 8.50% Series A, 8.08% Series B, 6.75% Series C and 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. Dividend payments totaled $11,791,000; $10,629,000 and $7,765,000 for the years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. On January 29, 2004, we redeemed all 2,150,000 outstanding shares of our 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The Series C offering closed on March 15, 2004 and the Series D offering closed on December 9, 2004. Accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series D preferred shares total $323,000 as of December 31, 2004.

 

In connection with the issuance of the Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock in January 1999, we incurred approximately $2,166,000 in issuance costs and recorded such costs as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. Upon announcing the redemption of these shares in December 2003, we recorded a charge to write off these issuance costs. The charge is treated as a preferred stock dividend on the consolidated statements of income.

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

As a result of the various factors mentioned above, net income available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $61,427,000, or $1.21 per diluted share, as compared with $70,175,000, or $1.48 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003 and $87,171,000, or $1.89 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Depending upon the availability and cost of external capital, we anticipate making additional investments in multifamily apartment communities. These investments are expected to be funded through a variety of sources. These sources may include internally generated cash, temporary borrowings under our revolving unsecured line of credit, proceeds from asset sales, public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, and in some cases the assumption of secured borrowings. To the extent that these additional investments are initially financed with temporary borrowings under our revolving unsecured line of credit, we anticipate that permanent financing will be provided through a combination of public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, proceeds from asset sales and secured debt. We believe our liquidity and various sources of available capital are sufficient to fund operations, meet debt service and dividend requirements, and finance future investments.

 

On March 15, 2004, we closed an offering of 4,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. Net proceeds from the offering—after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs—totaled approximately $96,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

On December 9, 2004, we closed an offering of 3,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. Net proceeds from the offering—after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs—totaled approximately $72,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes.

 

On March 17, 2004, we closed an offering of $100,000,000 of dual-tranche Medium-Term Notes under a medium term note program initiated in 2001. The offering included $50,000,000 of five-year notes with a coupon rate of 3.58%, and $50,000,000 of 10-year notes with a coupon rate of 4.70%.

 

Proceeds from these offerings have been used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt, redemption of equity securities, funding for development activities and financing for acquisitions. Pending these uses, we initially used the proceeds from these offerings to reduce borrowings under our revolving unsecured credit facility.

 

 

31


During the first quarter of 2004, we increased the size of our secured credit facility with Fannie Mae (serviced by Prudential Multifamily Mortgage, Inc.) from $100,000,000 to $140,000,000. Borrowings under the secured credit facility totaled $140,000,000 at December 31, 2004. The credit facility is secured by nine multifamily communities, which are held by a consolidated subsidiary of BRE. Current borrowings under the facility bear interest at variable rates with maturities from one to nine months, plus a facility fee of 0.65%. Our borrowing cost, including interest, margin and fees, averaged 2.3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. We also have the option to convert variable-rate borrowings to fixed-rate borrowings. Subject to the terms of the facility, we have the option to increase its size to $250,000,000. Drawings on the line of credit are available to fund our investment activities and for general corporate purposes, and the facility matures in 2008.

 

During the second half of 2003, we closed an offering of 3,450,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $33.10 per share. Net proceeds from the offering—after all discounts, commissions and anticipated issuance costs—totaled approximately $112,338,000. Proceeds from the offering were used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt, redemption of equity securities, and funding for development activities and financing for acquisitions.

 

We amended and restated our revolving unsecured credit facility on April 4, 2003, extending the maturity date from December 2003 to April 2006, with an option to extend the term one year beyond the maturity date. We also elected to reduce the borrowing capacity from $450,000,000 to $350,000,000 at that time. The interest rate on the line of credit was maintained at LIBOR plus 0.70%, plus a fee of 0.20% payable on the unused portion of the credit facility. Our pricing spread above LIBOR is dependent upon our credit ratings and can range from 0.50% to 1.45%. Our average cost on the unsecured line of credit for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 was 2.89%.

 

Borrowings under our revolving unsecured line of credit totaled $187,000,000 at December 31, 2004, compared to $196,000,000 at December 31, 2003. Drawings on the revolving unsecured line of credit are available to fund our investment activities and general corporate purposes. We typically reduce our outstanding balance on the revolving unsecured line of credit with available cash balances.

 

We had a total of $848,000,000 in unsecured senior notes (excluding a basis adjustment of $201,000 from hedging activities) at December 31, 2004, consisting of the following:

 

Maturity


  

Unsecured Senior

Note Balance


   Interest
Rate


 

July 2005

   $ 18,000,000    4.64 %

March 2007

     150,000,000    5.95 %

June 2007

     50,000,000    7.20 %

March 2009

     50,000,000    3.58 %

September 2009

     150,000,000    5.75 %

January 2011

     250,000,000    7.45 %

February 2013

     130,000,000    7.13 %

March 2014

     50,000,000    4.70 %
    

  

Total/Weighted Average Interest Rate

   $ 848,000,000    6.37 %
    

  

 

In addition, at December 31, 2004, we had mortgage indebtedness totaling $203,063,000 (excluding a basis adjustment of $302,000 from hedging activities) at an average interest rate of 5.77%, and remaining terms of from less than one to eight years.

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had total outstanding debt balances of $1,378,566,000 and total outstanding shareholders’ equity and minority interests of $1,082,322,000, representing a debt to total book capitalization ratio of approximately 56%.

 

32


Our indebtedness contains financial covenants as to minimum net worth, interest coverage ratios, maximum secured debt and total debt to capital, among others. We were in compliance with all such financial covenants throughout the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

We anticipate that we will continue to require outside sources of financing to meet our long-term liquidity needs beyond 2004, including scheduled debt repayments, construction funding and property acquisitions. At December 31, 2004, we had an estimated cost of $168,000,000 to complete existing construction in progress, with funding estimated from 2005 through 2007.

 

Scheduled contractual obligations required for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

Contractual Obligations


   Total

   Less than
1 year


   1-3 years

   3-5 years

   More than
5 years


     (amounts in thousands)

Long-Term Debt Obligations

   $ 1,378,566    $ 51,749    $ 416,324    $ 380,545    $ 529,948

Operating Lease Obligations

     8,962      1,464      1,363      1,372      4,763
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 1,387,528    $ 53,213    $ 417,687    $ 381,917    $ 534,711
    

  

  

  

  

 

We manage joint venture investments that are recorded under the equity method of accounting with total assets of approximately $41,700,000 as of December 31, 2004. These joint ventures carry debt totaling approximately $19,000,000, none of which is guaranteed by us at December 31, 2004.

 

During the first quarter of 2004, we filed a new shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which we may issue up to $700,000,000 of securities, including debt securities, common stock and preferred stock. Our recent preferred stock offering totaling $75,000,000 reduced the amount available for future issuances under this registration statement to $625,000,000. Depending upon market conditions, we may issue securities under this or under future registration statements. Proceeds from issuances under our existing shelf registration statement may be used for general corporate purposes, including investing in additional multifamily communities, funding development activities, capital expenditures, redemption of securities, increasing our working capital and repaying indebtedness. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities or temporarily reduce borrowings under our revolving unsecured line of credit.

 

We continue to consider other sources of possible funding, including further joint ventures and additional secured construction debt. We own unencumbered real estate assets that could be sold, contributed to joint ventures or used as collateral for financing purposes (subject to certain lender restrictions) and have encumbered assets with significant equity that could be further encumbered should other sources of capital not be available.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

We define critical accounting policies as those that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. A summary of our critical accounting policies follows. Additional discussion of accounting policies that we consider significant, including further discussion of the critical accounting policies described below, can be found in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Restatement of Real Estate Expense, General and Administrative Expense and Construction in Progress

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K restates previously issued financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 through December 31, 2003, and the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004 and September 30, 2004, to properly reflect accruals of payroll and certain other real estate costs and expenses at the end of each reporting period. During management’s review of our accounting policies and internal control over financial reporting, management determined that we should have recognized these costs as incurred rather than as paid. Our management determined that the internal control deficiency that resulted in this restatement

 

33


represents a material weakness, as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard No. 2. In connection with correcting this error, management has taken appropriate action to modify our system of internal control over financial reporting to remediate this internal control deficiency. Going forward, management will estimate and record accruals for payroll and the other real estate expenses that were not previously accounted for in this manner, as well as for development and construction costs for services performed but not yet billed, at the end of each reporting period. A description of this control deficiency and the related remediation measures that have been undertaken by us is set forth in Part II, Item 9A, Controls and Procedures of this Form 10-K.

 

Investments in Rental Properties

 

Rental properties are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation, less an adjustment, if any, for impairment. A land value is assigned based on the purchase price if land is acquired separately, or based on market research if acquired in a merger or in an operating community acquisition. We have a development group which manages the design, development and construction of our apartment communities. Projects under development are carried at cost, including direct and indirect costs incurred to ready the assets for their intended use and which are specifically identifiable, including capitalized interest and property taxes until units are placed in service. Direct investment development projects are considered placed in service as certificates of occupancy are issued and the units become ready for occupancy. Depreciation begins as units are placed in service. Land acquired for development is capitalized and reported as “Land under development” until the development plan for the land is formalized. Once the development plan is determined and construction contracts are signed, the costs are transferred to the balance sheet line item “Construction in progress.” Costs of replacements, such as appliances, carpets and drapes, are expensed. Improvements and betterments that increase the value of the property or extend its useful life are capitalized.

 

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from 35 to 45 years for buildings and three to ten years for other property. The determination as to whether expenditures should be capitalized or expensed, and the period over which depreciation is recognized, requires management’s judgment.

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” our investments in real estate are periodically evaluated for indicators of impairment. The evaluation of impairment and the determination of values are based on several factors, and future events could occur which would cause management to conclude that indicators of impairment exist and a reduction in carrying value to estimated fair value is warranted. There were no assets for which an adjustment for impairment in value was made in 2004, 2003 or 2002.

 

In the normal course of business, we will receive offers for sale of our properties, either solicited or unsolicited. For those offers that are accepted, the prospective buyer will usually require a due diligence period before consummation of the transaction. It is not unusual for matters to arise that result in the withdrawal or rejection of the offer during this process. We classify real estate as “held for sale” when all criteria under SFAS No. 144 have been met.

 

SFAS No. 144 also requires that the assets and liabilities and the results of operations of any communities that have been sold, or otherwise qualify as held for sale, be presented as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements in all periods presented. The community specific real estate classified as held for sale is stated at the lower of its carrying amount or estimated fair value less disposal costs. Depreciation is not recorded on assets classified as held for sale.

 

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

 

We use derivative financial instruments in the normal course of business with the objective of lowering our overall borrowing costs. As of December 31, 2004, we had four interest rate swap agreements with a notional

 

34


value aggregating approximately $49,000,000, which are used to attain a floating rate of interest on a portion of our fixed rate debt, maturing in 2005. These derivatives qualify for hedge accounting as discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. A third party values the instruments. The values of these derivatives will change over time as cash receipts and payments are made and as market conditions change.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123), as amended by SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure” (SFAS 148). We have adopted the prospective method as provided for in SFAS 148, under which the provisions of SFAS 123 are applied prospectively to all awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003. Prior to 2003, we accounted for stock-based compensation under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related Interpretations, which resulted in no expense recognition. Under SFAS 123, we include in general and administrative expense a charge based on the implied value of options vesting in the current period. The change in accounting method did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The options are valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Generally, the approach in SFAS 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS 123. However, SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative. We expect to adopt SFAS 123(R) on July 1, 2005 and do not expect adoption to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidation

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (“FIN 46”). In December 2003, the FASB modified FIN 46 to make technical corrections and address implementation issues that had arisen. FIN 46 provides a new framework for identifying variable interest entities (VIEs) and determining when a company should include the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interests and results of activities of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements. FIN 46 applies immediately to arrangements created after January 31, 2003 and, with respect to arrangements created before February 1, 2003, the interpretation was applied to BRE as of January 1, 2003. Under FIN 46, a VIE is created when (i) the equity investment at risk in the entity is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (ii) the entity’s equity holders as a group either: (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity if they occur, or (c) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to FIN 46, the enterprise that is deemed to absorb a majority of the expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both, is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE. Expected losses and residual returns for VIEs are calculated based on the probability of estimated future cash flows as defined in FIN 46. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have any effect on BRE’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Based on the provisions of FIN 46, we have concluded that under certain circumstances when we (i) enter into option agreements for the purchase of land from an entity and pay a non-refundable deposit or (ii) enter into an arrangement with a financial partner for the formation of joint ventures which engage in multifamily real estate projects, a VIE may be created under condition (ii) in the previous paragraph. For each VIE created, we

 

35


compute expected losses and residual returns based on the probability of future cash flows. If we are determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the assets, liabilities and operations of the VIE will be consolidated with our financial statements.

 

We consolidate entities not deemed as VIEs which we have the ability to control. Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BRE and controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

Approximately 99% of our total revenues for 2004 were derived from apartment properties. Due to the short-term nature of most apartment unit leases (typically one year or less), we may seek to adjust rents to mitigate the impact of inflation upon renewal of existing leases or commencement of new leases, although we cannot assure that we will be able to adjust rents in response to inflation. In addition, market rates may also fluctuate due to short-term leases and other permitted and non-permitted lease terminations.

 

Dividends Paid to Common and Preferred Shareholders and Distributions to Minority Members

 

A cash dividend has been paid to common shareholders each quarter since our inception in 1970. The payment of distributions by BRE is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depends on numerous factors, including our cash flow, financial condition and capital requirements, REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and other factors. Cash dividends per common share were $1.95 in 2004, 2003, and 2002. Total cash dividends paid to common shareholders for the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were $98,015,000; $91,994,000 and $89,614,000, respectively. In 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, $11,791,000; $10,629,000 and $7,765,000 in dividends were paid to preferred shareholders.

