ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
General. The TIAA Real Estate Account (the “Real Estate Account”, the “Account” or the “Registrant”) was established on February 22, 1995, as an insurance company separate account of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”), a New York insurance company, by resolution of TIAA’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Account, which invests mainly in real estate and real estate-related investments, is a variable annuity investment option offered through individual, group and tax-deferred annuity contracts available to employees in the academic, medical, cultural and research fields. The Account commenced operations on July 3, 1995, and interests in the Account were first offered to eligible participants on October 2, 1995.
The Account offers individual and group accumulating annuity contracts (with contributions made on a pre-tax or after-tax basis), as well as individual lifetime and term-certain variable payout annuity contracts (including the payment of death benefits to beneficiaries). Investors are entitled to transfer funds to or from the Account under certain circumstances. Funds invested in the Account for each category of contract are expressed in terms of units, and unit values will fluctuate depending on the Account’s performance.
The Account is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”), and the insurance departments of certain other jurisdictions in which the annuity contracts are offered. Although TIAA owns the assets of the Real Estate Account, and the Account’s obligations are obligations of TIAA, the Account’s income, investment gains, and investment losses are credited to or charged against the assets of the Account without regard to TIAA’s other income, gains, or losses. Under New York insurance law, the Account cannot be charged with liabilities incurred by any other TIAA business activities or any other TIAA separate account.
The Real Estate Account is designed as an option for retirement and tax-deferred savings plans for employees of non-profit and governmental institutions. TIAA currently offers the Real Estate Account under the following annuity contracts:
Note that state regulatory approval may be pending for certain of these contracts and these contracts may not currently be available in every state. TIAA may also offer the Real Estate Account as an investment option under additional contracts, both at the individual and plan sponsor level, in the future.
Investment Objective. The Real Estate Account seeks favorable long-term returns primarily through rental income and appreciation of real estate and real estate-related investments owned by the Account. The Account will also invest in non-real estate-related publicly traded securities and short-term higher quality liquid investments that are easily converted to cash to enable the Account to meet participant redemption requests, purchase or improve properties, or cover other expense needs.
Investment Strategy
Real Estate-Related Investments. The Account intends to have between 75% and 85% of its net assets invested directly in real estate or real estate-related investments with the goal of producing favorable long-term returns primarily through rental income and appreciation. These investments may consist of:
•
public and/or privately placed registered and unregistered equity investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), which investments may consist of registered or unregistered common or preferred stock interests;
•
real estate limited partnerships and limited liability companies;
•
investments in equity or debt securities of companies whose operations involve real estate (i.e., that primarily own or manage real estate) which may not be REITs; and
•
conventional commercial mortgage loans, participating mortgage loans, secured mezzanine loans and collateralized mortgage obligations, including commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) and other similar investments.
The Account’s principal strategy is to purchase direct ownership interests in income-producing real estate, primarily office, industrial, retail and multi-family properties. The Account is targeted to hold between 65% and 80% of the Account’s net assets in such direct ownership interests at any time. Historically, at least 70% of the Account’s net assets have comprised such direct ownership interests in real estate.
In addition, while the Account is authorized to hold up to 25% of its net assets in liquid real estate-related securities, such as publicly traded REITs and CMBS, management intends that the Account will not hold more than 10% of its net assets in such securities on a long-term basis. Traditionally, less than 10% of the Account’s net assets have comprised interests in these securities; although, the Account has held approximately 10% of its net assets in equity REIT securities at times. In addition, under the Account’s current investment guidelines, the Account is authorized to hold up to 10% of its net assets in CMBS. As of December 31, 2015, REIT securities comprised approximately 4.6% of the Account’s net assets, and the Account held no CMBS as of such date.
Non-Real Estate-Related Investments. The Account will invest the remaining portion of its assets (targeted to be between 15% and 25% of its net assets) in publicly traded, liquid investments; namely:
•
Short-term government related instruments, including U.S. Treasury bills;
•
Long-term government related instruments, such as securities issued by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government sponsored entities;
•
Short-term non-government related instruments, such as money market instruments and commercial paper;
•
Long-term non-government related instruments, such as corporate debt securities; and
•
Stock of companies that do not primarily own or manage real estate.
However, from time to time, the Account’s non-real estate-related liquid investments may comprise less than 15% (and possibly less than 10%) of its assets (on a net basis and/or a gross basis), especially during and immediately following periods of significant net participant outflows, in particular due to significant participant transfer activity. In addition, the Account, from time to time and on a temporary basis, may hold in excess of 25% of its net assets in non-real estate-related liquid investments, particularly during times of significant inflows into the Account and/or a lack of attractive real estate-related investments available in the market.
Liquid Securities Generally. Primarily due to management’s need to manage fluctuations in cash flows, in particular during and immediately following periods of significant participant net transfer activity into or out of the Account, the Account may, on a temporary basis (i) exceed the upper end of its targeted holdings (currently 35% of the Account’s net assets) in liquid securities of all types, including both publicly traded non-real estate-related liquid investments and liquid real estate-related securities, such as REITs and CMBS, or (ii) be below the low end of its targeted holdings in such liquid securities (currently 15% of the Account’s net assets).
The portion of the Account’s net assets invested in liquid investments of all types may exceed the upper end of its target, for example, if (i) the Account receives a large inflow of money in a short period of time, in
particular due to significant participant transfer activity into the Account, (ii) the Account receives significant proceeds from sales or financings of direct real estate assets, (iii) there is a lack of attractive direct real estate investments available on the market, and/or (iv) the Account anticipates more near-term cash needs, including to apply to acquire direct real estate investments, pay expenses or repay indebtedness.
Foreign Investments. The Account from time to time will also make foreign real estate investments. Under the Account’s investment guidelines, investments in direct foreign real estate, together with foreign real estate-related securities and foreign non-real estate related liquid investments may not comprise more than 25% of the Account’s net assets. However, through the date of this report, such foreign real estate-related investments have never represented more than 7.5% of the Account’s net assets and management does not intend such foreign investments to exceed 10% of the Account’s net assets. As of December 31, 2015, the Account did not hold any foreign real estate investments.
Investments Summary: At December 31, 2015, the Account’s net assets totaled $22.4 billion. As of that date, the Account’s investments in real estate properties, real estate joint ventures, limited partnerships, a loan receivable and real estate-related marketable securities, net of the fair value of mortgage loans payable on real estate, represented 81.2% of the Account’s net assets.
At December 31, 2015, the Account held a total of 123 real estate investments (including its interests in 19 real estate-related joint ventures), representing 77.4% of the Account’s total investments, measured on a gross asset value basis (“Total Investments”). As of that date, the Account also held investments in REIT equity securities (representing 4.2% of Total Investments), real estate limited partnerships (representing 0.6% of Total Investments), government agency notes (representing 11.0% of Total Investments), U.S. Treasury securities (representing 6.4% of Total Investments) and a loan receivable (representing 0.4% of Total Investments). See the Account’s audited consolidated financial statements for more information as to the Account’s investments as of December 31, 2015.
Borrowing: The Account is authorized to borrow money and assume or obtain a mortgage on a property-i.e., make leveraged real estate investments. Under the Account’s current investment guidelines, management intends to maintain the Account’s loan to value ratio (as defined below) at or below 30% (measured at the time of incurrence and after giving effect thereto). Forms of borrowing may include:
The Account’s loan to value ratio at any time is based on the ratio of the outstanding principal amount of the Account’s debt to the Account’s total gross asset value. The Account’s total gross asset value, for these purposes, is equal to the total fair value of the Account’s assets (including the fair value of the Account’s interest in joint ventures), with no reduction associated with any indebtedness on such assets. In calculating outstanding indebtedness, we include only the Account’s actual percentage interest in any borrowings on a joint venture investment and not that of any joint venture partner. Also, at the time the Account (or a joint venture in which the Account is a partner) enters into a revolving line of credit, management deems the maximum amount which may be drawn under that line of credit as fully incurred, regardless of whether the maximum amount available has been drawn from time to time.
As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate principal amount of the Account’s outstanding debt (including the Account’s share of debt on its joint venture investments) was $3.4 billion and the Account’s loan to value ratio was approximately 12.8%.
In times of high net inflow activity, in particular during times of high net participant transfer inflows, management may determine to apply a portion of such cash flows to make prepayments of indebtedness prior to scheduled maturity, which would have the effect of reducing the Account’s loan to value ratio. Such prepayments may require the Account to pay fees or ‘yield maintenance’ amounts to lenders.
In addition, the Account may obtain a line of credit to meet short-term cash needs, if needed. Management expects the proceeds from any such short-term borrowing would be used to meet the cash flow needs of the Account’s properties and real estate-related investments.
The Account may only borrow up to 70% of the then current value of a property, although construction loans may be for 100% of costs incurred in developing the property. Except for construction loans, any mortgage loans on a property will be non-recourse to the Account, meaning that if there is a default on a loan in respect of a specific property, the lender will have recourse to (i.e., be able to foreclose on) only the property encumbered (or the joint venture owning the property), or to other specific Account properties that may have been pledged as security for the defaulted loan, but not to any other assets of the Account. When possible, the Account will seek to have loans mature at varying times to limit the risks of borrowing.
