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Commitments And Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments And Contingencies |
Commitments And Contingencies | 14. Commitments and Contingencies Construction Contracts. As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $180.0 million of additional anticipated expenditures on our construction projects currently under development. We expect to fund these amounts through a combination of available cash balances, cash flows generated from operations, draws on our unsecured credit facility, proceeds from property dispositions, and the use of debt and equity offerings under our automatic shelf registration statement. Litigation. One of our wholly-owned subsidiaries previously acted as a general contractor for the construction of three apartment projects in Florida which were subsequently sold and converted to condominium units by unrelated third-parties. Each condominium association of those projects has asserted claims against our subsidiary alleging, in general, defective construction as a result of alleged negligence and an alleged failure to comply with building codes. On May 25, 2011, we mediated a pre-suit settlement agreement with one of the associations to resolve its alleged claims. Pursuant to this settlement agreement, we agreed to make a one-time payment to the association which was not material. The other two associations have filed suit against our subsidiary and other unrelated third parties in Florida claiming damages, in unspecified amounts, for the costs of repair arising out of the alleged defective construction as well as the recovery of incidental and consequential damages resulting from such alleged negligence. The remaining two lawsuits are in a very early stage and no significant discovery has been conducted. While we have denied liability to the remaining associations, it is not possible to determine the potential outcome nor is it possible to estimate a range of the amount of loss, if any, that would be associated with any potential adverse decision as these matters are in a very early stage and the pre-suit settlement mentioned above does not provide any basis for estimating losses, if any, in these two lawsuits. We are also subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. Matters which arise out of allegations of bodily injury, property damage, and employment practices are generally covered by insurance. While the resolution of these legal proceedings and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Other Contingencies. In the ordinary course of our business, we issue letters of intent indicating a willingness to negotiate for acquisitions, dispositions, or joint ventures and also enter into arrangements contemplating various transactions. Such letters of intent and other arrangements are non-binding as to either party unless and until a definitive contract is entered into by the parties. Even if definitive contracts relating to the purchase or sale of real property are entered into, these contracts generally provide the purchaser with time to evaluate the property and conduct due diligence, during which periods the purchaser will have the ability to terminate the contracts without penalty or forfeiture of any deposit or earnest money. There can be no assurance definitive contracts will be entered into with respect to any matter covered by letters of intent or we will consummate any transaction contemplated by any definitive contract. Furthermore, due diligence periods for real property are frequently extended as needed. An acquisition or sale of real property becomes probable at the time the due diligence period expires and the definitive contract has not been terminated. We are then at risk under a real property acquisition contract, but generally only to the extent of any earnest money deposits associated with the contract, and are obligated to sell under a real property sales contract. Lease Commitments. At December 31, 2011, we had long-term leases covering office facilities and equipment. Rental expense totaled approximately $2.8, $2.9, and $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Minimum annual rental commitments for the years ending December 31, 2012 through 2016 are approximately $2.4 million, $2.4 million, $2.2 million, $1.4 million, and $0.2 million, respectively, and approximately $0.7 million in the aggregate thereafter. Investments in Joint Ventures. We have entered into, and may continue in the future to enter into, joint ventures or partnerships (including limited liability companies) through which we own an indirect economic interest in less than 100% of the community or land owned directly by the joint venture or partnership. Our decision whether to hold the entire interest in an apartment community or land ourselves, or to have an indirect interest in the community or land through a joint venture or partnership, is based on a variety of factors and considerations, including: (i) our projection, in some circumstances, that we will achieve higher returns on our invested capital or reduce our risk if a joint venture or partnership vehicle is used; (ii) our desire to diversify our portfolio of communities by market; (iii) our desire at times to preserve our capital resources to maintain liquidity or balance sheet strength; and (iv) the economic and tax terms required by a seller of land or of a community, who may prefer or who may require less payment if the land or community is contributed to a joint venture or partnership. Investments in joint ventures or partnerships are not limited to a specified percentage of our assets. Each joint venture or partnership agreement is individually negotiated, and our ability to operate and/or dispose of a community in our sole discretion is limited to varying degrees in our existing joint venture agreements and may be limited to varying degrees depending on the terms of future joint venture agreements. We have discretionary investment vehicles, the Funds, to make direct and indirect investments in multifamily real estate throughout the United States, primarily through acquisitions of operating properties and certain land parcels which will be acquired by or contributed to the Funds for development. As of December 31, 2011, we had capital contributions in one of the Funds of approximately $33.0 million; and it had a combined equity capital investment of $165.0 million. At December 31, 2011, this Fund was closed for future investments. The remaining Fund will serve, until the earlier of (i) April 8, 2012, or (ii) such time as 90% of the Fund's committed capital is invested, as the exclusive vehicle through which we will acquire fully-developed multifamily properties, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions include properties acquired in tax-deferred transactions, follow-on investments made with respect to prior investments, significant transactions which include the issuance of our securities, significant individual asset and portfolio acquisitions, significant merger and acquisition activities, acquisitions which are inadvisable or inappropriate for the Funds, transactions with our existing ventures, contributions or sales of properties to entities in which we remain an investor, and transactions approved by the Fund's advisory board. The Funds will not restrict our development activities and will terminate on April 8, 2018. We are currently targeting acquisitions for the Fund where value creation opportunities are present through one or more of the following: redevelopment activities, market cycle opportunities, or improved property operations. One of our wholly-owned subsidiaries is the general partner of each of the Funds, and we have committed 20% of the total equity of the remaining open Fund, up to $37.5 million. We have received commitments to the remaining open Fund from an unaffiliated investor of $150 million and this Fund is closed to additional investors. At December 31, 2011, our capital contribution to the remaining Fund was approximately $23.7 million and it had a combined equity capital investment of $118.4 million. Employment Agreements. At December 31, 2011, we had employment agreements with nine of our senior officers, the terms of which expire at various times through August 20, 2012. Such agreements provide for minimum salary levels, as well as various incentive compensation arrangements, which are payable based on the attainment of specific goals. The agreements also provide for severance payments plus a gross-up payment if certain situations occur, such as termination without cause or a change of control. In the case of six of the agreements, the severance payment equals one times the respective current annual base salary in the case of termination without cause and 2.99 times the respective average annual base salary over the previous three fiscal years in the case of a change of control and a termination of employment or a material adverse change in the scope of their duties. In the case of one agreement, the severance payment equals one times the respective current annual base salary for termination without cause and 2.99 times the greater of current gross income or average gross income over the previous three fiscal years in the case of a change of control. In the case of the other two agreements, the severance payment generally equals 2.99 times the respective average annual compensation over the previous three fiscal years in connection with, among other things, a termination without cause or a change of control, and the officer would be entitled to receive continuation and vesting of certain benefits in the case of such termination.

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