 

Distributions to minority members and operating company unit holders were $2,524,000 in 2004, $3,206,000 in 2003, and $3,784,000 in 2002.

 

Item 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Market risks relating to our operations result primarily from changes in short-term LIBOR interest rates. We do not have any direct foreign exchange or other significant market risk.

 

Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our lines of credit. We primarily enter into fixed and variable rate debt obligations to support general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and development, capital expenditures and working capital needs. We continuously evaluate our level of variable rate debt with respect to total debt and other factors, including our assessment of the current and future economic environment. We utilize four interest rate swap agreements to attain a floating rate of interest on a portion of our fixed rate debt. The objective of the agreements is to lower our overall borrowing costs. The swaps hedge the fair market value of a portion of our debt. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. The hedges are perfectly effective and, therefore, changes in the derivative fair value and the change in fair value of the hedged items during the hedging period exactly offset with no valuation impact on our current earnings. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps and their termination dates, shown in the table below, match the principal amounts and maturities of the hedged fixed rate debt balances. As a result of the interest rate swaps, the effective interest rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 on the aggregate hedged debt was reduced from a weighted average stated rate of 7.46% to 4.26%. The fair value of the interest rate swaps was approximately $503,000 at December 31, 2004.

 

36


Table of Interest Rate Swaps:

 

Maturity


   Notional
Amount
(in
thousands)


   Fixed Interest
Rate on Debt


    Fixed Rate
Received on
SWAP


    Variable Rate
Paid on
SWAP


    Effective Interest
Rate on Debt


 

February 2005

   $ 10,355    7.00 %   (4.45 %)   1.44 %   3.99 %

July 2005

     10,099    7.36 %   (4.64 %)   1.44 %   4.16 %

July 2005

     18,000    7.88 %   (4.70 %)   1.46 %   4.64 %

October 2005

     10,555    7.30 %   (4.78 %)   1.47 %   3.99 %
    

  

 

 

 

     $ 49,009    7.46 %   (4.65 %)   1.45 %   4.26 %

 

The fair values of our financial instruments (including such items in the financial statement captions as cash, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and lines of credit) approximate their carrying or contract values based on their nature, terms and interest rates that approximate current market rates. The fair value of mortgage loans payable and unsecured senior notes is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses with an interest rate similar to that of current market borrowing arrangements. The estimated fair value of our mortgage loans and unsecured senior notes is approximately $1,121,712,000 at December 31, 2004, as compared with a carrying value of $1,051,566,000 at that date.

 

We had $399,803,000 and $386,560,000 in variable rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. A hypothetical 10% adverse change in interest rates would have had an annualized unfavorable impact of approximately $1,100,000 on our earnings and cash flows based on these period-end debt levels and our average variable interest rates for each of the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. We cannot predict the effect of adverse changes in interest rates on our variable rate debt and, therefore, our exposure to neither market risk, nor can we assure that fixed rate, long-term debt will be available to us at advantageous pricing. Consequently, future results may differ materially from the estimated adverse changes discussed above.

 

Item 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

See Part IV, Item 15. Our Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

Item 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, we have investments in certain unconsolidated entities. As we do not control these entities, our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are necessarily substantially more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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As of December 31, 2004, the end of the quarter and fiscal year covered by this report, management conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. As a result of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described below under “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting,” our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at a reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2004. As described below under “Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting,” management believes the changes made to internal control over financial reporting have remediated the material weakness as of March 14, 2005. We continue to review and document our disclosure controls and procedures and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

  (1)   pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our company;

 

  (2)   provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of our company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and our board of directors; and

 

  (3)   provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

Management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, using the framework set forth in the report entitled “Internal Control—Integrated Framework” published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, we identified the following matter.

 

Historically, we analyzed our accounts payable and accrued expense accounts related to payroll and certain real estate costs and expenses by evaluating whether the corresponding expenses were fairly stated (e.g., by analyzing whether our operating results included 12 months of expenses for the yearly periods or three months of expenses for the quarterly periods). However, our procedures did not include a detailed review of ending liability balances for these specific costs and expenses, which resulted in these amounts being recorded when they were paid rather than incurred. During management’s testing of internal control over financial reporting in 2004 to support our year-end assessment, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, management

 

38


determined that a control deficiency existed in that the expenses recorded in each period should have been recognized in the period they were incurred, rather than the period they were paid.

 

In response to this determination, management re-examined year-end liability amounts for these costs and expenses for fiscal 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Based upon the analyses, management has concluded that this control deficiency did not result in material misstatements to previously reported quarterly or annual financial statements, as the historical amounts by which expenses and liability balances were misstated were not material to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, adjusting for the cumulative effect of the errors in the fourth quarter of 2004 would have been material to that quarter.

 

Accordingly, we restated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K the financial results for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, through December 31, 2003 filed on Form 10-K, and the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004 filed on Form 10-Q to adjust for the misstatements caused by this control deficiency.

 

Under PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2 (“PCAOB Std. No. 2), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) has defined a “material weakness” in internal control over financial reporting as “a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.” The PCAOB has also stated that the restatement of previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction of a misstatement is a “significant deficiency” and a “strong indicator” of a material weakness. Based on PCAOB Std. No. 2, management determined that the internal control deficiency regarding our policies, procedures and processes for accounts payable and accrued expenses, which led to the restatements, constituted a material weakness as of December 31, 2004.

 

Management has concluded, based on PCAOB Std. No. 2 and the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described above, that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2004. Ernst & Young LLP, the registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting which appears on pages 40 through 41.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

In response to the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described above under “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting,” management has revised its policies, procedures, and processes in order to strengthen controls relating to the accounting for accounts payable and accrued expenses. On January 27, 2005, management established formal policies and procedures related to the estimation of accounts payable and accrued expenses for payroll, and real estate costs and expenses that were previously recorded as paid rather than as incurred, to be performed at the end of each reporting period. These written procedures include preparation of detailed estimates of costs incurred but not billed or paid at the end of each reporting period, and management’s review of the estimates on a quarterly basis. Management has also changed the procedures for analyzing certain accrued expenses to include detailed analyses of accrued liability amounts in addition to analysis of the related expense balances. Management believes that the new policies and procedures are designed to avoid the reoccurrence of the circumstances that resulted in the restatement.

 

Management believes these measures have remediated the material weakness and that, as of March 14, 2005, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. However, we cannot assure you that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives all of the time. See Part I, Item 1. “—Risk Factors—Risks Associated with Our Restatement.”

 

Other than as described above, there have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

39


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

of BRE Properties, Inc.

 

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that BRE Properties, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, because of the effect of the material weakness identified in management’s assessment relating to policies, procedures, and processes for accounts payable and accrued expenses that resulted in the recording of certain expenses when they were paid rather than incurred, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). BRE Properties, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment. Historically, management analyzed its accounts payable and accrued expense accounts related to payroll and certain real estate costs and expenses by evaluating whether the corresponding expenses were fairly stated (e.g., by analyzing whether operating results included 12 months of expenses). However, the company’s procedures did not include a detailed review of ending liability balances for these specific costs and expenses, which resulted in amounts being recorded when they were paid rather than incurred. To correct for the misstatements caused by this practice, the Company restated the financial results for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, through December 31, 2003, filed on Form 10-K and the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004 filed on Form 10-Q. Management determined that the internal

 

40


control deficiency regarding its policies, procedures and processes for accounts payable and accrued expenses, which led to the restatements, constituted a material weakness as of December 31, 2004. This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2004 financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated February 24, 2005 on those financial statements.

 

In our opinion, management’s assessment that BRE Properties, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, BRE Properties, Inc. has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the COSO criteria.

 

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

San Francisco, California

February 24, 2005

 

41


PART III

 

Item 10.     DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

  (a)   Identification of Directors.    The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement relating to our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the headings “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2004. A summary of the directors and their principal business for the last five years follows:

 

L. Michael Foley

   Mr. Foley is Chairman of the Board of BRE. Mr. Foley has served as a director of BRE since 1994. He has been Principal, L. Michael Foley and Associates, real estate and corporate consulting, since 1996 and was a director and Executive Committee member of Western Property Trust, from 1999 to 2000. Mr. Foley was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Coldwell Banker Corporation, from 1995 to 1996 and he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sears Savings Bank, from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Foley is 66 years old.

William E. Borsari

   Mr. Borsari has served as a director of BRE or its predecessor since 1992. He is currently self-employed, and a private investor. He was the former Chairman or President, The Walters Management Company, a real estate asset management company, for more than five years. Mr. Borsari is 66 years old.

Robert A. Fiddaman

   Mr. Fiddaman has served as a director of BRE since 1998. He is currently self-employed, and a private investor. He was the former board chairman of SSR Realty Advisors, a real estate investment and management firm, from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Fiddaman served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Metric Realty, a real estate investment and management company from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Fiddaman is 67 years old.

Roger P. Kuppinger

   Mr. Kuppinger has served as a director of BRE or its predecessor since 1995. He has been President, The Kuppinger Company, a private financial advisor to public and private companies, since February 1994. Mr. Kuppinger is also a director for Realty Income Corporation, a California-based retail real estate investment trust. He served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Sutro & Co., Inc., an investment banking company, from 1969 to February 1994. Mr. Kuppinger is 64 years old.

Edward E. Mace

   Mr. Mace has served as a director of BRE since 1998. He has been President, Vail Resorts Lodging Company and Rock Resorts International LLC (both subsidiaries of Vail Resorts, Inc.), since 2001. Previously, Mr. Mace served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—U.S. /Mexico division, from 2000 to 2001 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fairmont Hotels, from 1996 to 2000. He was the midwest regional director of management consulting for the Real Estate Industry Group of KPMG from 1994 to 1996. Mr. Mace is 53 years old.

John McMahan

   Mr. McMahan is a former Chairman of the Board of BRE. He has served as a director of BRE since 1993. He has been Executive Director, The Center for Real Estate Enterprise Management, since 2000 and Managing Principal, The McMahan Group, real estate strategic management consultants, since 1996. Previously, Mr. McMahan served as President, John McMahan Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm, and McMahan Real Estate Securities, Inc., a real estate investment firm, from 1994 to 1996. Mr. McMahan is 67 years old.

 

42


Matthew Medeiros

   Mr. Medeiros was appointed to the Board of BRE on March 11, 2005. He is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of SonicWALL, a global Internet security company, since 2003. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of Philips Components, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, a consumer electronics company, since 1998. Mr. Medeiros served as Chairman of the Board, LG.Philips LCD, a liquid crystal display joint venture from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Medeiros is 48 years old.

Constance B. Moore

   Ms. Moore was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of BRE in January of 2005. She joined BRE as a director and Chief Operating Officer in 2002. Ms. Moore previously held several executive positions with Security Capital Group & Affiliates, an international real estate operating and investment management company, from 1993 to 2002, including co-chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Archstone Communities Trust. Ms. Moore is 49 years old.

Jeanne R. Myerson

   Ms. Myerson joined BRE’s Board of Directors in 2002. She has been President & Chief Executive Officer of The Swig Company, a private real estate investment firm, since 1997. Previously, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bailard, Biehl & Kaiser REIT from 1993 to 1997. Ms. Myerson is 52 years old.

Gregory M. Simon

   Mr. Simon has served as a director of BRE or its predecessor since 1991. He has also been self-employed as a private investor since 1991. He was Senior Vice President, H.F. Ahmanson & Co. and Home Savings of America, from 1983 to 1991. Mr. Simon is also an Officer and Director for Golden Orange Broadcasting, a privately held corporation. Mr. Simon is 63 years old.

 

  (b)   Identification of Executive Officers.    See “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I of this report.

 

Item 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, relating to our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the headings “Executive Compensation and Other Information” and “Election of Directors—Board and Committee Meetings; Compensation of Directors,” to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2004.

 

Item 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, relating to our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2004.

 

Item 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, relating to our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the headings “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2004.

 

Item 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement, relating to our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, under the heading “Report of the Audit Committee,” to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2004.

 

43


PART IV

 

Item 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a)  Financial Statements

 

  1.  Financial   Statements:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2004 and 2003 (Restated)

 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 (Restated) and 2002 (Restated)

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 (Restated) and 2002 (Restated)

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 (Restated) and 2002 (Restated)

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Restated)

 

  2.  Financial   Statement Schedule:

 

Schedule III—Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

 

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and, therefore, have been omitted.

 

  3.  See   Index to Exhibits immediately following the Consolidated Financial Statements. Each of the exhibits listed is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)  Exhibits

 

See Index to Exhibits.

 

(c)  Financial Statement Schedules

 

See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule.

 

44


SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated March 15, 2005

 

BRE PROPERTIES, INC.
By:   /S/    CONSTANCE B. MOORE        
   

Constance B. Moore

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Name


  

Title


 

Date


/s/    CONSTANCE B. MOORE        


Constance B. Moore

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

  March 15, 2005

/s/    EDWARD F. LANGE, JR.


Edward F. Lange, Jr.