Risk Factors. The Account’s assets and income can be affected by a variety of risk factors. These risks are more fully described under Item 1A
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
The value of your investment in the Account will fluctuate based on the value of the Account’s assets, the income the assets generate and the Account’s expenses. Participants can lose money by investing in the Account. There is risk associated with an investor attempting to “time” an investment in the Account’s units, or effecting a redemption of an investor’s units. The Account’s assets and income can be affected by many factors, and you should consider the specific risks presented below before investing in the Account. In particular, for a discussion of how forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K are subject to uncertainties that are difficult to predict, which may be beyond management’s control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or management’s present expectations, please refer to the subsection entitled “Forward-Looking Statements,” which is contained in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Account’s Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH REAL ESTATE INVESTING
General Risks of Acquiring and Owning Real Property: As referenced elsewhere in this report, the substantial majority of the Account’s net assets consist of direct ownership interests in real estate. As such, the Account is particularly subject to the risks inherent in acquiring and owning real property, including in particular the following:
•
Adverse Global and Domestic Economic Conditions. The economic conditions in the markets where the Account’s properties are located may be adversely impacted by factors which include:
•
adverse domestic or global economic conditions, particularly in the event of a deep recession which results in significant employment losses across many sectors of the economy and reduced levels of consumer spending;
•
a weak market for real estate generally and/or in specific locations where the Account may own property;
•
business closings, industry or sector slowdowns, employment losses and related factors;
•
the availability of financing (both for the Account and potential purchasers of the Account’s properties);
•
an oversupply of, or a reduced demand for, certain types of real estate properties;
•
natural disasters, flooding and other significant and severe weather-related events;
•
terrorist attacks and/or other man-made events; and
•
decline in population or shifting demographics.
The incidence of some or all of these factors could reduce occupancy, rental rates and the fair value of the Account’s real properties or interests in investment vehicles (such as limited partnerships) which directly hold real properties.
•
Concentration Risk. The Account may experience periods in which its investments are geographically concentrated, either regionally or in certain markets with similar demographics. Further, while the Account seeks diversification across its four primary property types: office, industrial, retail and multi-family properties, the Account may experience periods where it has concentration in one property type, increasing the potential exposure if there were to be an oversupply of, or a reduced demand for, certain types of real estate properties in the markets in which the Account operates.
Also, the Account may experience periods in which its tenant base is concentrated within a particular industry sector. For example, the Account owns and operates a number of industrial properties, which typically feature larger tenant concentration. The insolvency and/or closing of a single tenant in one of our industrial properties may significantly impair the income generated by an industrial property, and may also depress the value of such property.
In addition, the Account owns and operates a number of properties in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and a prolonged period of significantly diminished federal expenditures could have an adverse
impact on demand for office space by the U.S. government and the sectors and industries dependent upon the U.S. government in such region or other regions where the government or such related businesses are large lessees.
If any or all of these events occur, the Account’s income and performance may be adversely impacted disproportionately by deteriorating economic conditions in those areas or industry sectors in which the Account’s investments are concentrated. Also, the Account could experience a more rapid negative change in the value of its real estate investments than would be the case if its real estate investments were more diversified.
•
Leasing Risk. A number of factors could cause the Account’s rental income, a key source of the Account’s revenue and investment return, to decline, which would adversely impact the Account’s results and investment returns. These factors include the following:
•
A property may be unable to attract new tenants or retain existing tenants. This situation could be exacerbated if a concentration of lease expirations occurred during any one time period or multiple tenants exercise early termination at the same time.
•
The financial condition of our tenants may be adversely impacted, particularly in a prolonged economic downturn. The Account could lose revenue if tenants do not pay rent when contractually obligated, request some form of rent relief and/or default under a lease at one of the Account’s properties. Such a default could occur if a tenant declared bankruptcy, suffered from a lack of liquidity, failed to continue to operate its business or for other reasons. In the event of any such default, we may experience a delay in, or an inability to effect, the enforcement of our rights against that tenant, particularly if that tenant filed for bankruptcy protection. Further, any disputes with tenants could involve costly and time consuming litigation.
•
In the event a tenant vacates its space at one of the Account’s properties, whether as a result of a default, the expiration of the lease term, rejection of the lease in bankruptcy or otherwise, given current market conditions, we may not be able to re-lease the vacant space either (i) for as much as the rent payable under the previous lease or (ii) at all. Also, we may not be able to re-lease such space without incurring substantial expenditures for tenant improvements and other lease-up related costs, while still being obligated for any mortgage payments, real estate taxes and other expenditures related to the property.
•
In some instances, our properties may be specifically suited to and/or outfitted for the particular needs of a certain tenant based on the type of business the tenant operates. For example, many companies desire space with an open floor plan. We may have difficulty obtaining a new tenant for any vacant space in our properties, particularly if the floor plan limits the types of businesses that can use the space without major renovation, which may require us to incur substantial expense in re-planning the space. Also, upon expiration of a lease, the space preferences of our major tenants may no longer align with the space they previously rented, which could cause those tenants to not renew their lease, or may require us to expend significant sums to reconfigure the space to their needs.
•
The Account owns and operates retail properties, which, in addition to the risks listed above, are subject to specific risks, including the insolvency and/or closing of an anchor tenant. Many times, anchor tenants will be “big box” stores and other large retailers that can be particularly adversely impacted by a global recession and reduced consumer spending generally. Factors that can impact the level of consumer spending include increases in fuel and energy costs, residential and commercial real estate and mortgage conditions, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors. Under certain circumstances, co-tenancy clauses in tenants’ leases may allow certain tenants in a retail property to terminate their leases or reduce or withhold rental payments when overall occupancy at the property falls below certain minimum levels. The insolvency and/or closing of an anchor tenant may also cause such tenants to terminate their leases, or to fail to renew their leases at expiration.
•
Competition. The Account may face competition for real estate investments from multiple sources, including individuals, corporations, insurance companies or other insurance company separate accounts, as well as real estate limited partnerships, real estate investment funds, commercial developers, pension plans, other institutional and foreign investors and other entities engaged in real estate investment
activities. Some of these competitors may have similar financial and other resources as the Account, and/ or they may have investment strategies and policies (including the ability to incur significantly more leverage than the Account) that allow them to compete more aggressively for real estate investment opportunities, which could result in the Account paying higher prices for investments, experiencing delays in acquiring investments or failing to consummate such purchases. Any resulting delays in the acquisition of investments, or the failure to consummate acquisitions the Account deems desirable, may increase the Account’s costs or otherwise adversely affect the Account’s investment results.
In addition, the Account’s properties may be located close to properties that are owned by other real estate investors and that compete with the Account for tenants. These competing properties may be better located, more suitable for tenants than our properties or have owners who may compete more aggressively for tenants, resulting in a competitive advantage for these other properties. We may also face similar competition from other properties that may be developed in the future. This competition may limit the Account’s ability to lease space, increase its costs of securing tenants, and limit our ability to maximize our rents and/or require the Account to make capital improvements it otherwise would not, in order to make its properties more attractive to prospective tenants.
•
Operating Costs. A property’s cash flow could decrease if operating costs, such as property taxes, utilities, litigation expenses associated with a property, maintenance and insurance costs that are not reimbursed by tenants, increase in relation to gross rental income, or if the property needs unanticipated repairs and renovations. In addition, the Account’s expenses of owning and operating a property are not necessarily reduced when the Account’s income from a property is reduced.
•
Condemnation. A governmental agency may condemn and convert for a public use (i.e., through eminent domain) all or a portion of a property owned by the Account. While the Account would receive compensation in connection with any such condemnation, such compensation may not be in an amount the Account believes represents equivalent value for the condemned property. Further, a partial condemnation could impair the ability of the Account to maximize the value of the property during its operation, including making it more difficult to find new tenants or retain existing tenants. Finally, a property which has been subject to a partial condemnation may be more difficult to sell at a price the Account believes is appropriate.
•
Terrorism and Acts of War and Violence. Terrorist attacks may harm our property investments. The Account can provide no assurance that there will not be further terrorist attacks against the United States or U.S. businesses or elsewhere in the world. These attacks or armed conflicts may directly or indirectly impact the value of the property we own or that secure our loans. Losses resulting from these types of events may be uninsurable or not insurable to the full extent of the loss suffered. Moreover, any of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States, worldwide financial markets, and the global economy. Such events could also result in economic uncertainty in the United States or abroad. Adverse economic conditions resulting from terrorist activities could reduce demand for space in the Account’s properties and thereby reduce the value of the Account’s properties and therefore your investment return.
•
Risk of Limited Warranty. Purchasing a property “as is” or with limited warranties, which limit the Account’s recourse if due diligence fails to identify all material risks, can negatively impact the Account by reducing the value of such properties and increasing the Account’s cost to hold or sell properties.
General Risks of Selling Real Estate Investments: Among the risks of selling real estate investments are:
•
The sale price of an Account property might differ, perhaps significantly, from its estimated or appraised value, leading to losses or reduced profits to the Account.
•
The Account might not be able to sell a property at a particular time for a price which management believes represents its fair or full value. This illiquidity may result from the cyclical nature of real estate, general economic conditions impacting the location of the property, disruption in the credit markets or the availability of financing on favorable terms or at all, and the supply of and demand for available tenant space, among other reasons. This might make it difficult to raise cash quickly which could impair the Account’s liquidity position (particularly during any period of sustained significant net participant outflows) and also could lead to Account losses. Further, the liquidity guarantee does not serve as a working capital facility or credit line to enhance the Account’s liquidity levels generally,
as its purpose is tied to participants having the ability to redeem their accumulation units upon demand (thus, alleviating the Account’s need to dispose of properties solely to increase liquidity levels in what management deems a suboptimal sales environment).
•
The Account may need to provide financing to a purchaser if no cash buyers are available, or if buyers are unable to receive financing on terms enabling them to consummate the purchase. Such seller financing introduces a risk that the counterparty may not perform its obligations to repay the amounts borrowed from the Account to complete the purchase.
•
For any particular property, the Account may be required to make expenditures for improvements to, or to correct defects in, the property before the Account is able to market and/or sell the property.