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  March 15, 2005

/s/    L. MICHAEL FOLEY


L. Michael Foley

  

Chairman and Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    WILLIAM E. BORSARI


William E. Borsari

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    ROBERT A. FIDDAMAN


Robert A. Fiddaman

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    ROGER P. KUPPINGER


Roger P. Kuppinger

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    EDWARD E. MACE


Edward E. Mace

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    JOHN MCMAHAN


John Mcmahan

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    JEANNE R. MYERSON


Jeanne R. Myerson

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

/s/    GREGORY M. SIMON


Gregory M. Simon

  

Director

  March 15, 2005

 

45


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of

BRE Properties, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of BRE Properties, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of BRE Properties, Inc. at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has restated the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of BRE Properties Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2005, expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

San Francisco, California

February 24, 2005

 

46


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
           (Restated)  
A S S E T S                 

Real estate portfolio

                

Direct investments in real estate:

                

Investments in rental properties

   $ 2,538,171     $ 2,209,650  

Construction in progress

     108,930       104,531  

Less:    Accumulated depreciation

     (280,498 )     (229,983 )
    


 


       2,366,603       2,084,198  
    


 


Equity interests in and advances to real estate joint ventures:

                

Investments in rental properties

     10,227       10,391  

Real estate held for sale, net

     60,383       61,394  

Land under development

     43,204       28,964  
    


 


Total real estate portfolio

     2,480,417       2,184,947  

Other assets

     38,524       48,317  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 2,518,941     $ 2,233,264  
    


 


L I A B I L I T I E S  A N D  S H A R E H O L D E R S’  E  Q U I T Y                 

Unsecured senior notes

   $ 848,201     $ 763,915  

Mortgage loans payable

     203,365       132,414  

Unsecured line of credit

     187,000       196,000  

Secured line of credit

     140,000       100,000  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     58,053       45,273  
    


 


Total liabilities

     1,436,619       1,237,602  
    


 


Minority interests

     35,675       38,859  
    


 


Shareholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at both December 31, 2004 and 2003; 10,000,000 and 5,150,000 shares with $25 liquidation preference; issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively

     100       52  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized at both December 31, 2004 and 2003; 50,418,529 and 49,992,198 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.

     504       500  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,068,613       943,064  

Accumulated net income (less than) in excess of cumulative dividends

     (20,565 )     16,023  

Stock purchase loans to executives

     (2,005 )     (2,836 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     1,046,647       956,803  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,518,941     $ 2,233,264  
    


 


 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

47


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Years ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Revenue

                        

Rental income

   $ 267,997     $ 244,982     $ 232,029  

Ancillary income

     12,645       11,248       10,229  
    


 


 


Total rental revenue

     280,642       256,230       242,258  
    


 


 


Expenses

                        

Real estate

     88,433       77,599       68,347  

Provision for depreciation

     61,296       49,644       41,500  

Interest

     66,826       59,425       56,106  

General and administrative

     12,657       10,260       10,716  

Other expenses

     6,807       7,305       —    
    


 


 


Total expenses

     236,019       204,233       176,669  
    


 


 


Other income

     1,632       1,462       954  

Income before gain on sales of investments, minority interests, partnership income and discontinued operations

     46,255       53,459       66,543  

Net gain on sales of investments

     —         —         4,862  

Minority interests in income

     (2,509 )     (3,196 )     (3,682 )

Partnership income

     1,558       882       3,393  
    


 


 


Income from continuing operations

     45,304       51,145       71,116  

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations

     19,925       23,147       10,067  

Discontinued operations, net

     8,312       8,678       13,753  
    


 


 


Income from discontinued operations

     28,237       31,825       23,820  

Net Income

   $ 73,541     $ 82,970     $ 94,936  

Redemption related preferred stock issuance costs

     —         2,166       —    

Dividends attributable to preferred stock

     12,114       10,629       7,765  
    


 


 


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 61,427     $ 70,175     $ 87,171  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.66     $ 0.81     $ 1.38  

Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.56     $ 0.68     $ 0.52  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.22     $ 1.49     $ 1.90  
    


 


 


Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.65     $ 0.81     $ 1.37  

Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.56     $ 0.67     $ 0.52  
    


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.21     $ 1.48     $ 1.89  
    


 


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

     50,200       47,070       45,860  

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

     50,825       47,445       46,210  

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

48


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Years ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Cash flows from operating activities

                        

Net income

   $ 73,541     $ 82,970     $ 94,936  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows generated by operating activities:

                        

Net gain on sales of discontinued operations …

     (19,925 )     (23,147 )     (10,067 )

Net gain on sales of investments …

     —         —         (4,862 )

Partnership income

     (1,558 )     (882 )     (3,393 )

Provision for depreciation

     61,296       49,644       41,500  

Depreciation from discontinued operations

     2,916       3,708       6,035  

Noncash stock based compensation expense

     3,468       1,082       349  

Minority interests in income

     2,509       3,196       3,682  

Decrease (increase) in other assets

     1,228       638       (354 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses

     12,730       (2,214 )     9,351  
    


 


 


Net cash flows generated by operating activities

     136,205       114,995       137,177  
    


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities

                        

Multifamily communities purchased

     (268,218 )     (116,183 )     (100,023 )

Multifamily communities purchased from joint venture partners

     —         —         (56,510 )

Proceeds from sales of rental property, net

     96,185       71,482       43,103  

Proceeds from sales of investments

     —         —         16,200  

Rehabilitation expenditures and other

     (18,088 )     (10,670 )     (6,501 )

Capital expenditures

     (17,971 )     (10,390 )     (8,276 )

Additions to direct investment construction in progress

     (54,276 )     (60,897 )     (69,165 )

Advances to unconsolidated joint ventures—construction in progress

     —         —         (20,614 )

Reimbursements of construction in progress from unconsolidated joint ventures

     —         —         13,753  

Additions to land under development

     (70,720 )     (20,729 )     (24,264 )

Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures, net

     5,974       1,024       3,256  

Investment in and advances to Internet business

     —         —         (942 )
    


 


 


Net cash flows used in investing activities

     (327,114 )     (146,363 )     (209,983 )
    


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities

                        

Principal payments on mortgage loans and unsecured senior notes

     (17,167 )     (95,195 )     (53,169 )

Issuance of unsecured senior notes, net

     99,437       —         297,407  

Proceeds from new mortgage loans

     74,160       —         —    

Lines of credit:

                        

Advances

     364,000       323,000       390,000  

Repayments

     (333,000 )     (208,000 )     (524,000 )

Renewal fees

     (388 )     (4,011 )     —    

Repurchase of common shares

     —         (724 )     (19,370 )

Proceeds from exercises of stock options, net

     7,837       9,787       3,909  

Proceeds from common equity offering, net of issuance costs

     —         112,338       —    

Proceeds from preferred equity offerings, net of issuance costs

     168,872       —         72,291  

Redemption of preferred stock

     (53,750 )                

Cash dividends paid to common shareholders

     (98,015 )     (91,994 )     (89,614 )

Cash dividends paid to preferred shareholders

     (11,791 )     (10,629 )     (7,765 )

Distributions to Operating Company unit holders

     (1,888 )     (2,215 )     (2,963 )

Distributions to other minority members

     (636 )     (991 )     (821 )

Redemption of minority member interest

     (8,114 )     —         —    

Contributions from minority members

     —         —         4,751  

Other, net

     247       214       (849 )
    


 


 


Net cash flows generated by financing activities

     189,804       31,580       69,807  
    


 


 


(Decrease) Increase in cash

     (1,105 )     212       (2,999 )

Balance at beginning of year

     1,105       893       3,892  
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ —       $ 1,105     $ 893  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activity                         

Transfers of direct investments in real estate-construction in progress to investments in rental properties

   $ (107,711 )   $ (57,601 )   $ (94,459 )
    


 


 


Transfer of land under development to direct investments in real estate—construction in progress

   $ 56,364     $ 6,899     $ 32,967  
    


 


 


Change in accrued development costs for construction in progress and land under development

   $ 1,354     $ (1,666 )   $ 3,461  
    


 


 


(Decrease) increase in carrying value of debt attributed to hedging activities

   $ (1,756 )   $ (1,240 )   $ 3,500  
    


 


 


Minority interest unit (issuances) conversions to common shares

   $ (1,877 )   $ 6,277     $ 11,663  
    


 


 


 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

49


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     Years ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Common stock shares

                        

Balance at beginning of year

     49,992,198       45,870,723       45,807,191  

Stock options exercised, net of shares tendered

     343,232       407,734       355,052  

Conversion of operating company units to common shares

     9,336       233,083       433,112  

Shares repurchased and retired

     —         (25,500 )     (685,200 )

Common stock offering

     —         3,450,000       —    

Issuance of restricted shares

     52,780       59,268       1,700  

Shares issued pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan

     38,320       —         —    

Other

     (17,337 )     (3,110 )     (41,132 )
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

     50,418,529       49,992,198       45,870,723  
    


 


 


Preferred stock shares

                        

Balance at beginning of year

     5,150,000       5,150,000       2,150,000  

Redemption of 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable

     (2,150,000 )                

Issuance of 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable

     4,000,000                  

Issuance of 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable

     3,000,000                  

Issuance of 8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable

     —         —         3,000,000  
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

     10,000,000       5,150,000       5,150,000  
    


 


 


Common stock

                        

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 500     $ 459     $ 458  

Common stock offering

     —         34       —    

Stock options exercised

     3       4       4  

Conversion of operating company units to common shares

     —         2       4  

Issuance of restricted and performance shares

     1       1       —    

Shares repurchased and retired

     —         —         (7 )
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ 504     $ 500     $ 459  
    


 


 


Preferred stock

                        

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 52     $ 52     $ 22  

Redemption of 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable

     (22 )     —         —    

Issuance of 8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable

     —         —         30  

Issuance of 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable

     40       —         —    

Issuance of 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable

     30       —         —    
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ 100     $ 52     $ 52  
    


 


 


Additional paid-in capital

                        

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 943,064     $ 812,431     $ 744,037  

Common stock offering

     —         112,304       —    

Stock options and restricted shares

     10,808       10,501       5,058  

Conversion of operating company units to common shares

     251       6,275       11,659  

Shares repurchased and retired

     —         (724 )     (19,363 )

Issuance of preferred stock

     168,802       —         72,261  

Redemption of preferred stock

     (53,728 )                

Redemption related preferred stock issuance costs

     —         2,166       —    

Other

     (584 )     111       (1,221 )
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ 1,068,613     $ 943,064     $ 812,431  
    


 


 


Accumulated net income (less than) in excess of cumulative dividends

                        

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 16,023     $ 37,842     $ 40,285  

Net income for year

     73,541       82,970       94,936  

Cash dividends declared to common shareholders: $1.95 per common share for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

     (98,015 )     (91,994 )     (89,614 )

Cash dividends declared to preferred shareholders (see Note 11)

     (12,114 )     (10,629 )     (7,765 )

Redemption related preferred stock issuance costs

     —         (2,166 )     —    
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ (20,565 )   $ 16,023     $ 37,842  
    


 


 


Stock purchase loans to executives

                        

Balance at beginning of year

   $ (2,836 )   $ (3,183 )   $ (2,616 )

Additional loans granted

     —         —         (1,104 )

Maturities and reserves on loans

     831       347       537  
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ (2,005 )   $ (2,836 )   $ (3,183 )
    


 


 


Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,046,647     $ 956,803     $ 847,601  
    


 


 


 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

50


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.    Company

 

BRE Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“BRE” or the “Company”), was formed in 1970. BRE is a self-administered real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on the development, acquisition and management of multifamily apartment communities in the Western United States. At December 31, 2004, BRE’s portfolio, owned directly or through wholly or majority owned subsidiaries, consisted of 85 multifamily communities (aggregating 24,198 units), classified as direct investments in real estate-investments in rental properties on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Of these properties, 58 were located in California, 14 in Washington, six in Arizona, five in Colorado and two in Utah. In addition, at December 31, 2004, there were eight properties under various stages of construction and development aggregating an estimated 2,051 units, including five directly owned properties with 1,312 units classified as direct investments in real estate-construction in progress and three land parcels estimated to have 739 units which are classified as land under development. BRE also holds a 35% interest and is the managing member of two real estate joint ventures that own two multifamily properties with a total of 488 units, and a 15% joint venture interest in a multifamily portfolio totaling 3,443 units managed by a third party at December 31, 2004.

 

The Operating Company

 

In November 1997, BRE acquired 16 completed properties and eight development properties from certain entities of Trammell Crow Residential-West (the “Transaction”) pursuant to a definitive agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”). BRE paid a total of approximately $160,000,000 in cash and issued $100,000,000 in common stock based on a stock price of $26.93 per share, as provided for in the Contribution Agreement. In addition, certain entities received Operating Company Units (“OC Units”) valued at $76,000,000 in BRE Property Investors LLC (the “Operating Company”), a Delaware limited liability company and a majority owned subsidiary of BRE. The Operating Company assumed approximately $120,000,000 in debt in connection with this purchase. BRE is the sole managing member and majority owner of the Operating Company at December 31, 2004. Substantially all of the properties acquired in the Transaction are owned by the Operating Company, which was formed by BRE for the purpose of acquiring the properties in the Transaction.

 

The OC Units held by non-managing members are included in minority interests in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Starting in November 1999, non-managing members of the Operating Company can exchange their units for cash in an amount equal to the market value of such common stock at the time of the exchange or, at the option of the Company, common stock of BRE on a 1:1 basis. As of December 31, 2004, 2,210,488 OC Units have been exchanged for common stock. The non-managing members are entitled to priority distributions regardless of the cash flows of the Operating Company. The Operating Company is also required to maintain certain financial ratios to protect the non-managing members’ distributions. Further, the Company has certain restrictions from selling assets of the Operating Company in a taxable sale for a period ranging from eight to ten years from the date of the Transaction. The Operating Company will continue until the earlier of conversion of all non-managing member OC Units, or September 25, 2012. The Operating Company has also guaranteed the repayment of the Company’s $350,000,000 unsecured line of credit.

 

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Restatement

 

On January 31, 2005, the Company announced a restatement of payroll and certain other real estate expenses, as well as construction in progress, to ensure accruals were properly reflected at the end of each reporting period. During management’s review of the Company’s accounting policies and internal control over financial reporting, management determined that the Company should have recognized these costs as incurred,

 

51


rather than as paid. Management has concluded that this control deficiency did not result in material misstatements to previously reported quarterly or annual financial statements, as the historical amounts by which expenses and liability balances were misstated were not material to our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, adjusting for the cumulative effect of the errors in fourth quarter of 2004 would have been material to that quarter. Accordingly, the Company determined to restate the financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, through December 31, 2003 filed on Form 10-K, and the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2004, June 30, 2004, and September 30, 2004 filed on Form 10-Q to adjust for these out of period items. The interim periods have also been restated to record in the first and second quarters of 2004 expenses incurred during these quarters and previously expensed in the third quarter 2004 relating to litigation charges associated with our Red Hawk Ranch community, as more fully described in Note 19 below. The impact of the restatement on the prior balance sheets and statements of income included in these financial statements is set forth below.

 

Impact of Restatement on Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     December 31, 2003

   December 31, 2002

     As Previously
Reported


   As Restated

   As Previously
Reported


   As Restated

     (amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Total real estate portfolio

   $ 2,180,903    $ 2,184,947    $ 2,061,678    $ 2,064,009

Other assets

   $ 47,062    $ 48,317    $ 47,035    $ 48,157

Total assets

   $ 2,227,965    $ 2,233,264    $ 2,108,713    $ 2,112,116

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $ 36,233    $ 45,273    $ 38,618    $ 45,654

Total liabilities

   $ 1,228,562    $ 1,237,602    $ 1,212,382    $ 1,219,418

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 960,544    $ 956,803    $ 851,184    $ 847,601

 

The impact of the restatement resulted in a decrease in shareholders’ equity as of January 1, 2002 of $2,710.

 

Impact of Restatement on Consolidated Statements of Income

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2003


   For the Year Ended
December 31, 2002


     As Previously
Reported


   As Restated

   As Previously
Reported


   As Restated

     (amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Real estate expenses1

   $ 82,873    $ 82,832    $ 73,164    $ 73,168

General and administrative expense

   $ 10,062    $ 10,260    $ 9,847    $ 10,716

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 70,333    $ 70,175    $ 88,044    $ 87,171

Earnings per share:

                           

Basic earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.81    $ 0.81    $ 1.40    $ 1.38

Basic earnings from discontinued operations

     0.68      0.68      0.52      0.52
    

  

  

  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.49    $ 1.49    $ 1.92    $ 1.90
    

  

  

  

Diluted earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.80    $ 0.81    $ 1.39    $ 1.37

Diluted earnings from discontinued operations

     0.68      0.67      0.52      0.52
    

  

  

  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.48    $ 1.48    $ 1.91    $ 1.89
    

  

  

  


1   $5,233 and $4,821 of real estate expenses for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were reclassified to discontinued operations during 2004, as the related assets were sold or classified as held for sale at December 31, 2004. This reclassification was unrelated to the restatement.

 

52


Consolidation

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (“FIN 46”). In December 2003, the FASB modified FIN 46 to make technical corrections and address implementation issues that had arisen. FIN 46 provides a new framework for identifying variable interest entities (VIEs) and determining when a company should include the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interests and results of activities of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements. FIN 46 applies immediately to arrangements created after January 31, 2003 and, with respect to arrangements created before February 1, 2003, the interpretation was applied to the Company as of January 1, 2003. Under FIN 46, a VIE is created when (i) the equity investment at risk in the entity is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (ii) the entity’s equity holders as a group either: (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity if they occur, or (c) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to FIN 46, the enterprise that is deemed to absorb a majority of the expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both, is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE. Expected losses and residual returns for VIEs are calculated based on the probability of estimated future cash flows as defined in FIN 46. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have any effect on BRE’s financial position or results of operations.

 

Based on the provisions of FIN 46, the Company has concluded that under certain circumstances when the Company (i) enters into option agreements for the purchase of land from an entity and pays a non-refundable deposit or (ii) enters into an arrangements with a financial partner for the formation of joint ventures which engage in multifamily real estate projects, A VIE may be created under condition (ii) in the previous paragraph. For each VIE created, the Company will compute expected losses and residual returns based on the probability of future cash flows. If the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the assets, liabilities and operations of the VIE will be consolidated with the Company’s financial statements.

 

For any unconsolidated joint venture arrangements existing as of January 1, 2004, the Company has evaluated whether such joint venture arrangements represent variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company concluded that no VIEs existed in which it is the primary beneficiary. The Company did not enter into any new joint venture arrangements during 2004.

 

At December 31, 2004, BRE has made non-refundable cash deposits for three purchase option agreements totaling approximately $1,788,000, which are included in Other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The aggregate purchase price of properties under option is approximately $73,500,000. The option deposits generally represent the Company’s maximum exposure to loss if it elects not to purchase the optioned property. Based on analysis performed under FIN 46, the Company is not the primary beneficiary in any of the arrangements as of December 31, 2004.

 

BRE consolidates entities not deemed as VIEs that it has the ability to control. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Operating Company and other controlled subsidiaries. At December 31, 2004, BRE owned 92% of the Operating Company. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to acquiring, developing and assessing the carrying values of its real estate properties, its investments in and advances to joint ventures and affiliates, and its qualification as a REIT. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience,

 

53


current market conditions, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may vary from those estimates and those estimates could vary under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Investments in Rental Properties

 

Rental properties are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation, less an adjustment, if any, for impairment. All properties are held for leasing activities. A land value is assigned based on the purchase price if land is acquired separately, or based on market research if acquired in a merger or in an operating community acquisition. BRE has a development group which manages the design, development and construction of its apartment communities. Projects under development are carried at cost, including direct and indirect costs incurred to ready the assets for their intended use and which are specifically indentifiable, including capitalized interest and property taxes until units are placed in service. Direct investment development projects are considered placed in service as certificates of occupancy are issued and the units become ready for occupancy. Depreciation begins as units are placed in service. Land acquired for development is capitalized and reported as “Land under development” until the development plan for the land is formalized. Once the development plan is determined and construction contracts are signed, the costs are transferred to the balance sheet line item “Construction in progress.” Costs of replacements, such as appliances, carpets and drapes, are expensed. Improvements and betterments that increase the value of the property or extend its useful life are capitalized.

 

Under subcontractor agreements during the development and construction of an apartment community, a designated percentage of the subcontracted fee is retained until the end of the project to ensure the subcontractor completes their task to the Company’s approval. The Company records retention payable when the amount becomes a probable and estimable liability. Because the nature of the contracted work is to extend the useful life or make ready the subject property for its intended use, the offsetting debit upon recording the liability is to the basis of the community. The retention liability is relieved when paid upon satisfaction of the contract.

 

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from 35 to 45 years for buildings and three to ten years for other property.

 

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, in 2002. SFAS No. 144 provides additional guidance on the recognition and measurement of the impairment of long-lived assets to be “held and used,” and requires that the assets and liabilities and the results of operations of any communities that have been sold, or otherwise qualify as “held for sale,” be presented as discontinued operations in all periods presented.

 

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including its investments in rental properties, for impairment indicators. The judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, the expected holding period of each asset and legal and environmental concerns. Future events could occur which would cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and an impairment loss is warranted. There were no assets for which an adjustment for impairment in value was made in 2004, 2003 or 2002.

 

In the normal course of business, BRE will receive offers for sale of its properties, either solicited or unsolicited. For those offers that are accepted, the prospective buyer will usually require a due diligence period before consummation of the transaction. It is not unusual for matters to arise that result in the withdrawal or rejection of the offer during this process. The Company classifies real estate as “held for sale” when all of the following criteria have been met: management has committed to a plan to sell the asset, the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition, an active program to locate a buyer has been initiated, the sale of the asset is probable within one year, the asset is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, and actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.

 

54


Specific components of net income that are presented as discontinued operations include the held for sale or discontinued communities’ operating results, depreciation and interest expense to the extent there is a secured loan on the property. In addition, the net gain or loss on the eventual disposal of communities held for sale will be presented as income from discontinued operations when recognized. Real estate assets held for sale are measured at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair value less the cost to sell. Subsequent to classification of a community as held for sale, no further depreciation is recorded on the assets. Sales are generally recorded after title has been transferred to the buyer and after appropriate payments have been received and other criteria met.

 

Equity Interests in Real Estate Joint Ventures

 

The Company’s investments in non-controlled real estate joint ventures and joint ventures which are VIEs in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary are recorded under the equity method of accounting on the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Investments in real estate joint ventures that are managed or are being developed by the Company are included in equity interests in and advances to real estate joint ventures. Investments in real estate joint ventures managed by third parties are included in other assets because such investments do not represent a core activity within BRE’s overall real estate investment strategy.

 

Conversion of Operating Company Units

 

Conversions of Operating Company units are accounted for at book value, with the minority interest amount for the related converted unit being reclassified to Common stock and Additional paid in capital.

 

Rental Revenue

 

Rental income 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 as lease terms are generally for periods of one year or less. There were no contingent rental payments or percentage rents in the three years ended December 31, 2004.

 

Cash

 

The Company maintains its cash at financial institutions. The combined account balances at one or more institutions periodically exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage, and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. The Company believes that the risk is not significant, as the Company places its cash deposits and temporary cash investments with financial institutions believed by management to be creditworthy and of high quality. As of December 31, 2004, the Company has a negative cash balance related to bank overdraft. This balance is included in Accounts payable and accrued expenses on the 2004 consolidated balance sheet. The positive cash balance at December 31, 2003, is included in Other assets on the 2003 consolidated balance sheet.

 

Deferred Costs

 

Included in other assets are costs incurred in obtaining debt financing that are deferred and amortized over the terms of the respective debt agreements as interest expense. Related amortization expense is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Net deferred financing costs included in Other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are $11,159,000 and $13,488,000 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Amortization of deferred costs is included in interest expense and totaled $3,298,000 and $3,874,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Income Taxes

 

BRE has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a result, BRE will not be subject to federal taxation at the corporate level to the extent it distributes, annually,

 

55


at least 100% of its REIT taxable income, as defined by the Code, to its shareholders and satisfies certain other requirements. In addition, the states in which BRE owns and operates real estate properties have provisions equivalent to the federal REIT provisions. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal or state income taxes at the REIT level in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair values of BRE’s financial instruments, including such items in the consolidated financial statement captions as other assets (which includes cash, mortgages receivable and interest rate swaps), and lines of credit, approximate their carrying or contract values based on their nature, terms and interest rates that approximate current market rates. The fair value of mortgage loans payable and unsecured senior notes is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses with an interest rate similar to that of current market borrowing arrangements. The fair value of the Company’s mortgage loans payable and unsecured senior notes was approximately $1,121,712,000 and $941,191,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Derivative instruments and hedging activities

 

BRE has four interest rate swap contracts that attain a floating rate of interest on a portion of its fixed rate debt. BRE designated these derivative instruments to be utilized as fair value hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended. Under SFAS No. 133, the resulting assets or liabilities attributed to derivative instruments are carried on BRE’s consolidated financial statements at their estimated fair values. The hedges are perfectly effective and, therefore, changes in the derivative fair value and the change in fair value of the hedged items during the hedging period exactly offset with no impact on BRE’s current earnings.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2003, BRE adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS No. 123), as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure” (SFAS No. 148). Under the fair value method compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. BRE has adopted the prospective method as provided for in SFAS No. 148, under which the provisions of SFAS No. 123 will be applied prospectively to all awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003. Therefore, the cost related to stock-based compensation included in the determination of consolidated net income for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value method had been applied to all awards in prior years. Prior to 2003, BRE accounted for stock-based compensation under the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related Interpretations. As discussed under Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements, SFAS No. 123 was revised in 2004, effective July 1, 2005. Awards under BRE’s option plans vest over periods ranging from one to five years.

 

56


The following table illustrates the pro forma effect on consolidated net income and earnings per share of applying the recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to all outstanding awards in each period.

 

       Years ended December 31

 
       2004

     2003

     2002

 
              (Restated)      (Restated)  

Net income available to common shareholders, as reported

     $ 61,427,000      $ 70,175,000      $ 87,171,000  

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income

       2,085,000        455,000        —    

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards

       (2,997,000 )      (3,438,000 )      (4,558,000 )
      


  


  


Pro forma net income

     $ 60,515,000      $ 67,192,000      $ 82,613,000  
      


  


  


Earnings per share:

                            

Basic—as reported

       $1.22        $1.49        $1.90  

Basic—pro forma

       $1.21        $1.43        $1.80  

Diluted—as reported

       $1.21        $1.48        $1.89  

Diluted—pro forma

       $1.19        $1.42        $1.79  

 

The fair value for these options was estimated as of the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002:

 

       Years ended December 31

 
       2004

    2003

    2002

 

Risk-free interest rate

     3.22 %   3.44 %   4.34 %

Dividend yield

     6.50 %   6.50 %   6.50 %

Volatility

     .20     .20     .20  

Weighted average option life

     5 years     7 years     7 years  

 

The effect of pro forma application of SFAS 123 is not necessarily representative of the effect on consolidated net income for future periods.

 

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair market value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility. Because the above stock option plans have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because, in management’s opinion, changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the above stock option plans.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the presentation of the current year’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Reportable Segments

 

SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” requires certain descriptive information to be provided about an enterprise’s reportable segments. BRE has determined that it has only one operating and reportable segment, multifamily communities, which comprised 98% of BRE’s

 

57


consolidated assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003 and approximately 99% of its total consolidated revenues for the three years ended December 31, 2004.

 

Concentration Risk

 

All multifamily communities owned by the Company are located in the Western United States, in three general markets that it defines as California, Pacific Northwest, and Mountain/Desert States. All revenues are from external customers and there are no revenues from transactions with other segments. There are no residents that contributed 10% or more of BRE’s total revenues in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 or 2002.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”, which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Generally, the approach in SFAS No. 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS No. 123. However, SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative. We expect to adopt SFAS No. 123(R) on July 1, 2005.

 

The Company adopted the fair-value-based method of accounting for share-based payments effective January 1, 2003 using the prospective method described in SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure.” Currently, the Company uses the Black-Scholes formula to estimate the value of stock options granted to employees and expects to continue to use this acceptable option valuation model upon the required adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) on July 1, 2005. Because SFAS No. 123(R) must be applied not only to new awards but to previously granted awards that are not fully vested on the effective date, and because the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 using the prospective transition method (which applied only to award granted, modified or settled after the adoption date), compensation cost for some previously granted awards that were not recognized under SFAS No. 123 will be recognized under SFAS No. 123(R). The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) will have a material impact on its financial statements or results of operations.