•
Interests in real estate limited partnerships tend to be, in particular, illiquid and the Account may be unable to dispose of such investments at opportune times.
•
Seller Indemnities. When the Account sells property, it is often required to provide some amount of indemnity for loss to the buyer. While the Account takes steps to try to mitigate the impact of the indemnities, such indemnities could negatively impact the sale price or result in claims by the buyer for indemnity in the future, which could increase the Account’s expenses and thereby reduce the return on investment.
Valuation and Appraisal Risks: Investments in the Account’s assets are stated at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Determination of fair value, particularly for real estate assets, involves significant judgment. Valuation of the Account’s real estate properties (which comprise a substantial majority of the Account’s net assets) are based on real estate appraisals, which are estimates of property values based on a professional’s opinion and may not be accurate predictors of the amount the Account would actually receive if it sold a property. Appraisals can be subjective in certain respects and rely on a variety of assumptions and conditions at that property or in the market in which the property is located, which may change materially after the appraisal is conducted. Among other things, market prices for comparable real estate may be volatile, in particular if there has been a lack of recent transaction activity in such market. Recent disruptions in the macroeconomy, real estate markets and the credit markets have led to a significant decline in transaction activity in most markets and sectors and the lack of observable transaction data may have made it more difficult for an appraisal to determine the fair value of the Account’s real estate. In addition, a portion of the data used by appraisers is based on historical information at the time the appraisal is conducted, and subsequent changes to such data, after an appraiser has used such data in connection with the appraisal, may not be adequately captured in the appraised value. Also, to the extent that the Account uses a relatively small number of independent appraisers to value a significant portion of its properties, valuations may be subject to any institutional biases of such appraisers and their valuation procedures.
Further, as the Account generally obtains appraisals on a quarterly basis, there may be circumstances in the period between appraisals or interim valuation adjustments in which the true realizable value of a property is not reflected in the Account’s daily net asset value calculation or in the Account’s periodic consolidated financial statements. This disparity may be more apparent when the commercial and/or residential real estate markets experience an overall and possibly dramatic decline (or increase) in property values in a relatively short period of time between appraisals.
If the appraised values of the Account’s properties as a whole are too high, those participants who purchased accumulation units prior to (i) a downward valuation adjustment of a property or multiple properties or (ii) a property or properties being sold for a lower price than the appraised value will be credited with less of an interest than if the value had previously been adjusted downward. Also, those participants who redeem during any such period will have received more than their pro rata share of the value of the Account’s assets, to the detriment of other non-redeeming participants. In particular, appraised property values may prove to be too high (as a whole) in a rapidly declining commercial real estate market. Further, implicit in the Account’s definition of fair value is a principal assumption that there will be a reasonable time to market a given property and that the property will be exchanged between a willing buyer and willing seller in a non-distressed scenario. However, an appraised value may not reflect the actual realizable value that would be obtained in a rush sale where time was of the essence. Also, appraised values may lag actual realizable values to the extent there is significant and rapid economic deterioration in a particular geographic market or a particular sector within a geographic market.
If the appraised values of the Account’s properties as a whole are too low, those participants who redeem prior to (i) an upward valuation adjustment of a property or multiple properties or (ii) a property or properties being sold for a higher price than the appraised value will have received less than their pro rata share of the value of the Account’s assets, and those participants who purchase units during any such period will be credited with more than their pro rata share of the value of the Account’s assets.
Finally, the Account recognizes items of income (such as net operating income from real estate investments, distributions from real estate limited partnerships or joint ventures, or dividends from REIT stocks) and expense in many cases on an intermittent basis, where the Account cannot predict with certainty the magnitude or the timing of such items. As such, even as the Account estimates items of net operating income on a daily basis, the AUV for the Account may fluctuate, perhaps significantly, from day to day, as a result of adjusting these estimates for the actual recognized item of income or expense.
Investment Risk Associated with Participant Transactions: The amount the Account has available to invest in new properties and other real estate-related assets will depend, in large part, on the level of net participant transfers into or out of the Account as well as participant premiums into the Account. As noted elsewhere in this report, the Account intends to hold between 15% and 25% of its net assets in publicly traded liquid investments (other than real estate and real estate-related investments), consisting of publicly traded, liquid investments. These liquid assets are intended to be available to purchase real estate- related investments in accordance with the Account’s investment objective and strategy and are also available to meet participant redemption requests and the Account’s expense needs (including, from time to time, obligations on debt). Significant participant transaction activity into or out of the Account’s units is generally not predictable, and wide fluctuations can occur as a result of macroeconomic or geopolitical conditions, the performance of equities or fixed income securities or general investor sentiment, regardless of the historical performance of the Account or of the performance of the real estate asset class generally.
In the second half of 2008 and in 2009, the Account experienced significant net participant transfers out of the Account, eventually causing the Account’s liquid assets to comprise less than 10% of the Account’s assets (on a net and total basis) throughout all of 2009 and into early 2010. Due in large part to this activity, the TIAA liquidity guarantee was initially executed in December 2008. See “Establishing and Managing the Account-The Role of TIAA-Liquidity Guarantee,” in the Account’s prospectus. Among other things, this continued shortfall in the amount of liquid assets impaired management’s ability to consummate new transactions. If a significant amount of net participant transfers out of the Account were to recur, particularly in high volumes similar to those experienced in late 2008 and 2009, the Account may not have enough available liquid assets to pursue, or consummate, new investment opportunities presented to us that are otherwise attractive to the Account. This, in turn, could harm the Account’s returns. Even though net transfers out of the Account ceased in early 2010 and, as of the date of this report, the Account has been in a net inflow position since such time, there is no guarantee that redemption activity will not increase again, perhaps in a significant and rapid manner.
Alternatively, periods of significant net transfer activity into the Account can result in the Account holding a higher percentage of its net assets in publicly traded liquid non-real estate-related investments than the Account’s managers would target to hold under the Account’s long-term strategy. As of December 31, 2015, the Account’s non-real estate-related liquid assets comprised 18.9% of its net assets. At times, the portion of the Account’s net assets invested in these types of liquid instruments may exceed 25%, particularly if the Account receives a large inflow of money in a short period of time, coupled with a lack of attractive real estate-related investments on the market. Also, large inflows from participant transactions often occur in times of appreciating real estate values and pricing, which can render it challenging to execute on some transactions at ideal prices.
In an appreciating real estate market generally, this large percentage of assets held in liquid investments and not in real estate and real estate-related investments may impair the Account’s overall returns. This scenario may be exacerbated in a low interest rate environment for U.S. Treasury securities and related highly liquid securities, such as has existed since 2009 and which may persist in the future. In addition, to manage cash flow, the Account may temporarily hold a higher percentage of its net assets in liquid real estate-related securities, such as REIT and CMBS securities, than its long-term targeted holdings in such securities, particularly during and immediately following times of significant net transfer activity into the Account. Such holdings could increase the volatility of the Account’s returns.
Risks of Borrowing: The Account acquires some of its properties subject to existing financing and from time to time borrows new funds at the time of purchase. Also, the Account may from time to time place new leverage on, increase the leverage already placed on, or refinance maturing debt on, existing properties the Account owns. Under the Account’s current investment guidelines, the Account intends to maintain its loan to value ratio at or below 30% (measured at the time of incurrence and after giving effect thereto). As of December 31, 2015, the Account’s loan to value ratio was approximately 12.8%. Also, the Account may borrow up to 70% of the then-current value of a particular property. Non-construction mortgage loans on a property will be non-recourse to the Account.
Among the risks of borrowing money or otherwise investing in a property subject to a mortgage are:
•
General Economic Conditions. General economic conditions, dislocations in the capital or credit markets generally or the market conditions then in effect in the real estate finance industry, may hinder the Account’s ability to obtain financing or refinancing for its property investments on favorable terms or at all, regardless of the quality of the Account’s property for which financing or refinancing is sought. Such unfavorable terms might include high interest rates, increased fees and costs and restrictive covenants applicable to the Account’s operation of the property. Longer term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives, rising interest rates or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect our access to financing necessary to make profitable real estate investments. Our failure to obtain financing or refinancing on favorable terms due to the current state of the credit markets or otherwise could have an adverse impact on the returns of the Account. Also, the Account’s ability to secure financing may be impaired if negative marketplace effects, such as those which followed from the worldwide economic slowdown following the banking crisis of 2008 and the subsequent sovereign debt and banking difficulties recently experienced in parts of the eurozone, were to persist. These difficulties could include tighter lending standards instituted by banks and financial institutions, the reduced availability of credit facilities and project finance facilities from banks and the fall of consumer and/or business confidence.
•
Default Risk. The property or group of encumbered properties may not generate sufficient cash flow to support the debt service on the loan, the property may fail to meet certain financial or operating covenants contained in the loan documents and/or the property may have negative equity (i.e., the loan balance exceeds the value of the property) or inadequate equity. In any of these circumstances, we (or a joint venture in which we invest) may default on the loan, including due to the failure to make required debt service payments when due. If a loan is in default, the Account or the venture may determine that it is not economically desirable and/or in the best interests of the Account to continue to make payments on the loan (including accessing other sources of funds to support debt service on the loan), and/or the Account or venture may not be able to otherwise remedy such default on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In either case, the lender then could accelerate the outstanding amount due on the loan and/or foreclose on the underlying property, in which case the Account could lose the value of its investment in the foreclosed property. Further, any such default or acceleration could trigger a default under loan agreements in respect of other Account properties pledged as security for the defaulted loan or other loans. Finally, any such default could increase the Account’s borrowing costs, or result in less favorable terms, with respect to financing future properties.
•
Balloon Maturities. If the Account obtains a mortgage loan that involves a balloon payment, there is a risk that the Account may not be able to make the lump sum principal payment due under the loan at the end of the loan term, or otherwise obtain adequate refinancing on terms commercially acceptable to the Account or at all. The Account then may be forced to sell the property or other properties under unfavorable market conditions, restructure the loan on terms not advantageous to the Account, or default on its mortgage, resulting in the lender exercising its remedies, which may include repossession of the property, and the Account could lose the value of its investment in that property.
•
Variable Interest Rate Risk. If the Account obtains variable-rate loans, the Account’s returns may be volatile when interest rates are volatile. Further, to the extent that the Account takes out fixed-rate loans and interest rates subsequently decline, this may cause the Account to pay interest at above-market rates for a significant period of time. Any interest rate hedging activities the Account engages in to mitigate this risk may not fully protect the Account from the impact of interest rate volatility.
•
Variable Rate Demand Obligation (“VRDO”) Risk. To the extent the Account obtains financing pursuant to a variable rate demand obligation subject to periodic remarketing or similar mechanisms, the Account or the joint ventures in which it invests could face higher borrowing costs if the remarketing results in a higher prevailing interest rate. In addition, the terms of such variable rate obligations may allow the remarketing agent to cause the Account or venture to repay the loan on demand in the event insufficient market demand for such loans is present. In particular, RGM 42, LLC, a joint venture in which the Account holds a 70% interest, is the borrower under a VRDO loan program.
•
Valuation Risk. The market valuation of mortgage loans payable could have an adverse impact on the Account’s performance. Valuations of mortgage loans payable are generally based on the amount at which the liability could be transferred in a current transaction, exclusive of transaction costs, and such valuations are subject to a number of assumptions and factors with respect to the loan and the underlying property, a change in any of which could cause the value of a mortgage loan to fluctuate.
A general disruption in the credit markets, such as the disruption experienced in 2008 and 2009, may aggravate some or all of these risks.
Risks of Joint Ownership: Investing in joint venture partnerships or other forms of joint property ownership may involve special risks, many of which are exacerbated when the consent of parties other than the Account are required to take action.
•
The co-venturer may have interests or goals inconsistent with those of the Account, including during times when a co-venturer may be experiencing financial difficulty. For example:
•
a co-venturer may desire a higher current income return on a particular investment than does the Account (which may be motivated by a longer-term investment horizon or exit strategy), or vice versa, which could cause difficulty in managing a particular asset;
•
a co-venturer may desire to maximize or minimize leverage in the venture, which may be at odds with the Account’s strategy;
•
a co-venturer may be more or less likely than the Account to agree to modify the terms of significant agreements (including loan agreements) binding the venture, or may significantly delay in reaching a determination whether to do so, each of which may frustrate the business objectives of the Account and/or lead to a default under a loan secured by a property owned by the venture; and
•
for reasons related to its own business strategy, a co-venturer may have different concentration standards as to its investments (geographically, by sector, or by tenant), which might frustrate the execution of the business plan for the joint venture.
•
The co-venturer may be unable to fulfill its obligations (such as to fund its pro rata share of committed capital, expenditures or guarantee obligations of the venture) during the term of such agreement or may become insolvent or bankrupt, any of which could expose the Account to greater liabilities than expected and frustrate the investment objective of the venture.
•
If a co-venturer doesn’t follow the Account’s instructions or adhere to the Account’s policies, the jointly owned properties, and consequently the Account, might be exposed to greater liabilities than expected.
•
The Account may have limited rights with respect to the underlying property pursuant to the terms of the joint venture, including the right to operate, manage or dispose of a property, and a co-venturer could have approval rights over the marketing or the ultimate sale of the underlying property.
•
The terms of the Account’s ventures often provide for complicated agreements which can impede our ability to direct the sale of the property owned by the venture at times the Account views most favorable. One such agreement is a buy-sell right, which may force us to make a decision (either to buy our co- venturer’s interest or sell our interest to our co-venturer) at inopportune times.
•
A co-venturer can make it harder for the Account to transfer its equity interest in the venture to a third party, which could adversely impact the valuation of the Account’s interest in the venture.
•
To the extent the Account serves as the general partner or managing member in a venture, it may owe certain contractual or other duties to the co-venturer, including fiduciary duties, which may present
perceived or actual conflicts of interest in the management of the underlying assets. Such an arrangement could also subject the Account to liability to third parties in the performance of its duties as a general partner or managing member.
Risks of Developing or Redeveloping Real Estate or Buying Recently Constructed Properties: If the Account chooses to develop or redevelop a property or buys a recently constructed property, it may face the following risks:
•
There may be delays or unexpected increases in the cost of property development, redevelopment and construction due to strikes, bad weather, material shortages, increases in material and labor costs or other events.
•
There are risks associated with potential underperformance or non-performance by, and/or solvency of a contractor we select or other third party vendors involved in developing or redeveloping the property.
•
If the Account were viewed as developing or redeveloping underperforming properties, suffering losses on our investments, or defaulting on any loans on our properties, our reputation could be damaged. Damage to our reputation could make it more difficult to successfully develop or acquire properties in the future and to continue to grow and expand our relationships with our lenders, venture partners and tenants.
•
Because external factors may have changed from when the project was originally conceived (e.g., slower growth in the local economy, higher interest rates, overbuilding in the area, or changes in the regulatory and permitting environment), the property may not attract tenants on the schedule we originally planned and/or may not operate at the income and expense levels first projected.
Risks with Purchase-Leaseback Transactions: To the extent the Account invested in a purchase-leaseback transaction, the major risk is that the third party lessee will be unable to make required payments to the Account. If the leaseback interest is subordinate to other interests in the real property, such as a first mortgage or other lien, the risk to the Account increases because the lessee may have to pay the senior lienholder to prevent foreclosure before it pays the Account. If the lessee defaults or the leaseback is terminated prematurely, the Account might not recover its investment unless the property is sold or leased on favorable terms.
Real Estate Regulatory Risks: Government regulation at the federal, state and local levels, including, without limitation, zoning laws, rent control or rent stabilization laws, laws regulating housing on the Account’s multifamily properties, the Americans with Disabilities Act, property taxes and fiscal, accounting, environmental or other government policies, could operate or change in a way that adversely affects the Account and its properties. For example, these regulations could raise the cost of acquiring, owning, improving or maintaining properties, present barriers to otherwise desirable investment opportunities or make it harder to sell, rent, finance, or refinance properties either on economically desirable terms, or at all, due to the increased costs associated with regulatory compliance.
Environmental Risks: The Account may be liable for damage to the environment or injury to individuals caused by hazardous substances used or found on its properties. Under various environmental regulations, the Account may also be liable, as a current or previous property owner or mortgagee, for the cost of removing or cleaning up hazardous substances found on a property, even if it did not know of and wasn’t responsible for the hazardous substances. If any hazardous substances are present or the Account does not properly clean up any hazardous substances, or if the Account fails to comply with regulations requiring it to actively monitor the business activities on its premises, the Account may have difficulty selling or renting a property or be liable for monetary penalties. Further, environmental laws may impose restrictions on the manner in which a property may be used, the tenants which may be allowed, or the manner in which businesses may be operated, which may require the Account to expend funds in order to comply with these laws. These laws may also cause the most ideal use of the property to differ from that originally contemplated and as a result could impair the Account’s returns. The cost of any required clean-up relating to a single real estate investment (including remediating contaminated property) and the Account’s potential liability for environmental damage, including paying personal injury claims and performing under indemnification obligations to third parties, could exceed the value of the Account’s investment in a property, the property’s value, or in an extreme case, a significant portion of the Account’s assets. Finally, while the Account may
from time to time acquire third-party insurance related to environmental risks, such insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover the full cost of any loss and would cause the Account to be reliant on the financial health of our third-party insurer at the time any such claim is submitted.
Uninsurable Losses: Certain catastrophic losses (e.g., from earthquakes, wars, terrorist acts, nuclear accidents, hurricanes, wind, floods or environmental or industrial hazards or accidents) may be uninsurable or so expensive to insure against that it is economically disadvantageous to buy insurance for them. Further, the terms and conditions of the insurance coverage the Account has on its properties, in conjunction with the type of loss actually suffered at a property, may subject the property, or the Account as a whole, to a cap on insurance proceeds that is less than the loss or losses suffered. If a disaster that we have not insured against occurs, if the insurance contains a high deductible, and/or if the aggregate insurance proceeds for a particular type of casualty are capped, the Account could lose some of its original investment and any future profits from the property. Also, the Account may not have sufficient access to internal or external sources of funding to repair or reconstruct a damaged property to the extent insurance proceeds do not cover the full loss. In addition, some leases may permit a tenant to terminate its obligations in certain situations, regardless of whether those events are fully covered by insurance. In that case, the Account would not receive rental income from the property while that tenant’s space is vacant, and any such vacancy might impact the value of that property. Finally, as with respect to all third-party insurance, we are reliant on the continued financial health of such insurers and their ability to pay on valid claims. If the financial health of an insurer were to deteriorate quickly, we may not be able to find adequate coverage from another carrier on favorable terms, which could adversely impact the Account’s returns.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST SECURITIES
The Account invests in registered and unregistered REIT securities for diversification, liquidity management and other purposes. The Account’s investment in REITs may also increase, as a percentage of net assets, during periods in which the Account is experiencing large net inflow activity, in particular due to net participant transfers into the Account. As of December 31, 2015, REIT securities comprised approximately 4.6% of the Account’s net assets. Investments in REIT securities are part of the Account’s real estate-related investment strategy and are subject to many of the same general risks associated with direct real property ownership. In particular, equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the entity, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. In addition to these risks, because REIT investments are securities and generally publicly traded, they may be exposed to market risk and potentially significant price volatility due to changing conditions in the financial markets and, in particular, changes in overall interest rates, regardless of the value of the underlying real estate such REIT may own. Also, sales of REIT securities by the Account for liquidity management purposes may occur at times when values of such securities have declined and it is otherwise an inopportune time to sell the security. Volatility in REITs can cause significant fluctuations in the Account’s AUV on a daily basis, as they are correlated to equity markets which have experienced significant day to day fluctuations over the past few years.