 

3.    Real Estate Portfolio

 

The components of direct investments in real estate—investments in rental properties follow:

 

     December 31

 
     2004

    2003

 

Land

   $ 475,461,000     $ 396,987,000  

Buildings and improvements

     2,062,710,000       1,812,663,000  
    


 


Subtotal

     2,538,171,000       2,209,650,000  

Accumulated depreciation

     (280,498,000 )     (229,983,000 )
    


 


Total

   $ 2,257,673,000     $ 1,979,667,000  
    


 


 

58


A roll-forward of direct investments in real estate-construction in progress follows:

 

       December 31

 
       2004

     2003

 
              (Restated)  

Opening balance

     $ 104,531,000      $ 93,207,000  

Costs incurred to projects under construction

       55,746,000        62,026,000  

Transfers of construction in progress to direct investments in real estate—investments in rental properties

       (107,711,000 )      (57,601,000 )

Transfers from land under development to direct investments in real estate—construction in progress

       56,364,000        6,899,000  
      


  


Ending balance

     $ 108,930,000      $ 104,531,000  
      


  


 

BRE’s carrying value of its assets exceeded the tax basis by approximately $239,000,000 (unaudited) at December 31, 2004.

 

4.    Equity Interests in and Advances to Real Estate Joint Ventures

 

As of December 31, 2004, BRE had two joint venture arrangements in which its capital interest is 35%; these joint ventures are managed by the Company (the “joint ventures”). Such arrangements are accounted for using the equity method. Each of the joint ventures contains a single multifamily community that was developed by BRE and completed in 2001. BRE’s investment in the joint ventures totals $10,227,000 and $10,391,000 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively and is shown as “Equity interests in and advances to real estate joint ventures-investments in rental properties” on BRE’s consolidated balance sheets. The communities had a total cost of approximately $43,657,000. The joint ventures carry secured, non-recourse loans totaling $18,988,000, that mature in 2011 and bear interest at rates of 7.25% and 8.0%. BRE has not guaranteed repayment of the joint venture debt. BRE and third-party members have funded the equity. For these joint ventures, BRE’s recognition of development and construction fees and responsibility to fund costs incurred above an agreed upon level during the construction period resulted in a disproportionate capital account balance between BRE and the third-party member compared to each member’s percent interest. This amount differs from the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of the applicable joint ventures and is being depreciated over 40 years.

 

In addition to the joint ventures discussed above, the Company also has an investment in a real estate joint venture managed by a third-party (non-managed joint venture). During 2000 and 2001, BRE sold a total of 22 communities in Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. The Company contributed a portion of the proceeds to a joint venture related to the buyer for a 15% equity interest in order to facilitate the sale of 85% of these assets. The Company’s investment in the non-managed joint venture consists of a 15% equity interest in a portfolio of multifamily properties managed by a third-party (G&I III Residential Portfolio, LLC). The Company’s investment approximates $5,279,000 and $10,783,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and is included in “Other assets” as this investment does not represent a core activity within BRE’s overall real estate investment strategy. The joint venture has a total of 13 apartment communities totaling 3,443 units (unaudited) as of December 31, 2004.

 

The Company’s share of income from equity investments in all three joint ventures totaled $1,558,000; $882,000 and $3,393,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

59


5.    Other Assets

 

The components of other assets follow:

 

     December 31

     2004

   2003

          (Restated)

Prepaid loan fees, net

   $ 11,159,000    $ 13,488,000

Accounts and mortgages receivable

     8,267,000      9,502,000

Predevelopment and escrow deposits

     5,728,000      3,972,000

Investment in G&I III Residential Portfolio, LLC (see Note 4)

     5,279,000      10,783,000

Furniture and equipment, net

     3,122,000      3,658,000

Cash

     —        1,105,000

Other

     4,969,000      5,809,000
    

  

Total Other Assets

   $ 38,524,000    $ 48,317,000
    

  

 

6.    Mortgage Loans Payable and Secured Line of Credit

 

The following data pertain to BRE’s secured debt at December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Fixed rate secured mortgage loans

   $ 148,763,000     $ 75,769,000  

Variable rate secured mortgage loans

     23,290,000       23,290,000  

Secured mortgage loans subject to floating rate swaps

     31,312,000       33,355,000  

Secured line of credit

     140,000,000       100,000,000  
    


 


Total Secured Debt

   $ 343,365,000     $ 232,414,000  
    


 


Net book value of investments in real estate securing mortgage loans and secured line of credit

   $ 565,016,000     $ 364,310,000  

Remaining terms of mortgage loans payable

     1-8 years       1-7 years  

Average interest rate on fixed rate mortgages

     6.6 %     7.8 %

Average interest rate on variable rate mortgages

     2.6 %     3.1 %

Average interest rate on variable secured line of credit

     2.3 %     2.1 %

Average interest rate on mortgages subject to floating rate swaps

     LIBOR + 2.6 %     LIBOR + 2.6 %

 

Future scheduled principal payments are included in Note 7.

 

BRE has entered into three fixed to floating interest rate swap agreements on secured debt with a notional amount totaling $31,009,000 and $32,010,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The difference between the secured debt carrying values of $31,311,000 and $33,355,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and the notional amounts are due to basis adjustments from hedging activities of $302,000 in 2004 and $1,345,000 in 2003, respectively. The related debt matures in 2005.

 

During 2003, BRE established a Fannie Mae credit facility maturing in 2008 with borrowings of $100,000,000 and option to increase the size to $250,000,000. During the first quarter of 2004, BRE increased the size of the facility from $100,000,000 to $140,000,000. Borrowings under the secured line of credit totaled $140,000,000 and $100,000,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Nine multifamily communities with a net carrying value of $237,534,000 secured the credit facility at December 31, 2004. Five multifamily communities with a net carrying value of $171,518,000 secured the credit facility at December 31, 2003. The borrowing cost, including interest, margin and fees, is currently 2.3%. Subject to the terms of the facility, the Company has the option to convert variable-rate borrowings to fixed-rate borrowings.

 

60


7.    Unsecured Senior Notes and Unsecured Line of Credit

 

The following table pertains to BRE’s unsecured senior notes and unsecured line of credit at December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Fixed rate unsecured notes

   $ 830,000,000     $ 730,000,000  

Unsecured line of credit

     187,000,000       196,000,000  

Unsecured notes subject to floating rate swaps

     18,201,000       33,915,000  
    


 


Total unsecured debt

   $ 1,035,201,000     $ 959,915,000  
    


 


Average interest rate on fixed rate unsecured notes

     6.7 %     6.9 %

Average interest rate on unsecured line of credit

     2.9 %     2.7 %

Average interest rate on notes subject to floating rate swaps

     LIBOR + 3.2 %     LIBOR + 3.3 %

 

As of December 31, 2004, BRE had an unsecured line of credit expiring in April 2006, for up to $350,000,000. Borrowings totaled $187,000,000 and $196,000,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The interest rate on the line of credit is currently based on LIBOR plus 70 basis points, plus a fee of 0.20% payable on the unused portion. The average interest rate was approximately 2.9% and 2.7% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Under the unsecured line of credit, BRE has capacity for up to $35,000,000 in letters of credit, which to the extent issued reduce capacity under the unsecured line of credit. As of December 31, 2004, BRE has unused letter of credit capacity totaling approximately $9,800,000. BRE enters into letters of credit for various general corporate purposes.

 

BRE has entered into fixed to floating interest rate swap agreements on unsecured notes with a notional amounts totaling $18,000,000 and $33,000,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The difference between the carrying amounts of unsecured notes of $18,201,000 and $33,915,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and the notional amounts are due to basis adjustments from hedging activities totaling $201,000 in 2004 and $915,000 in 2003, respectively. The remaining debt matures in 2005.

 

The unsecured line of credit and unsecured senior note agreements contain various covenants that include, among other factors, tangible net worth and requirements to maintain certain financial ratios. BRE was in compliance with all such financial covenants throughout the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

 

Scheduled principal payments required on the lines of credit, unsecured senior notes payable and mortgage loans payable for the next five years and thereafter are as follows.

 

2005

   $ 51,749,000

2006

     202,101,000

2007

     214,223,000

2008

     161,881,000

2009

     218,664,000

Thereafter

     529,948,000
    

Total

   $ 1,378,566,000
    

 

The 2006 amount includes the $187,000,000 balance at December 31, 2004 on the unsecured line of credit. The 2008 amount includes the $140,000,000 balance at December 31, 2004 on the secured line of credit. Interest expense, excluding interest from discontinued operations, on mortgage loans, lines of credit and unsecured senior notes, including amortization of related issuance costs, aggregated $72,989,000; $68,542,000 and $68,121,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Capitalized interest was $6,163,000; $9,117,000 and $12,015,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Excluding capitalized interest, cash paid for interest totaled $66,235,000; $59,856,000 and $51,526,000 in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

61


8.    Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

The components of accounts payable and accrued expenses follow:

 

     December 31

     2004

   2003

          (Restated)

Accrued interest payable

   $ 19,491,000    $ 18,457,000

Security deposits

     8,115,000      7,152,000

Accrued employee benefits

     7,837,000      5,366,000

Bank overdraft in excess of cash

     5,891,000      —  

Accrued development costs

     5,575,000      4,221,000

Retention payable

     2,947,000      4,025,000

Property taxes payable

     2,945,000      2,187,000

Other

     5,252,000      3,865,000
    

  

Total Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

   $ 58,053,000    $ 45,273,000
    

  

 

9.    Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

The Company enters into interest rate swaps with the objective of lowering its overall borrowing costs. The notional amount of the interest rate swaps utilized in the fair value hedges is approximately $49,000,000, with maturity dates in 2005. The principal amount of debt being hedged equals the notional amounts of the interest rate swaps. The fair value hedges convert debt with a weighted average fixed rate of 7.46% to a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus an average spread of 2.8%, which resulted in an effective rate of 4.3% for the year ended December 31, 2004. The fair value of the interest rate swaps at December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $503,000 and $2,260,000, respectively, and is recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2004, offsetting amounts of $302,000 and $201,000 have been recorded as an increase to mortgage loans payable and unsecured senior notes, respectively. At December 31, 2003, offsetting amounts of $1,345,000 and $915,000 have been recorded as an increase to mortgage loans payable and unsecured senior notes, respectively. To determine the fair values of derivatives, BRE uses market valuations provided by third parties.

 

10.    Discontinued Operations

 

The results of operations for properties sold during the period or designated as held for sale at the end of the period are required to be classified as discontinued operations. The property-specific components of net earnings that are classified as discontinued operations include operating results, depreciation expense and interest expense as well as the net gain on the disposal. At December 31, 2004, BRE had three operating apartment communities classified as held for sale, which are expected to be sold to unrelated third parties within six months after December 31, 2004. The estimated proceeds less anticipated costs to sell the assets held for sale at December 31, 2004 are greater than the carrying values as of December 31, 2004, and therefore no provisions for possible losses were recorded.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2004, BRE sold three operating communities with 878 units for gross proceeds of approximately $98,600,000, resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $19,925,000. During the first six months of 2003, BRE sold three operating communities with 1,100 units for gross proceeds of approximately $72,700,000, resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $23,100,000. During the fourth quarter of 2002, BRE sold three operating communities with a total of 663 units for an aggregate sales price of approximately $58,300,000, resulting in a net gain on sale of $10,100,000.

 

62


The following is a breakdown of the results of operations and net gain on the sales from the nine properties sold during the three years ended December 31, 2004, and the three properties held for sale at December 31, 2004:

 

     Years ended December 31

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Rental income

   $ 16,551,000     $ 18,553,000     $ 31,602,000  

Real estate expenses

     (5,323,000 )     (5,975,000 )     (10,788,000 )

Interest expense

     —         (192,000 )     (1,026,000 )

Provision for depreciation

     (2,916,000 )     (3,708,000 )     (6,035,000 )

Gain on sales of discontinued operations

     19,925,000       23,147,000       10,067,000  
    


 


 


Total discontinued operations

   $ 28,237,000     $ 31,825,000     $ 23,820,000  
    


 


 


 

11.    Preferred Stock

 

The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     Optional
Redemption
Date(1)


   Annual
Dividend
Rate per
Share(2)


   Outstanding at
December 31, 2004


    Outstanding at
December 31, 2003


Preferred Stock, nonvoting, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized:

                          

8.50% Series A cumulative redeemable, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 2,150,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2003

   January 2004    $ 2.1250    $ —   (3)   $ 53,750,000

8.08% Series B cumulative redeemable, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 3,000,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003

   June 2007    $ 2.0200      75,000,000       75,000,000

6.75% Series C cumulative redeemable, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 4,000,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2004

   March 2009    $ 1.6875      100,000,000 (4)     —  

6.75% Series D cumulative redeemable, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 3,000,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2004

   December 2009    $ 1.6875      75,000,000 (5)     —  
                


 

                 $ 250,000,000     $ 128,750,000
                


 


(1)   On or after the redemption date, all series may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any.
(2)   Dividends on all series of Preferred Shares are payable quarterly. All series of preferred stock rank prior to the Company’s common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up. Each series of preferred stock ranks on parity with the others.

 

63


(3)   On January 29, 2004, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.17118 per share. The redemption totaled $54,118,000, and was comprised of the liquidation value of $53,750,000 ($25.00 per share), plus accrued and unpaid dividends totaling $368,000 ($0.17118 per share) to the redemption date. Original preferred stock issuance costs totaling $2,166,000 were expensed during the fourth quarter of 2003 when the Company announced the redemption.
(4)   On March 15, 2004, the Company closed on an offering of 4,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at public offering price of $25 per share. Net proceeds from the offering, after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs, totaled approximately $96,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes. Dividends incurred and paid totaled $5,363,000 ($1.34 per share) in 2004.
(5)   On December 9, 2004, the Company closed on an offering of 3,000,000 shares of 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at a public offering price of $25 per share. Net proceeds from the offering, after all discounts, commissions and issuance costs, totaled approximately $72,436,000 and were used for general corporate purposes. Accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series D preferred shares totals $323,000 ($0.11 per share) as of December 31, 2004.