REITs do not pay federal income taxes if they distribute most of their earnings to their shareholders and meet other tax requirements. Many of the requirements to qualify as a REIT, however, are highly technical and complex. Failure to qualify as a REIT results in tax consequences, as well as disqualification from operating as a REIT for a period of time. Consequently, if the Account invests in securities of a REIT that later fails to qualify as a REIT, this may adversely affect the performance of our investment.
RISKS OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
The Account from time to time has invested in mortgage-backed securities and may in the future invest in such securities. Mortgage-backed securities, such as CMBS, are subject to many of the same general risks inherent in real estate investing, making mortgage loans and investing in debt securities. The underlying mortgage loans may experience defaults with greater frequency than projected when such mortgages were underwritten, which would impact the values of these securities, and could hamper our ability to sell such securities. In particular, these types of investments may be subject to prepayment risk or extension risk (i.e., the risk that borrowers will repay the loans earlier or later than anticipated). If the underlying mortgage assets experience faster than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Account could fail to recoup some or
all of its initial investment in these securities, since the original price paid by the Account was based in part on assumptions regarding the receipt of interest payments. If the underlying mortgage assets are repaid later than anticipated, the Account could lose the opportunity to reinvest the anticipated cash flows at a time when interest rates might be rising. The rate of prepayments depends on a variety of geographic, social and other functions, including prevailing market interest rates and general economic factors. Further, it is possible that the U.S. Government may change its support of, and policies regarding, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and, thus, the Account may be unable to acquire agency mortgage-backed securities in the future and even if the Account so acquired them, such changes may result in a negative effect on the pricing of such securities. Other policy changes impacting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and/or U.S. Government programs related to mortgages that may be implemented in the future could create market uncertainty and affect the actual or perceived credit quality of issued securities, adversely affecting mortgage-backed securities through an increased risk of loss.
Importantly, the fair market value of these securities is also highly sensitive to changes in interest rates, liquidity of the secondary market and economic conditions impacting financial institutions and the credit markets generally. Note that the potential for appreciation, which could otherwise be expected to result from a decline in interest rates, may be limited by any increased prepayments. Further, volatility and disruption in the mortgage market and credit markets generally (such as was the case in 2008 and 2009) may cause there to be a very limited or even no secondary market for these securities and they therefore may be harder to sell than other securities.
RISKS OF U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY SECURITIES AND CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS
The Account invests in securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored entities. Some of these issuers may not have their securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which could adversely affect the pricing and value of such securities. Also, the Account may invest in corporate obligations (such as commercial paper) and while the Account seeks out such holdings in short-term, higher-quality liquid instruments, the ability of the Account to sell these securities may be uncertain, particularly when there are general dislocations in the finance or credit markets. Any such volatility could have a negative impact on the value of these securities. Further, transaction activity may fluctuate significantly from time to time, which could impair the Account’s ability to dispose of a security at a favorable time, regardless of the credit quality of the underlying issuer. Also, inherent with investing in any corporate obligation is the risk that the credit quality of the issuer will deteriorate, which could cause the obligations to be downgraded and hamper the value or the liquidity of these securities. Finally, any further downgrades or threatened downgrades of the credit rating for U.S. government obligations generally could impact the pricing and liquidity of agency securities or corporate obligations in a manner which could impact the value of the Account’s units.
RISKS OF LIQUID INVESTMENTS
The Account’s investments in liquid investments (whether real estate-related, such as REITs, CMBS or some loans receivable, or non-real estate-related, such as cash equivalents and government securities, and whether debt or equity), are subject to the following general risks:
•
Financial / Credit Risk-The risk, for debt securities, that the issuer will not be able to pay principal and interest when due (and/or declare bankruptcy or be subject to receivership) and, for equity securities such as common or preferred stock, that the issuer’s current earnings will fall or that its overall financial soundness will decline, reducing the security’s value.
•
Market Volatility Risk-The risk that the Account’s investments will experience price volatility due to changing conditions in the financial markets even regardless of the credit quality or financial condition of the underlying issuer. This risk is particularly acute to the extent the Account holds equity securities, which have experienced significant short-term price volatility in recent years. Also, to the extent the Account holds debt securities, changes in overall interest rates can cause price fluctuations.
•
Interest Rate Volatility-The risk that interest rate volatility may affect the Account’s current income from an investment. As interest rates rise, the value of certain debt securities (such as those bearing lower fixed rates) held by the Account is likely to decrease. As of the date of this report, interest rates
in the United States are at or near historic lows, which may increase the Account’s exposure to risks associated with rising interest rates.
•
Deposit / Money Market Risk-The risk that, to the extent the Account’s cash held in bank deposit accounts exceeds federally insured limits as to that bank, the Account could experience losses if banks fail. In addition, there is some risk that investments held in money market accounts or funds can suffer losses.
Further, to the extent that a significant portion of the Account’s net assets, at any particular time, consist of cash, cash equivalents and non-real estate-related liquid securities, the Account’s returns may suffer as compared to the return that could have been generated by more profitable real estate-related investments. Such a potential negative impact on returns may be exacerbated in times of low prevailing interest rates payable on many classes of liquid securities, such as is the case as of the date hereof and which may persist in the future.
RISKS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
In addition to other investment risks noted above, foreign investments present the following special risks:
•
The value of foreign investments or rental income can increase or decrease due to changes in currency exchange rates, currency exchange control or market control regulations, possible expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political, social, diplomatic and economic developments and foreign regulations. The Account translates into U.S. dollars purchases and sales of securities, income receipts and expense payments made in foreign currencies at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of the transactions. The effect of any changes in currency exchange rates on investments and mortgage loans payable is included in the Account’s net realized and unrealized gains and losses. As such, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may impair the Account’s returns.
•
The Account may, but is not required to, hedge its exposure to changes in currency rates, which could involve extra costs. Further, any hedging activities might not be successful. Such hedges may also be subject to valuation changes. In addition, a lender to a foreign property owned by the Account could require the Account to compensate it for its loss associated with such lender’s hedging activities.
•
Non-U.S. jurisdictions may impose withholding taxes on the Account as a result of its investment activity in that jurisdiction. TIAA may be eligible for a foreign tax credit in respect of such tax paid by the Account and such credit (if available to TIAA) would be reimbursed to the Account. However, there may be circumstances where TIAA is unable to receive some or all of the benefit of a foreign tax credit and the Account would thus not receive reimbursement, which could harm the value of the Account’s units.
•
Foreign real estate markets may have different liquidity and volatility attributes than U.S. markets.
•
The regulatory environment in non-U.S. jurisdictions may disfavor owners and operators of real estate investment properties, resulting in less predictable and/or economically harmful outcomes if the Account were to face a significant dispute with a tenant or with a regulator itself.
•
The Account may be subject to increased risk of regulatory scrutiny pursuant to U.S. federal statutes, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which, among other things, requires robust compliance and oversight programs to help prevent violations. The costs associated with maintaining such programs, in addition to costs associated with a potential regulatory inquiry, could impair the Account’s returns and divert management’s attention from other Account activities.
•
It may be more difficult to obtain and collect a judgment on foreign investments than on domestic investments, and the costs associated with contesting claims relating to foreign investments may exceed those costs associated with a similar claim on domestic investments.
•
We may invest from time to time in securities issued by (1) entities domiciled in foreign countries, (2) domestic affiliates of such entities and/or (3) foreign domiciled affiliates of domestic entities. Such investments could be subject to the risks associated with investments subject to foreign regulation, including political unrest or the seizure, expropriation, repatriation or nationalization of the issuer’s
assets. These events could depress the value of such securities and/or make such securities harder to sell on favorable terms, if at all.
RISKS OF INVESTING IN MORTGAGE LOANS AND RELATED INVESTMENTS
The Account’s investment strategy includes, to a limited extent, investments in mortgage loans (i.e., the Account serving as lender).
•
General Risks of Mortgage Loans. The Account will be subject to the risks inherent in making mortgage loans, including:
•
The borrower may default on the loan, requiring that the Account foreclose on the underlying property to protect the value of its mortgage loan. Since its mortgage loans are usually non-recourse, the Account must rely solely on the value of a property for its security. In addition, there is a risk of delay in exercising any contractual remedies due to actions of the borrower, including, without limitation, bankruptcy or insolvency of the borrower.
•
The larger the mortgage loan compared to the value of the property securing it, the greater the loan’s risk. Upon default, the Account may not be able to sell the property for its estimated or appraised value. Also, certain liens on the property, such as mechanic’s or tax liens, may have priority over the Account’s security interest.
•
A deterioration in the financial condition of tenants, which could be caused by general or local economic conditions or other factors beyond the control of the Account, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant, may adversely affect the income of a property, which could increase the likelihood that the borrower will default under its obligations.
•
The borrower may be unable to make a lump sum principal payment due under a mortgage loan at the end of the loan term, unless it can refinance the mortgage loan with another lender.
•
If interest rates are volatile during the loan period, the Account’s variable-rate mortgage loans could have volatile yields. Further, to the extent the Account makes mortgage loans with fixed interest rates, it may receive lower yields than that which is then available in the market if interest rates rise generally.