 

12.    Stock Option Plans

 

Employee Plans

 

The 1992 Stock Option Plan and the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plans”) provide for the issuance of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares and other grants. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plans is 5,850,000. The option price may not be less than the fair market value of a share on the date that the option is granted and the options generally vest over three to five years. Shareholders initially adopted the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan in 1999 and approved the plan as amended in 2001. The 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, allows for grants of up to 3,500,000 shares. Through 2002, certain key employees were allowed to exercise options with a reload provision; 409,216 reload grants were made in 2002. The reload program was suspended in 2003. Changes in options outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31

     2004

   2003

   2002

     Shares
under
option


    Weighted
average
exercise
price


   Shares
under
option


    Weighted
average
exercise
price


   Shares
under
option


   

Weighted

average

exercise

price


Balance at beginning of period

   2,134,159     $ 28.97    2,190,566     $ 28.38    2,011,157     $ 26.59

Granted

   600,000     $ 32.45    456,500     $ 29.79    1,091,976     $ 30.12

Exercised

   (554,444 )   $ 28.96    (373,726 )   $ 26.49    (711,670 )   $ 26.47

Cancelled

   (97,250 )   $ 28.70    (139,181 )   $ 29.13    (200,897 )   $ 26.65
    

        

        

     

Balance at end of period

   2,082,465     $ 29.99    2,134,159     $ 28.97    2,190,566     $ 28.38
    

        

        

     

Exercisable

   1,257,613     $ 29.24    778,447     $ 28.91    286,061     $ 26.72

Weighted average estimated fair value of options granted during the year

         $ 2.68          $ 2.55          $ 2.98

 

At December 31, 2004, the exercise price of shares under option ranged from $22.40 to $33.80, with a weighted average exercise price of $29.99. The exercise price of all options granted in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was equal to the market price on the date of grant. Expiration dates range from 2005 through 2014; the weighted average remaining contractual life of these options is seven years. Stock options were exercised during 2004 on options originally granted with exercise prices ranging from $22.40 to $33.80. At December 31, 2004, there were 96,240 restricted shares outstanding under the Plans. There were 44,100; 49,939 and 1,700 restricted shares granted in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The fair value of restricted shares awarded totaled $1,431,000; $1,507,0000 and $56,000 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

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Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan

 

The Second Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, approved by shareholders in May of 2003, provides for: (1) annual grants of restricted stock with a market price-based value of $35,000 per year per non-employee director; (2) annual option or share appreciation right grants with an aggregate Black-Scholes-based value of $35,000 per year per non-employee director; (3) discretionary annual grants for service as Chairman of the Board or Lead Director of restricted stock and options or share appreciation rights with an aggregate value of up to $35,000 per year; and (4) annual grants for service as a Board committee chairman of restricted stock and options and/or share appreciation rights with an aggregate Black-Scholes value of $7,000 per year per committee chairman. In May of 2003, the Board of Directors suspended use of a reload provision that granted an additional 377,915 options in 2002. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under this plan is 2,300,000. As with the Plans, the option price may not be less than the fair market value of a share on the date the option is granted. Changes in options outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 were as follows:

 

     Years ended December 31

     2004

   2003

   2002

     Shares
under
option


    Weighted
average
exercise
price


   Shares
under
option


    Weighted
average
exercise
price


   Shares
under
option


   

Weighted

average

exercise

price


Balance at beginning of period

   1,591,404     $ 29.70    1,666,080     $ 29.53    1,507,315     $ 28.16

Granted

   94,999     $ 34.45    118,846     $ 32.24    657,751     $ 30.86

Exercised

   (265,643 )   $ 30.37    (145,980 )   $ 30.16    (438,035 )   $ 26.83

Cancelled

   —         —      (47,542 )   $ 28.44    (60,951 )   $ 29.61
    

        

        

     

Balance at end of period

   1,420,760     $ 29.89    1,591,404     $ 29.70    1,666,080     $ 29.53
    

        

        

     

Exercisable

   1,373,258     $ 29.74    1,291,284     $ 29.44    1,137,388     $ 28.88

Weighted average estimated fair value of options granted during the year

         $ 3.17          $ 2.51          $ 2.93

 

At December 31, 2004, the exercise prices of shares under option ranged between $16.50 and $34.45, with expiration dates from 2005 to 2014. The exercise price of all options granted in the years ended December 31, 1997 through 2004 was equal to the market price on the date of grant. The options vest ratably over one year. The weighted average remaining contractual life of these options is six years. At December 31, 2004, there were 8,680 restricted shares outstanding under the Plan. There were 8,680; 9,329 and 0 restricted shares granted in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The fair value of restricted shares awarded totaled $299,000 and $302,000 in 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

In 1996, the Company instituted a direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) in which shareholders may purchase either newly issued or previously issued shares. There is no discount on shares purchased through the DRIP. The total amount of shares authorized under the DRIP is 1,500,000; from inception through December 31, 2004, 160,321 new shares have been issued.

 

65


13.    Earnings per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share with respect to income from continuing operations:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 
           (Restated)     (Restated)  

Numerator:

                        

Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 61,427,000     $ 70,175,000     $ 87,171,000  

Less adjustment for earnings and gains from discontinued operations, net

     (28,237,000 )     (31,825,000 )     (23,820,000 )
    


 


 


Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 33,190,000     $ 38,350,000     $ 63,351,000  
    


 


 


Denominator:

                        

Denominator for basic earnings per share—weighted average shares

     50,200,000       47,070,000       45,860,000  

Effect of dilutive securities:

                        

Stock options

     625,000       375,000       350,000  
    


 


 


Denominator for diluted earnings per share adjusted for weighted average shares and assumed conversion

     50,825,000       47,445,000       46,210,000  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.66     $ 0.81     $ 1.38  

Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.56       0.68       0.52  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.22     $ 1.49     $ 1.90  
    


 


 


Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.65     $ 0.81     $ 1.37  

Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.56       0.67       0.52  
    


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.21     $ 1.48     $ 1.89  
    


 


 


 

Under FASB Statement No. 128, “Earnings per Share”, the effect of anti-dilutive operating company units has been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation.

 

14.    Retirement Plan

 

BRE has a 401K defined contribution retirement plan covering all employees with more than six months of continuous full-time employment. In addition to employee elective deferrals, in 2004, 2003 and 2002, BRE contributed up to 3% of the employee’s compensation up to $6,000 per employee. The aggregate amounts contributed and recognized as expense by BRE were $472,000; $335,000 and $341,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

15.    Related Party Transactions

 

Certain executives of BRE have purchased stock, the consideration for which was interest-bearing recourse loans. Loans were issued from 2000 through July 2002, at which time the loan program was suspended. The loans are due five years from the date of issuance and do not have forgiveness provisions. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the carrying amount of the loans was $2,005,000 and $2,836,000, respectively. Interest income from the notes totaled $90,000; $163,000 and $200,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

BRE had notes receivable from third party minority interest members of limited liability company subsidiaries of the company totaling $7,601,000 and $7,640,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

66


The amounts are recorded in Other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest income from the notes totaled $488,000; $346,000 and $232,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

16.    Retirement Charge

 

During fourth quarter 2004, the Company recognized a charge associated with the retirement of the Company’s former CEO, which totaled approximately $4,100,000 and is included in Other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The charge is comprised of approximately $2,100,000 in cash payments and $2,000,000 in noncash charges related to the fair value of stock options and restricted shares that vested under the terms of the retirement agreement. The noncash portion of the expense includes the acceleration of unvested option awards that were previously accounted for under both FAS 123 and APB 25.

 

17.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments

 

During the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, total operating lease payments incurred for office space, including of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and utilities, aggregated $1,179,000; $1,283,000 and $1,213,000, respectively.

 

The minimum future basic aggregate rental commitment under the Company’s operating leases is as follows:

 

2005

   $ 1,464,000

2006

     716,000

2007

     647,000

2008

     680,000

2009

     692,000

Thereafter

     4,763,000
    

Total

   $ 8,962,000
    

 

Contingencies

 

As of December 31, 2004, there were no pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of its properties is the subject, the adverse determination of which the Company anticipates would have a material adverse effect upon its consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 

Red Hawk Ranch

 

On April 14, 1997, BRE purchased Red Hawk Ranch Apartments, a 453-unit operating apartment community in Fremont, California, from an unrelated third party builder. The community now requires extensive replacement work to correct damage BRE believes was caused by construction defects. On March 18, 2003, BRE filed suit in the Alameda County Superior Court against the builder and other parties to protect against statutes of limitation. BRE has conducted testing to determine the extent of the damage. Based upon the testing that has been performed to date, BRE has discovered that the exterior shell of each building at the community has been compromised. As a result, during second quarter 2004, the Company expanded the size and scope of its lawsuit.

 

Litigation and consulting charges recognized during 2004 totaled $2,727,000 and are reported as Other expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income. The charges reported in 2004 include litigation costs and consulting fees incurred to date during destructive testing to determine the extent of the damage and required reconstruction.

 

67


BRE plans to commence reconstruction as soon as possible and expects to have the community restored during the next 18 to 21 months. BRE is actively pursuing the litigation against the third party builder and various sub-contractors.

 

Under the provisions of FAS 144, BRE has performed an impairment analysis on Red Hawk Ranch Apartments using undiscounted cash flows, which reflect the anticipated decreased net operating income during reconstruction. No impairment charge was deemed necessary based on this analysis. The net book value of the components of the buildings that are damaged and being replaced approximate $9,400,000 and are being depreciated over the reconstruction period. Additional depreciation recognized during 2004 totaled approximately $2,600,000. During reconstruction, costs that extend the useful life of the asset, increase its value or enhance safety of the community will be capitalized. All other costs, including legal and consulting, will be expensed as incurred.

 

While BRE’s management expects that costs of remediation will approximate up to $26,000,000 (unaudited), and future plaintiff litigation costs may exceed $3,000,000 (unaudited), due to the preliminary nature of the damage assessment, claims and litigation, it is not possible to predict or determine the outcome of legal actions, nor is it reasonably possible to accurately estimate the full range of costs associated with the matter at this time.

 

18.    Legal Settlements

 

Pinnacle at MacArthur Place

 

On June 29, 2000, BRE entered into an Agreement for Formation of Limited Liability Company and Contribution of Project with an unrelated third party. The agreement contemplated that upon the completion of the Pinnacle at MacArthur Place apartment community and satisfaction of other conditions, BRE would contribute the project to a joint venture in which BRE and a third party would be members. The closing deadline under the agreement was April 1, 2002. However, due to disagreements between BRE and the third party regarding their respective rights and obligations under the agreement, the closing did not occur.

 

On April 1, 2002, the third party brought litigation against BRE in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana Division. The lawsuit sought specific performance of the agreement or, in the alternative, damages. BRE filed a counterclaim for a declaration that it was not, in fact, obligated to enter into the transaction under the terms demanded by the third party. In 2003, BRE and the third party reached a settlement agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, BRE paid the third party $6,500,000 and retained ownership of the asset.

 

Application Fee Suit

 

Also during 2003, BRE reached a settlement agreement regarding a class action lawsuit that was brought against BRE with respect to application fees charged residents from August 1998 to August 2003. Under terms of the settlement, BRE agreed to establish a $200,000 fund to reimburse prior applicants up to $5.00 per applicant, and to pay certain related administration charges and legal expenses.

 

The combined settlement amounts, legal fees and related expense for the 2003 suits aggregate $7,305,000 and are reported as Other expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

19.    Supplemental Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

The following quarterly financial data for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2003 and March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2004 have been restated to record payroll and certain real estate costs and expenses during the quarters in which they were incurred, rather than during the quarters in which they were paid, as previously reported. For more information, see Note 2 above.

 

68


In addition, during the third quarter of 2004, BRE expensed $1,792,000 in litigation and consulting charges relating to the Red Hawk Ranch construction defect lawsuit. Portions of that charge (in the amounts of $850,000 and $515,000 respectively) were incurred in the first and second quarters of 2004 and recognized as capitalized costs, however, such costs should have been expensed in those periods. In connection with the restatement described above, management determined to record in the first and second quarter of 2004, the charges incurred during those quarters that were previously recorded during the third quarter of 2004.

 

     Year ended December 31, 2004

 
     Quarter ended
March 31


    Quarter ended
June 30


    Quarter ended
September 30


   

Quarter ended

December 31


 
     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)        
     (amounts in thousands, except per share data)  

Revenues*

   $ 67,249     $ 70,434     $ 71,706     $ 71,253  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 11,744     $ 14,399     $ 12,856     $ 6,305  

Discontinued operations

     2,038       2,021       1,827       22,351  

Preferred stock dividends

     (2,183 )     (3,203 )     (3,203 )     (3,526 )
    


 


 


 


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 11,599     $ 13,217     $ 11,480     $ 25,130  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.19     $ 0.22     $ 0.19     $ 0.06  

Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.04       0.04       0.04       0.44  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.23     $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.50  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.19     $ 0.22     $ 0.19     $ 0.05  

Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.04       0.04       0.04       0.44  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.23     $ 0.26     $ 0.23     $ 0.49  
    


 


 


 


     Year ended December 31, 2003

 
     Quarter ended
March 31


    Quarter ended
June 30


    Quarter ended
September 30


   

Quarter ended

December 31


 
     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)     (Restated)  
     (amounts in thousands, except per share data)  

Revenues*

   $ 62,155     $ 63,540     $ 65,119     $ 65,416  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 15,324     $ 6,384     $ 15,300     $ 14,136  

Discontinued operations

     12,327       15,710       1,868       1,920  

Preferred stock dividends

     (2,657 )     (2,657 )     (2,657 )     (4,823 )
    


 


 


 


Net income available to common shareholders

   $ 24,994     $ 19,437     $ 14,511     $ 11,233  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.27     $ 0.08     $ 0.27     $ 0.19  

Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.27       0.34       0.04       0.04  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.54     $ 0.42     $ 0.31     $ 0.23  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations

   $ 0.27     $ 0.08     $ 0.27     $ 0.18  

Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations

     0.27       0.34       0.04       0.04  
    


 


 


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.54     $ 0.42     $ 0.31     $ 0.22  
    


 


 


 



*   Revenue totals do not include revenues from discontinued operations, other income and partnership income.