•
Interest Rate Risk. The risk that the value or yield of fixed-income investments may decline if interest rates change. In general, when prevailing interest rates decline, the market values of outstanding fixed-income investments (particularly those paying a fixed rate of interest) tend to increase while yields on similar newly issued fixed-income investments tend to decrease, which could adversely affect the Account’s income. Conversely, when prevailing interest rates increase, the market values of outstanding fixed-income investments (particularly those paying a fixed rate of interest) tend to decline while yields on similar newly issued fixed-income investments tend to increase. If a fixed-income investment pays a floating or variable rate of interest, changes in prevailing interest rates may increase or decrease the investment’s yield. Fixed-income investments with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than shorter-term investments. Interest rate risk is generally heightened during periods when prevailing interest rates are low or negative. During periods of very low or negative interest rates, a fixed-income investment may not be able to maintain positive returns. As of the date of this Prospectus, interest rates in the United States and in certain foreign markets are at or near historic lows, which may increase the Account’s exposure to risks associated with rising interest rates. In general, changing interest rates could have unpredictable effects on the markets and may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility.
•
Extension Risk. The risk that during periods of rising interest rates, borrowers pay off their mortgage loans later than expected, preventing the Account from reinvesting principal proceeds at higher interest rates, resulting in less income than potentially available. These risks are normally present in mortgage- backed securities and other asset-backed securities. For example, homeowners have the option to prepay their mortgages. Therefore, the duration of a security backed by home mortgages can lengthen depending on homeowner prepayment activity. A decline in the prepayment rate and the resulting increase in duration of fixed-income securities held by the Account can result in losses to the Account.
•
Prepayment Risks. The Account’s mortgage loan investments will usually be subject to the risk that the borrower repays a loan early. Also, the Account may be unable to reinvest the proceeds at as high an interest rate as the original mortgage loan rate, resulting in a decline in income.
•
Interest Limitations. The interest rate we charge on mortgage loans may inadvertently violate state usury laws that limit rates, if, for example, state law changes during the loan term. If this happens, the Account could incur penalties or may be unable to enforce payment of the loan.
•
Risks of Investing in Mezzanine Loans. The Account may invest from time to time in mezzanine loans to entities which own real estate assets. Generally these loans will be secured by a pledge of the equity securities of the entity, but not by a first lien security interest in the property itself. As such, the Account’s recovery in the event of an adverse circumstance at the property (such as a default under a mortgage loan on the property) will be subordinated to the recovery available to the first lien mortgage lender(s) to the property. The Account’s remedy may solely consist of foreclosing on the equity interest in the entity owning the property, and that equity interest will be junior in right of a recovery to a loan secured by the property owned by the entity. Also, as a subordinated lender, the Account may have limited rights to exercise control over the process by which the mortgage loan is restructured or the property is liquidated following a default. Any of these circumstances may result in the Account being unable to recover some or all of its original investment.
•
Risks of Participations. To the extent the Account invested in a participating mortgage, the following additional risks would apply:
•
The participation feature, in tying the Account’s returns to the performance of the underlying asset, might generate insufficient returns to make up for the higher interest rate the loan would have obtained without the participation feature.
•
In very limited circumstances, a court may characterize the Account’s participation interest as a partnership or joint venture with the borrower and the Account could lose the priority of its security interest or become liable for the borrower’s debts.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITHIN TIAA
General. TIAA and its affiliates (including TIAA-CREF Alternatives Advisors, LLC and Teachers Advisors, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries and registered investment advisers and TIAA Henderson Real Estate Limited, its majority-owned subsidiary) have interests in other real estate programs and accounts and also engage in other business activities. As such, they will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between the Account’s business and these other activities. Also, the Account may be buying properties at the same time as TIAA affiliates that may have similar investment objectives to those of the Account. There is also a risk that TIAA will choose a property that provides lower returns to the Account than a property purchased by TIAA and its affiliates. Further, the Account will likely acquire properties in geographic areas where TIAA and its affiliates own or manage properties. In addition, the Account may desire to sell a property at the same time another TIAA affiliate is selling a property in an overlapping market. Conflicts could also arise because some properties owned or managed by TIAA and its affiliates may compete with the Account’s properties for tenants. Among other things, if one of the TIAA entities attracts a tenant that the Account is competing for, the Account could suffer a loss of revenue due to delays in locating another suitable tenant. TIAA has adopted allocation policies and procedures applicable to the purchasing conflicts scenario, but the resolution of such conflicts may be economically disadvantageous to the Account. As a result of TIAA’s and its affiliates’ obligations to TIAA itself and to other current and potential investment vehicles sponsored by TIAA affiliates with similar objectives to those of the Account, there is no assurance that the Account will be able to take advantage of every attractive investment opportunity that otherwise is in accordance with the Account’s investment objectives.
Liquidity Guarantee. In addition, as discussed elsewhere in this report, the TIAA General Account provides a liquidity guarantee to the Account. While an independent fiduciary is responsible for establishing a “trigger point” (a percentage of TIAA’s ownership of liquidity units beyond which TIAA’s ownership may be reduced at the fiduciary’s direction), there is no express cap on the amount TIAA may be obligated to fund under this guarantee. Further, the Account’s independent fiduciary oversees any redemption of TIAA liquidity units. TIAA’s ownership of liquidity units (including the potential for changes in its levels of ownership in the future) from time to time could result in the perception that TIAA is taking into account its own economic interests while serving as investment manager for the Account. In particular, the value of
TIAA’s liquidity units fluctuates in the same manner as the value of accumulation units held by all participants. Any perception of a conflict of interest could cause participants to transfer accumulations out of the Account to another investment option, which could have an adverse impact on the Account’s ability to act most optimally upon its investment strategy. For a discussion of the relevant allocation policies and procedures TIAA has established as well as a summary of other conflicts of interest which may arise as a result of TIAA’s management of the Account, see “Establishing and Managing the Account-the Role of TIAA-Conflicts of Interest,” in the Account’s prospectus.
NO OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIOR REVIEW OF TRANSACTIONS
Investors do not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic or financial merit of the purchase, sale or financing of a property or other investment before the Account completes the transaction, so investors will need to rely solely on TIAA’s judgment and ability to select investments consistent with the Account’s investment objective and policies. Further, the Account may change its investment objective and pursue specific investments in accordance with any such amended investment objective without the consent of the Account’s investors.
RISKS OF REGISTRATION UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
The Account has not registered, and management intends to continue to operate the Account so that it will not have to register, as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Generally, a company is an “investment company” and required to register under the Investment Company Act if, among other things, it holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, or it is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of such company’s total assets (exclusive of government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis.
If the Account were obligated to register as an investment company, the Account would have to comply with a variety of substantive requirements under the Investment Company Act that impose, among other things, limitations on capital structure, restrictions on certain investments, compliance with reporting, record keeping, voting and proxy disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations that could significantly increase its operating expenses and reduce its operating flexibility. To maintain compliance with the exemptions from the Investment Company Act, the Account may be unable to sell assets it would otherwise want to sell and may be unable to purchase securities it would otherwise want to purchase, which might materially adversely impact the Account’s performance.
CYBERSECURITY RISKS
With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Account and its service providers (including, but not limited to, TIAA, Services, the independent fiduciary and the Account’s custodian and financial intermediaries) are susceptible to cyber security risks. In general, cybersecurity attacks can result from infection by computer viruses or other malicious software or from deliberate actions or unintentional events, including gaining unauthorized access through “hacking” or other means to digital systems, networks, or devices that are used to service the Account’s operations in order to misappropriate assets or sensitive information, corrupt data, or cause operational disruption. Cybersecurity attacks can also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, including by carrying out a “denial-of-service” attack on the Account or its service providers’ websites. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release and possibly destroy confidential or proprietary information stored on the Account’s systems or the systems of its service providers.
Cybersecurity failures by the Account or any of its service providers, or the issuers of any portfolio securities in which the Account invests (e.g., issuers of REIT stocks or debt securities), have the ability to result in disruptions to and impacts on business operations and may adversely affect the Account and the value of accumulation units. Such disruptions or impacts may result in: financial losses; interference with the processing of contract transactions, including the processing of orders from TIAA’s website; interference with the Account’s ability to calculate AUVs; barriers to trading and order processing; Account contract owners’
inability to transact business with the Account; violations of applicable federal and state privacy or other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. The Account may incur additional, incremental costs to prevent and mitigate the risks of cybersecurity attacks or incidents in the future. The Account and its contract owners could be negatively impacted by such cyber-attacks or incidents. Although the Account has established business continuity plans and risk-based processes and controls to address such cybersecurity risks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems in part due to the evolving nature of technology and cyber-security attack tactics. As a result, it is possible that the Account or the Account’s service providers will not be able to adequately identify or prepare for all cybersecurity attacks. In addition, the Account cannot directly control the cybersecurity plans or systems implemented by its service providers.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
THE PROPERTIES-GENERAL
In the table below, participants will find general information about each of the Account’s investments as of December 31, 2015. The Account’s investments include both properties that are wholly owned by the Account and properties owned by the Account’s joint venture investments. Certain investments include a portfolio of properties.
OFFICE PROPERTIES
(1)
The square footage is an approximate measure and is subject to periodic remeasurement.
(2)
Based on total contractual rent for leases existing as of December 31, 2015. The contractual rent can be either on a gross or net basis, depending on the terms of the leases.
(3)
Fair value reflects the value determined in accordance with the procedures described in the Account’s prospectus and as stated in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4)
Property is subject to a mortgage. The fair value shown represents the Account’s interest gross of debt.