 

69


For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the federal income tax components of the Company’s dividends on the common and preferred stock were as follows (unaudited).

 

     Ordinary
Income


    Long Term
Capital
Gain


    Unrecaptured
Section 1250
Gain


    Return of
Capital


 

Common Stock

                        

December 31, 2004

   60 %   16 %   9 %   15 %

December 31, 2003

   61 %   33 %   6 %   %

December 31, 2002

   80 %   15 %   5 %   %
     Ordinary
Income


    Long Term
Capital
Gain


    Unrecaptured
Section 1250
Gain


   

Return of

Capital


 

Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (all series)

                        

December 31, 2004

   70 %   19 %   11 %   %

December 31, 2003

   61 %   33 %   6 %   %

December 31, 2002

   80 %   15 %   5 %   %

 

70


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

SCHEDULE III—REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

 

December 31, 2004

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

            Initial Cost to Company

  Costs
Capitalized
Subsequent
to
Acquisition


 

Depreciable
Lives—

Years


  Gross Amount at Which Carried at December 31, 2004

Name


 

Location


  Dates Acquired/
Constructed


  Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


      Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


  Total

  Accumulated
Depreciation


    Encumbrances

APARTMENTS

                                                             

Sharon Green

  Menlo Park, CA   1971/1970   $ 1,250   $ 5,770   $ 8,618   45   $ 1,250   $ 14,388   $ 15,638   $ (7,667 )      

Verandas

  Union City, CA   1993/1989     3,233     12,932     2,394   40     3,233     15,326     18,559     (4,568 )   $ 10,711

Foster’s Landing

  Foster City, CA   1996/1987     11,742     47,846     6,262   40     11,742     54,108     65,850     (11,523 )      

Pinnacle Crow Canyon

  San Ramon, CA   1996/1992     8,724     34,895     3,337   40     8,724     38,232     46,956     (7,589 )      

Blue Rock I & II *

  Vallejo, CA   1998/1986     6,836     27,352     2,919   40     6,836     30,271     37,107     (6,165 )     23,290

Lakeshore Landing

  San Mateo, CA   1998/1988     8,547     34,228     3,013   40     8,547     37,241     45,788     (7,851 )      

Red Hawk Ranch

  Fremont, CA   1998/1995     11,747     47,082     2,792   40     11,747     49,874     61,621     (12,547 )      

Deer Valley *

  San Rafael, CA   1998/1996     6,042     24,169     1,826   40     6,042     25,995     32,037     (4,612 )      

Pinnacle City Centre*

  Hayward, CA   2000/2000     4,903     22,999     154   40     4,903     23,153     28,056     (2,731 )      

Sun Pointe Village

  Fremont, CA   2000/1989     12,638     50,690     1,646   40     12,638     52,336     64,974     (5,745 )     **
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

San Francisco Bay Area

      $ 75,662   $ 307,963   $ 32,961       $ 75,662   $ 340,924   $ 416,586   $ (70,998 )   $ 34,001
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Montanosa

  San Diego, CA   1992/1989-90   $ 6,005   $ 24,065   $ 5,410   40   $ 6,005   $ 29,475   $ 35,480   $ (8,958 )   $ 33,598

Esplanade

  San Diego, CA   1993/1985     4,868     19,493     2,874   40     4,868     22,367     27,235     (6,381 )     10,391

Terra Nova Villas

  Chula Vista, CA   1994/1985     2,925     11,699     1,652   40     2,925     13,351     16,276     (3,478 )      

Winchester

  San Diego, CA   1994/1987     1,482     5,928     643   40     1,482     6,571     8,053     (1,755 )      

Canyon Villa

  Chula Vista, CA   1996/1981     3,064     12,258     1,802   40     3,064     14,060     17,124     (3,187 )      

Lakeview Village

  Spring Valley, CA   1996/1985     3,977     15,910     1,812   40     3,977     17,722     21,699     (4,069 )      

Countryside Village

  El Cajon, CA   1996/1989     1,002     4,007     633   40     1,002     4,640     5,642     (1,109 )      

Cambridge Park *

  San Diego, CA   1998/1998     7,628     30,521     3,760   40     7,628     34,281     41,909     (5,108 )      

Reflections

  San Diego, CA   1999/1989     6,928     27,686     1,713   40     6,928     29,399     36,327     (3,861 )      

Pinnacle at Carmel Creek

  San Diego, CA   2000/2000     4,744     45,430     4,047   40     4,744     49,477     54,221     (5,050 )      

Pinnacle at Otay
Ranch I & II

  Chula Vista, CA   2002/2002     8,928     43,388     1,844   40     8,928     45,232     54,160     (3,430 )      

Mission Trails

  San Diego, CA   2002/1987     5,315     21,310     1,157   40     5,315     22,467     27,782     (1,530 )      

Bernardo Crest

  San Diego, CA   2002/1988     6,016     24,115     1,806   40     6,016     25,921     31,937     (1,815 )      
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

San Diego

          $ 62,882   $ 285,810   $ 29,153       $ 62,882   $ 314,963   $ 377,845   $ (49,731 )   $ 43,989
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Village Green

  La Habra, CA   1972/1971   $ 372   $ 2,763   $ 1,482   40   $ 372   $ 4,245   $ 4,617   $ (2,656 )      

Candlewood North

  Northridge, CA   1996/1964-95     2,110     8,477     697   40     2,110     9,174     11,284     (2,033 )      

 

71


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

SCHEDULE III—REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

 

December 31, 2004

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

 

            Initial Cost to
Company


  Costs
Capitalized
Subsequent
to Acquisition


  Depreciable
Lives—
Years


  Gross Amount at Which Carried at December 31, 2004

Name


 

Location


  Dates Acquired/
Constructed


  Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


      Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


  Total

  Accumulated
Depreciation


    Encumbrances

APARTMENTS

                                                             

Sycamore Valley

  Fountain Valley, CA   1996/1969     4,617     18,691     3,534   40     4,617     22,225     26,842     (4,783 )      

Windrush Village

  Colton, CA   1996/1985     3,747     14,989     1,171   40     3,747     16,160     19,907     (3,653 )      

The Summit

  Chino Hills, CA   1996/1989     1,838     7,354     898   40     1,838     8,252     10,090     (1,847 )     **

Parkside Terrace *

  Santa Ana, CA   1998/1986     3,016     12,180     1,482   40     3,016     13,662     16,678     (2,628 )      

Parkside Village *

  Riverside, CA   1998/1987     3,417     13,674     1,178   40     3,417     14,852     18,269     (2,790 )      

Parkside Court *

  Santa Ana, CA   1998/1987     2,013     8,632     1,088   40     2,013     9,720     11,733     (1,870 )      

Villa Siena

  Costa Mesa, CA   2000/1974     4,853     19,739     8,510   40     4,853     28,249     33,102     (3,464 )      

Cortesia at Rancho Santa Margarita

  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA   2000/1999     7,740     30,982     1,649   40     7,740     32,631     40,371     (3,331 )      

Pinnacle at Laguna Niguel

  Laguna Niguel, CA   2001/1988     12,571     50,308     2,425   40     12,571     52,733     65,305     (4,461 )      

Boulder Creek

  Riverside, CA   2002/1985     3,564     14,306     1,179   40     3,564     15,485     19,049     (1,096 )      

Emerald Pointe *

  Diamond Bar, CA   20021989     5,052     20,248     1,610   40     5,052     21,858     26,910     (1,581 )      

Pinnacle at MacArthur Place

  South Coast Metro, CA   2002/2002     8,155     54,257     2,274   40     8,155     56,531     64,686     (2,901 )      

Pinnacle River Walk

  Riverside, CA   2003/1986     14,604     58,237     3,459   40     14,604     61,696     76,299     (1,995 )      

Canyon Creek

  Northridge, CA   2003/1986     6,152     24,650     1,102   40     6,152     25,752     31,904     (652 )      

Enclave at Town Square

  Chino Hills, CA   2003/1987     2,473     10,069     1,307   40     2,473     11,376     13,849     (396 )      

Summerwind Townhomes

  Harbor City, CA   2004/1987     6,950     27,879     829   40     6,950     28,708     35,658     (700 )     **

Regency Palm Court

  Los Angeles, CA   2004/1987     2,049     8,277     457   40     2,049     8,734     10,783     (200 )     **

Windsor Court

  Los Angeles, CA   2004/1987     1,638     6,631     405   40     1,638     7,036     8,674     (163 )     **

Tiffany Court

  Los Angeles, CA   2004/1987     3,033     12,211     137   40     3,033     12,348     15,381     (228 )     **

Pinnacle at Fullerton

  Fullerton, CA   2004/2004     7,087     37,013     16   40     7,087     37,029     44,116     (577 )      

Pinnacle at Talega I & II

  San Clemente, CA   2004/2004     17,125     48,171     882   40     17,125     49,053     66,178     (1,514 )      

Pinnacle at Westridge

  Valencia, CA   2004/2004     11,253     31,785     48   40     11,253     31,833     43,086     (303 )      

Villa Azure

  Los Angeles, CA   2004/2001     40,560     96,565     —     40     40,560     96,565     137,125     —         74,160
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Los Angeles/Orange County

  $ 175,989   $ 638,088   $ 37,819       $ 175,989   $ 675,907   $ 851,896   $ (45,822 )   $ 74,160
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

 

72


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

SCHEDULE III—REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

 

December 31, 2004

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

 

            Initial Cost to
Company


  Costs
Capitalized
Subsequent
to Acquisition


  Depreciable
Lives—
Years


  Gross Amount at Which Carried at December 31, 2004

Name


 

Location


  Dates Acquired/
Constructed


  Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


      Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


  Total

  Accumulated
Depreciation


    Encumbrances

APARTMENTS

                                                             

Hazel Ranch

  Fair Oaks, CA   1996/1985   $ 2,471   $ 9,885   $ 1,916   40   $ 2,471   $ 11,801   $ 14,272   $ (2,751 )      

Rocklin Gold

  Rocklin, CA   1996/1990     1,558     6,232     829   40     1,558     7,061     8,619     (1,607 )      

Shaliko

  Rocklin, CA   1996/1990     2,050     8,198     1,248   40     2,050     9,446     11,496     (2,246 )      

Quail Chase

  Folsom, CA   1996/1990     1,303     5,211     904   40     1,303     6,115     7,418     (1,438 )      

Canterbury Downs

  Roseville, CA   1996/1993     2,297     9,190     544   40     2,297     9,734     12,031     (2,182 )      

Selby Ranch

  Sacramento, CA   1986/1971-74     2,660     18,340     8,556   40     2,660     26,896     29,556     (10,268 )     10,210

Overlook at Blue Ravine I*

  Folsom, CA   1997/1991     6,050     24,203     2,946   40     6,050     27,149     33,199     (5,149 )      

Arbor Pointe

  Sacramento, CA   1997/1988     1,814     7,256     2,846   40     1,814     10,102     11,916     (2,635 )      

Overlook at Blue Ravine II

  Folsom, CA   2000/2000     1,014     9,575     —     40     1,014     9,575     10,589     (956 )      

Pinnacle at Blue Ravine

  Folsom, CA   2002/2000     3,073     32,689     93   40     3,073     32,782     35,855     (2,120 )     **
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Sacramento

          $ 24,290   $ 130,779   $ 19,882       $ 24,290   $ 150,661   $ 174,951   $ (31,352 )   $ 10,210
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Arcadia Cove

  Phoenix, AZ   1996/1996   $ 4,909   $ 19,902   $ 900   40   $ 4,909   $ 20,802   $ 25,711   $ (4,538 )      

Pinnacle at S. Mountain I & II *

  Phoenix, AZ   1998/1996     11,062     44,257     1,137   40     11,062     45,394     56,456     (8,342 )   $ 23,013

Pinnacle at Union Hills *

  Phoenix, AZ   1998/1996     4,626     18,507     575   40     4,626     19,082     23,708     (3,483 )      

Pinnacle Towne Center *

  Phoenix, AZ   1999/1999     6,688     27,631     818   40     6,688     28,449     35,137     (4,491 )     17,992

Pinnacle Terrace *

  Chandler, AZ   1999/1999     4,561     18,793     395   40     4,561     19,188     23,749     (2,940 )      
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Phoenix

          $ 31,846   $ 129,090   $ 3,825       $ 31,846   $ 132,915   $ 164,761   $ (23,794 )   $ 41,005
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Parkwood

  Mill Creek, WA   1989/1989   $ 3,947   $ 15,811   $ 748   40   $ 3,947   $ 16,559   $ 20,506   $ (6,312 )      

Shadowbrook

  Redmond, WA   1987-98/1986     4,776     17,415     2,228   40     4,776     19,643     24,419     (7,340 )      

Citywalk

  Seattle, WA   1988/1988     1,123     4,276     342   40     1,123     4,618     5,741     (1,939 )      

Thrasher’s Mill

  Bothell, WA   1996/1988     2,031     8,223     1,164   40     2,031     9,387     11,418     (2,114 )      

 

73


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

SCHEDULE III—REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

 

December 31, 2004

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

 

 

            Initial Cost to
Company


  Costs
Capitalized
Subsequent
to Acquisition


  Depreciable
Lives—
Years


  Gross Amount at Which Carried at December 31, 2004

Name


 

Location


  Dates Acquired/
Constructed


  Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


      Land

  Buildings &
Improvements


  Total

  Accumulated
Depreciation


    Encumbrances

APARTMENTS

                                                             

Ballinger Commons

  Seattle, WA   1996/1989     5,824     23,519     2,346   40     5,824     25,865     31,689     (5,814 )      

The Park at Dashpoint

  Federal Way, WA   1998/1989     3,074     12,411     1,100   40     3,074     13,511     16,585     (2,782 )      

Montebello

  Kirkland, WA   1998/1998     6,680     27,274     402   40     6,680     27,676     34,356     (4,855 )      

Park Highland

  Bellevue, WA   1998/1993     5,602     22,483     715   40     5,602     23,198     28,800     (3,894 )      

Brentwood Townhomes

  Kent, WA   1998/1991     1,387     5,574     284   40     1,387     5,858     7,245     (1,005 )      

Pinnacle BellCentre

  Bellevue, WA   2000/2000     11,163     32,821     194   40     11,163     33,015     44,178     (3,189 )      

Pinnacle Sonata

  Bothell, WA   2002/2000     8,576     38,958     42   40     8,576     39,000     47,576     (2,760 )     **

Pinnacle on Lake Washington

  Renton, WA   2002/2002     4,878     26,184     745   40     4,878     26,929     31,807     (1,962 )      

Pinnacle Bell Town

  Seattle, WA   2001/1992     4,279     17,259     768   40     4,279     18,027     22,306     (1,671 )      

Evergreen Park

  Redmond, WA   2004/1985     17,413     45,013     —     40     17,413     45,013     62,426     (307 )      
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Seattle

          $ 80,753   $ 297,221   $ 11,078       $ 80,753   $ 308,299   $ 389,052   $ (45,944 )     —  
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

The Landing at Bear Creek

  Lakewood, CO   1999/1996   $ 3,666   $ 14,777   $ 698   40   $ 3,666   $ 15,475   $ 19,141   $ (2,896 )      

Pinnacle Hunters Glen *

  Thornton, CO   1998/1998     4,485     17,908     1,253   40     4,485     19,161     23,646     (2,970 )      

Pinnacle at Mountain Gate

  Littleton, CO   2000/1999     8,371     33,687     614   40     8,371     34,301     42,672     (3,581 )      

Pinnacle at the Creek

  Centennial, CO   2002/2002     1,694     20,487     1,250   40     1,694     21,737     23,431     (1,125 )     **

Pinnacle Denver Technological Center

  Greenwood Village, CO   2002/2002     5,823     47,350     1,017   40     5,823     48,367     54,190     (2,285 )      
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Denver

          $ 24,039   $ 134,209   $ 4,832       $ 24,039   $ 139,041   $ 163,080   $ (12,857 )     —  
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

Total

          $ 475,461   $ 1,923,160   $ 139,550       $ 475,461   $ 2,062,710   $ 2,538,171   $ (280,498 )   $ 203,365
           

 

 

     

 

 

 


 


*   Property held by a consolidated subsidiary of the Company
**   Properties secure the Company’s secured line of credit.

 

74


BRE PROPERTIES, INC.

 

SCHEDULE III—REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

 

December 31, 2004

(Amounts in thousands)

 

The activity in investments in rental properties and related depreciation for the three-year period ended December 31, 2004 is as follows:

 

Investments in rental properties:

 

     Years ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 2,209,650     $ 2,073,029     $ 1,719,479  

Multifamily communities purchased

     268,218       116,183       156,543  

Transfers from construction in progress and other miscellaneous capitalization

     107,711       57,601       94,909  

Acquisition of third party minority interests in real estate joint ventures

     3,068       —         139,382  

Investments sold

     (86,179 )     (57,756 )     (51,934 )

Capital expenditures

     17,971       10,390       8,276  

Rehabilitation expenditures

     18,088       10,670       6,501  

Less capital expenditures on properties held for sale

     (356 )     (467 )     (127 )
    


 


 


Balance at end of year

   $ 2,538,171     $ 2,209,650     $ 2,073,029  
    


 


 


 

Accumulated depreciation on rental properties:

 

     Years ended December 31,

 
     2004

     2003

     2002

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 229,983      $ 190,044      $ 152,179  

Provision for depreciation

     61,296        49,644        41,500  

Other depreciation on non-rental properties

     (2,403 )      (2,413 )      (2,434 )

Depreciation from discontinued operations

     2,916        3,708        6,035  

Less: depreciation expense on assets held for sale

     (1,375 )      (1,579 )      (1,554 )

Less: accumulated depreciation on properties sold

     (9,919 )      (9,421 )      (5,682 )
    


  


  


Balance at end of year

   $ 280,498      $ 229,983      $ 190,044  
    


  


  


 

Certain balances have been reclassified to real estate held for sale, net.

 

75


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number


    
3.0   

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (previously filed on March 15, 1996 as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K)

3.1   

Articles of Amendment (previously filed on April 28, 1997 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-24915), as amended, and incorporated by reference herein)

3.2   

Articles Supplementary of the Registrant, classifying and designating the terms of the 8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (previously filed on June 17, 2002 as Exhibit 1.5 of the Registrant’s Form 8-A)

3.3   

Articles Supplementary of the Registrant, reclassifying all 2,300,000 shares of 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as Preferred Stock and classifying and designating the terms of the 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (previously filed on March 1, 2004 as Exhibit 3.4 of the Registrant’s Form 8-A)

3.4   

Articles Supplementary of the Registrant, classifying and designating the terms of the 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (previously filed on December 8, 2004 as Exhibit 1.5 of the Registrant’s Form 8-A)

3.5   

Certificate of Correction of the Registrant (previously filed on January 29, 1999 as Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A and incorporated by reference herein)

3.6   

Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (previously filed on February 17, 2004 as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

4.0   

Indenture dated as of June 23, 1997 between the Registrant and Chase Trust Company of California (previously filed on June 23, 1997 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

4.1   

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 23, 1998 between the Registrant and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee (previously filed on May 14, 1998 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

4.2   

Form of Note due 2007 (previously filed on June 23, 1997 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

4.3   

Form of Note due 2013 (previously filed on February 24, 1998 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

4.4   

Form of Note due 2011 (previously filed on January 12, 2001 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

4.5   

Form of Note due 2007 (previously filed on March 13, 2002 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K)

4.6   

Form of Note due 2009 (previously filed on August 26, 2002 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K)

4.7   

Form of Note due 2009 (previously filed on March 16, 2004 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K)

4.8   

Form of Note due 2014 (previously filed on March 16, 2004 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K)

4.9   

Specimen Common Stock Certificate (previously filed on February 17, 2004 as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

  4.10   

Specimen 8.08% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate (previously filed on June 17, 2002 as Exhibit 1.6 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A)


Exhibit
Number


    
5.0   

Specimen 6.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate (previously filed on March 1, 2004 as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A)

5.1   

Specimen 6.75% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate (previously filed on December 8, 2004 as Exhibit 1.6 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A)

10.0*   

Amended and Restated 1992 Employee Stock Plan (previously filed on November 14, 1997 as Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.1*   

First Amendment to BRE Properties, Inc. Amended and Restated 1992 Employee Stock Plan (previously filed on November 8, 2002 as Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.2*   

1992 Payroll Investment Plan (previously filed on October 19, 1992 in the Exhibits to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.3   

Second Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (previously filed on April 8, 2003 as Proxy Item number 2 to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference herein)

10.4*   

1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan (previously filed on August 16, 1999 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.5*   

First amendment to the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.51 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.6*   

Second amendment to the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.52 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.7*   

Third Amendment to 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan (previously filed on November 8, 2002 as Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.8   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan (previously filed on August 9, 1996 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-09945) and incorporated by reference herein)

10.9*   

BRE Properties Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2000 (previously filed on March 14, 2000 as Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on August 4, 2000 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.10*   

Employment Agreement with Edward F. Lange, Jr. dated June 23, 2000 (previously filed on February 17, 2004 as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

10.11*   

Employment Agreement with Bradley P. Griggs dated December 8, 2001 (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.57 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

10.12*   

Employment Agreement with Frank C. McDowell dated January 24, 2001 (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.58 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

10.13*   

Employment Agreement with Deirdre A. Kuring dated October 25, 2002 (previously filed on February 27, 2002 as Exhibit 10.53 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

10.14*   

Employment agreement with Constance B. Moore dated July 11, 2002 (previously filed on November 8, 2002 as Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.15*   

Form of Indemnification Agreement (previously filed on February 27, 2002 as Exhibit 10.53 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K)

10.16*   

First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Frank C. McDowell dated January 23, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)


Exhibit
Number


      
10.17 *   

First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Constance B. Moore dated January 23, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.18 *   

First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Edward F. Lange, Jr. dated January 23, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.19 *   

First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Bradley P. Griggs dated January 23, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.20 *   

First Amendment to the Employment Agreement with Deirdre A. Kuring dated January 23, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

10.21 *   

Executive Transition Employment Agreement with Frank C. McDowell and the Registrant as of January 1, 2004. (previously filed on February 17, 2004 as Exhibit 10.25 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.22 *   

First Amendment to the Executive Transition Employment Agreement with Frank C. McDowell and the Registrant as of January 1, 2005.

10.23     

Treasury Lock Swap Transaction (previously filed on November 14, 1996 as Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.24     

Treasury rate guarantee hedge with Morgan Stanley, dated November 21, 1997 (previously filed on March 26, 1998 as Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.25     

Loan Agreement between The Prudential Insurance Registrant of America, as Lender and Real Estate Investment Trust of California, as Borrower, dated as of January 31, 1994 (previously filed on February 19, 1997 as Exhibit 10.30 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K, as amended by the Report on the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on April 25, 1997 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.26     

Loan Agreement between The Prudential Insurance Company of America, as Lender and Real Estate Investment Trust of California, as Borrower, dated as of July 7, 1995 (previously filed on February 19, 1997 as Exhibit 10.34 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Report on the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on April 25, 1997 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.27     

First Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant dated April 30, 1996 (previously filed on February 19, 1997 as Exhibit 10.35 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Annual Report on the Registrant’s Form 10-K/A filed on April 25, 1997 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.28     

Second Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant, dated November 20, 1996 (previously filed on February 19, 1997 as Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Annual Report on the Registrant’s Form 10-K/A filed on April 25, 1997 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.29     

Third Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant, dated February 25, 1997 (previously filed on August 12, 1997 as Exhibit 10.38 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.30     

Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant, dated June 30, 1997 (previously filed on August 12, 1997 as Exhibit 10.40 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)


Exhibit
Number


    
10.31   

Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant, dated May 20, 2003 (previously filed on February 24, 2004 as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.32   

Sixth Amendment to Loan Agreement by and between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the Registrant, dated May 20, 2003 (previously filed on February 24, 2004 as Exhibit 101 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.33   

Third Amended and Restated Unsecured Line of Credit Loan Agreement dated April 4, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.34   

Master Credit Facility Agreement by and between BRE-FMCF, LLC and Prudential Multifamily Mortgage, Inc., dated May 2, 2003 (previously filed on May 15, 2003 as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.35   

First Amendment to Master Credit Facility Agreement by and between BRE-FMCF, LLC and Prudential Multifamily Mortgage, Inc., dated March 25, 2004 (previously filed on March 31, 2004 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-5 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.36   

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of BRE Property Investors LLC, dated as November 18, 1997 (previously filed on December 18, 1997 as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.37   

Contribution Agreement dated as of September 29, 1997 between the Registrant, BRE Property Investors LLC and the TCR Signatories (previously filed on November 14, 1997 as Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.38   

The Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant, BRE Property Investors LLC and the other signatories thereto dated November 18, 1997 (previously filed on December 3, 1997 as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-41433), as amended, and incorporated by reference herein)

10.39   

The Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Legg Mason Unit Investment Trust Series 7, Legg Mason REIT Trust, December 1998 Series, dated as of December 23, 1997, (previously filed on January 27, 1998 as Exhibit 4.6 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-44997), as amended, and incorporated by reference herein)

10.40   

Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant and G&I III Residential One LLC dated July 10, 2000 (previously filed on September 8, 2000 as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.41   

Amendment No. 1 to the Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant and G&I III Residential One LLC dated September 6, 2000 (previously filed on September 28, 2000 as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.42   

Amendment No. 2 to the Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant and G&I III Residential One LLC dated October 24, 2000 (previously filed on November 14, 2000 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference herein)

10.43   

Amendment No. 3 to the Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant and G&I III Residential One LLC dated January 31, 2001 (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.50 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.44   

Office Lease between OTR, an Ohio general partnership and the Registrant dated September 26, 1997 (previously filed on March 26, 1998 as Exhibit 10.37 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.45   

Office Lease between Knickerbocker Properties, Inc. a Delaware Corporation and the Registrant dated December 21, 2004


Exhibit
Number


      
10.46     

Promissory Note payable by BRE Properties, Inc. to the order of Prudential Multifamily Mortgage, Inc. dated September 28, 2000 (previously filed on March 12, 2001 as Exhibit 10.55 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein)

10.47 *   

Retirement Plan for Employees of BRE Properties, Inc. (previously filed on March 12, 2003 as Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by the Annual Report on the Registrant’s Form 10-K/A on June 12, 2003 and incorporated by reference herein)

10.48 *   

Form of option agreement for the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan

10.49     

Form of option agreement for the Second Amdended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan

10.50 *   

Form of performance share award for the 1999 BRE Stock Incentive Plan

10.51     

Form of restricted stock award agreement for the Second Amdended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan

12     

Statements re: computation of ratios

21     

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

23     

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

31.1     

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2     

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1     

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2     

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


*   Management contract, or compensatory plan or agreement.