(5)
Investment was formerly named Ten & Twenty Westport Road.
(6)
This property is held in a joint venture with EOP Operating LP. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 50% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(7)
The Account owns a 50.25% interest in a private REIT, which owns this property. A 49.70% interest is owned by Societe Immobiler Trans-Quebec, and 0.05% is owned by 100 individuals. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s interest in the joint venture.
(8)
This investment is held in a joint venture with DDR Corp. and consists of 25 properties located in 11 states. Fair Value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 85% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(9)
These investments are held in a joint venture with the Simon Property Group. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 50% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(10)
This investment is held in a joint venture with Weingarten Realty Investors and contains two neighborhood and/or community shopping centers located in the Orlando and Tampa, Florida areas. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 80% interest in the joint venture.
(11)
Represents a fee interest encumbered by a ground lease real estate investment.
(12)
This investment is held in a joint venture with Storage USA. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 75% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(13)
This property is held in a joint venture with SCD 400 Fairview, LLC. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 90% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(14)
This property is held in a joint venture with Allianz US Private REIT LP. Fair value shown reflects the Account’s 51% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(15)
Fair value shown reflects both the retail property and the Account’s 33.3% interest in a joint venture investment.
(16)
This property is held in a joint venture with RGM 42 LLC. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 70% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(17)
This property is held in a joint venture with Valencia Town Center Associates LP. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 50% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(18)
This property is held in a joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 50.1% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(19)
This property is held in a joint venture with Taconic Investment Partners LLC. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 42.2% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(20)
This property is held in a joint venture with ARE - MA Region No. 54 LLC. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 70% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(21)
This property is held in a joint venture with Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 40% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
(22)
This property is held in a joint venture with Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Fair value shown reflects the value of the Account’s 49.9% interest in the joint venture, net of debt.
Commercial (Non-Residential) Investments
At December 31, 2015, the Account held 88 commercial (non-residential) investments in its portfolio, including a portfolio of storage facilities located throughout the United States. Eighteen of these investments were held through joint ventures, and 16 were subject to mortgages (including nine joint venture investments). Although the terms vary under each lease, certain expenses, such as real estate taxes and other operating expenses are paid or reimbursed in whole or in part by the tenants.
Management believes that the Account’s portfolio is diversified by both property type and geographic location. The portfolio consists of:
•
Office. 34 investments containing approximately 16.4 million square feet located in ten states and the District of Columbia.
•
Industrial. 32 investments containing approximately 30.3 million square feet located in nine states. One of the industrial investments no longer contains an active property but the joint venture investment has not been dissolved; it is not included in the square footage or fair value calculation.
•
Retail. 20 investments containing approximately 14.5 million square feet located in 15 states and the District of Columbia. One of the retail investments is an 85% interest in a portfolio containing 25 individual retail shopping centers primarily located throughout the Eastern and Southern regions.
•
Other-Land (425 Park Avenue). The Account has a leasehold interest real estate investment encumbered by a ground lease located in New York, NY.
•
Other-Storage. The Account has a 75% interest in a portfolio of storage facilities located throughout the United States containing approximately 1.7 million square feet.
Major Tenants: The following tables list the Account’s ten most significant tenants based on the total space they occupied as of December 31, 2015 in each of the Account’s commercial property types.
(1)
Tenant occupied space within joint venture investments.
(2)
Tenant occupied space within wholly owned property investments.
(3)
Tenant occupied space within wholly owned property investments and joint venture investments.
(4)
Tenant occupied space within an investment that has been sold subsequent to date of this report.
The following tables list the rentable area for long term leases subject to expiring leases during the next ten years and an aggregate figure for expirations in 2026 and after, in the Account’s commercial (non-residential) properties that are both wholly owned by the Account and held within the Account’s joint venture investments. While many of the leases contain renewal options with varying terms, these charts assume that none of the tenants exercise their renewal options, including those with terms that expired on December 31, 2015 or are month to month leases.
Office Properties
Industrial Properties
Retail Properties
(1)
Rental income includes income from wholly owned properties, which is shown as Rental income on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, as well as income from properties held in joint venture investments, which is included in Income from real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Certain leases provide for additional rental amounts based upon the recovery of actual operating expenses in excess of specified base amounts, sales volume or contractual increases as defined in the lease agreement. These contractual contingent rentals are not included in the table above.
The following table details the leasing activity during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Based on leases in place at December 31, 2015, leases representing approximately 12.9% of net rentable area are scheduled to expire throughout 2016. Rents associated with such lease expirations are generally at or below prevailing market rents in the Account’s primary metropolitan markets.
Residential Properties
The Account’s residential property investment portfolio consisted of 35 properties as of December 31, 2015, comprised of first class or luxury multi-family, garden, mid-rise, and high-rise apartment buildings, including one investment held in a joint venture. The portfolio contains approximately 11,000 units located in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The portfolio was 92.0% leased as of December 31, 2015. Eleven of the residential properties in the portfolio are subject to mortgages, including one joint venture investment. The complexes generally contain one to three bedroom apartment units with a range of amenities, such as patios or balconies, washers and dryers, and central air conditioning. Many of these apartment communities have on-site fitness facilities, including some with swimming pools. Rents on each of the properties tend to be comparable with competitive communities and are not subject to rent regulation. The Account is responsible for the expenses of operating its residential properties. As of December 31, 2015, the Account’s residential properties had an aggregate fair value of approximately $4.3 billion.
The following table contains detailed information regarding the apartment complexes in the Account’s portfolio as of December 31, 2015.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Account is party to various claims and routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Management of the Account does not believe that the results of any such claims or litigation, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material effect on the Account’s business, financial position or results of operations.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Market Information. There is no established public trading market for securities issued by the Account. Accumulation units in the Account are sold to eligible participants at the Account’s current accumulation unit value, which is based on the value of the Account’s then current net assets and are redeemable in accordance with the terms of the participant’s contract. For the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, the high and low accumulation unit values for the Account were $362.925 and $335.860, respectively. For the period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the high and low accumulation unit values for the Account were $335.910 and $298.817, respectively.
Holders. The approximate number of Account contract owners at December 31, 2015 was 1,030,000.
Dividends. Not applicable.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans. Not applicable.
Use of Proceeds. Not applicable.
Purchases of Equity Securities by Issuer. Not applicable.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
The following selected financial data should be considered in conjunction with the Account’s consolidated financial statements and notes provided in this Form 10-K (amounts in millions except for per accumulation unit amounts).
Quarterly Selected Financial Data
The following quarterly selected unaudited financial data for each full quarter of 2015 and 2014 are derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Account for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (amounts in millions).
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THE ACCOUNT’S FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and notes contained in this report and with consideration to the sub-section entitled “Forward-looking Statements,” which begins below, and the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” The past performance of the Account is not indicative of future results.
Forward-looking Statements
Some statements in this Form 10-K which are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about management’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future, include the assumptions and beliefs underlying these forward-looking statements, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the real estate industry, domestic and global economic conditions, including conditions in the credit and capital markets, the sectors, and markets in which the Account invests and operates, and the transactions described in this Form 10-K. While management believes the assumptions underlying any of its forward-looking statements and information to be reasonable, such information may be subject to uncertainties and may involve certain risks which may be difficult to predict and are beyond management’s control. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
Acquiring and Owning Real Estate: The risks associated with acquiring and owning real property, including general economic and real estate market conditions, the availability of, and economic cost associated with, financing the Account’s properties, the risk that the Account’s properties become too concentrated (whether by geography, sector or by tenant mix), competition for acquiring real estate properties, leasing risk (including tenant defaults) and the risk of uninsured losses at properties (including due to terrorism, natural disasters, and acts of violence);
•
Selling Real Estate: The risk that the sales price of a property might differ, perhaps significantly, from its estimated or appraised value, leading to losses or reduced profits to the Account, the risk that the Account might not be able to sell a property at a particular time for a price which management believes represents its fair or full value, the risk of a lack of availability of financing (for potential purchasers of the Account’s properties), risks associated with disruptions in the credit and capital markets, and the risk that the Account may be required to make significant expenditures before the Account is able to market and/or sell a property;
•
Valuation: The risks associated with property valuations, including the fact that appraisals can be subjective in a number of respects and the fact that the Account’s appraisals are generally obtained on a quarterly basis and there may be periods in between appraisals of a property during which the value attributed to the property for purposes of the Account’s daily accumulation unit value may be more or less than the actual realizable value of the property;
•
Borrowing: Risks associated with financing the Account’s properties, including the risk of default on loans secured by the Account’s properties (which could lead to foreclosure), the risk associated with high loan to value ratios on the Account’s properties (including the fact that the Account may have limited, or no net value in such a property), the risk that significant sums of cash could be required to make principal and interest payments on the loans and the risk that the Account may not have the ability to obtain financing or refinancing on favorable terms (or at all), which may be aggravated by general disruptions in credit and capital markets;
•
Participant Transactions and Cash Management: Investment risk associated with participant transactions, in particular that (i) significant net participant transfers out of the Account may impair our ability to pursue or consummate new investment opportunities that are otherwise attractive to the Account and/ or may result in sales of real estate-related assets to generate liquidity, (ii) significant net participant transfers into the Account may result, on a temporary basis, in our cash holdings and/or holdings in liquid real estate-related investments exceeding our long-term targeted holding levels and
(iii) high levels of cash in the Account during times of appreciating real estate values can impair the Account’s overall return;
•
Joint Venture Investments: The risks associated with joint ventures organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies, as applicable, including the risk that a co-venturer may have interests or goals inconsistent with that of the Account, that a co-venturer may have financial difficulties, and the risk that the Account may have limited rights with respect to operation of the property and transfer of the Account’s interest;
•
Regulatory Matters: Uncertainties associated with environmental liability and regulations and other governmental regulatory matters such as zoning laws, rent control laws, and property taxes;
•
Foreign Investments: The risks associated with purchasing, owning and disposing foreign investments (primarily real estate properties), including political risk, the risk associated with currency fluctuations (whether hedged or not), regulatory and taxation risks and risks of enforcing judgments;
•
Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of interest associated with TIAA serving as investment manager of the Account and provider of the liquidity guarantee at the same time as TIAA and its affiliates are serving as an investment manager to other real estate accounts or funds, including conflicts associated with satisfying its fiduciary duties to all such accounts and funds associated with purchasing, selling and leasing of properties;
•
Required Property Sales: The risk that, if TIAA were to own too large a percentage of the Account’s accumulation units through funding the liquidity guarantee (as determined by the independent fiduciary), the independent fiduciary could require the sales of properties to reduce TIAA’s ownership interest, which sales could occur at times and at prices that depress the sale proceeds to the Account;
•
Government and Government Agency Securities: Risks associated with investment securities issued by U.S. government agencies and U.S. government-sponsored entities, including the risk that the issuer may not have their securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and that transaction activity may fluctuate significantly from time to time, which could negatively impact the value of the securities and the Account’s ability to dispose of a security at a favorable time; and
•
Liquid Assets and Securities: Risks associated with investments in real estate-related liquid assets (which could include, from time to time, registered or unregistered REIT securities and CMBS), and non-real estate-related liquid assets, including:
•
Financial/credit risk-Risks that the issuer will not be able to pay principal and interest when due or that the issuer’s earnings will fall;
•
Market volatility risk-Risk that the changing conditions in financial markets may cause the Account’s investments to experience price volatility;
•
Interest rate volatility risk-Risk that interest rate volatility may affect the Account’s current income from an investment; and
•
Deposit/money market risk-Risks that the Account could experience losses if banks fail.
More detailed discussions of certain of these risk factors are contained in the section of this Form 10-K entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in this section below and also in the section entitled “Item 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
The Account’s real estate holdings, including real estate joint ventures, limited partnerships and loan receivable, which, as of December 31, 2015, represented 78.4% of the Account’s total investments, expose the Account to a variety of risks. These risks include, but are not limited to:
•
General Real Estate Risk-The risk that the Account’s property values or rental and occupancy rates could go down due to general economic conditions, a weak market for real estate generally, disruptions in the credit and/or capital markets, or changing supply and demand for certain types of properties;
•
Appraisal Risk-The risk that the sale price of an Account property (i.e., the value that would be determined by negotiations between independent parties) might differ substantially from its estimated or appraised value, leading to losses or reduced profits to the Account upon sale;
•
Risk Relating to Property Sales-The risk that the Account might not be able to sell a property at a particular time for its full value, particularly in a poor market. This might make it difficult to raise cash quickly and also could lead to Account losses;
•
Risks of Borrowing-The risk that interest rate changes may impact Account returns if the Account takes out a mortgage on a property, buys a property subject to a mortgage or holds a property subject to a mortgage, and hedging against such interest rate changes, if undertaken by the Account, may entail additional costs and be unsuccessful; and
•
Foreign Currency Risk-The risk that the value of the Account’s foreign investments, related debt, or rental income could increase or decrease due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates or foreign currency exchange control regulations, and hedging against such currency changes, if undertaken by the Account, may entail additional costs and be unsuccessful.
The Account believes the diversification of its real estate portfolio, both geographically and by sector, along with its quarterly valuation procedure, helps manage the real estate and appraisal risks described above.
As of December 31, 2015, 21.6% of the Account’s total investments were comprised of marketable securities. Marketable securities include high-quality debt instruments (i.e., government agency notes) and REIT securities. The consolidated statement of investments for the Account sets forth the general financial terms of these instruments, along with their fair values, as determined in accordance with procedures described earlier in Critical Accounting Policies section above and in Note 1-Organization and Significant Accounting Policies to the Account’s consolidated financial statements included herewith. As of the date of this report, the Account does not invest in derivative financial investments, nor does the Account engage in any hedging activity, although it may do so in selected circumstances in the future.
Risks associated with investments in real estate-related liquid assets (which could include, from time to time, REIT securities and CMBS), and non-real estate-related liquid assets, including financial/credit risk, market volatility risk, interest rate volatility risk and deposit/money market risk.
•
Financial/Credit Risk-The risk, for debt securities, that the issuer will not be able to pay principal and interest when due (and/or declare bankruptcy or be subject to receivership) and, for equity securities such as common or preferred stock, that the issuer’s current earnings will fall or that its overall financial soundness will decline, reducing the security’s value.
•
Market Volatility Risk-The risk that the Account’s investments will experience price volatility due to changing conditions in the financial markets regardless of the credit quality or financial condition of the underlying issuer. This risk is particularly acute to the extent the Account holds equity securities, which have experienced significant short-term price volatility over the past year. Also, to the extent the Account holds debt securities, changes in overall interest rates can cause price fluctuations.
•
Interest Rate Volatility-The risk that interest rate volatility may affect the Account’s current income from an investment.
•
Deposit/Money Market Risk-The risk that, to the extent the Account’s cash held in bank deposit accounts exceeds federally insured limits as to that bank, the Account could experience losses if banks fail. The Account does not believe it has exposure to significant concentration of deposit risk. In addition, there is some risk that investments held in money market accounts can suffer losses.
In addition, to the extent the Account were to hold mortgage-backed securities (including commercial mortgage-backed securities) these securities are subject to prepayment risk or extension risk (i.e., the risk that borrowers will repay the loans earlier or later than anticipated). If the underlying mortgage assets experience faster than anticipated repayments of principal, the Account could fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities, since the original price paid by the Account was based in part on assumptions regarding the receipt of interest payments. If the underlying mortgage assets are repaid later than anticipated, the Account could lose the opportunity to reinvest the anticipated cash flows at a time when interest rates might be rising. The rate of prepayment depends on a variety of geographic, social and other functions, including prevailing market interest rates and general economic factors. The fair value of these securities is also highly sensitive to changes in interest rates. Note that the potential for appreciation, which could otherwise be expected to result from a decline in interest rates, may be limited by any increased prepayments. These securities may be harder to sell than other securities.
In addition to these risks, real estate equity securities (such as REIT stocks and mortgage-backed securities) would be subject to many of the same general risks inherent in real estate investing, making mortgage loans and investing in debt securities. For more information on the risks associated with all of the Account’s investments, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
To the Participants of the TIAA Real Estate Account:
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the TIAA Real Estate Account (“Account”) of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”) are the responsibility of TIAA’s management. They have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have been presented fairly and objectively in accordance with such principles.
TIAA has established and maintains an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are properly safeguarded, that transactions are properly executed in accordance with management’s authorization, and to carry out the ongoing responsibilities of management for reliable consolidated financial statements. In addition, TIAA’s internal audit personnel provide regular reviews and assessments of the internal controls and operations of the Account, and the Senior Managing Director, Chief Auditor of Internal Audit regularly reports to the Audit Committee of the TIAA Board of Trustees.
The independent registered public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. To maintain auditor independence and avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, it continues to be the Account’s policy (consistent with TIAA’s specific auditor independence policies, which are designed to avoid such conflicts) that any management advisory or consulting services would be obtained from a firm other than the independent accounting firm. The independent auditors’ report expresses an independent opinion on the fairness of presentation of the Account’s consolidated financial statements.
The Audit Committee of the TIAA Board of Trustees, comprised entirely of independent, non-management trustees, meets regularly with management, representatives of the independent registered public accounting firm and internal audit group personnel to review matters relating to financial reporting, internal controls and auditing. In addition to the annual independent audit of the Account’s consolidated financial statements, the New York State Insurance Department and other state insurance departments regularly examine the operations and consolidated financial statements of the Account as part of their periodic corporate examinations.
March 10, 2016
/s/ Robert G. Leary
Robert G. Leary
Executive Vice President, Asset Management Chief Executive Officer
of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
/s/ Virginia M. Wilson
Virginia M. Wilson
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Teachers
Insurance and Annuity Association of America
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
To the Participants of the TIAA Real Estate Account:
The TIAA Audit Committee (“Committee”) oversees the financial reporting process of the TIAA Real Estate Account (“Account”) on behalf of TIAA’s Board of Trustees. The Committee operates in accordance with a formal written charter (copies of which are available upon request) which describes the Audit Committee’s responsibilities. All members of the Committee are independent, as defined under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
Management has the primary responsibility for the Account’s consolidated financial statements, development and maintenance of a strong system of internal controls and disclosure controls, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and approved the audit plans of the internal audit group and the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with their respective audits of the Account. The Committee also meets regularly with the internal audit group and the independent registered public accounting firm, both with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluation of internal controls, and the overall quality of financial reporting. As required by its charter, the Committee will formally evaluate rotation of the independent registered public accounting firm whenever circumstances warrant, but in no event will the evaluation be less frequent than every ten years of the engagement.
The Committee reviewed and discussed the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements with management, including a discussion of the quality and appropriateness of the accounting principles and financial reporting practices followed, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity and completeness of disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The Committee has also discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of these audited consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The discussion with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP focused on their judgments concerning the quality and appropriateness of the accounting principles and financial reporting practices followed by the Account, the clarity and completeness of the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and other significant matters, such as any significant changes in accounting policies, internal controls, management judgments and estimates, and the nature of any uncertainties or unusual transactions. In addition, the Committee discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the auditors’ independence from management and the Account, and has received a written disclosure regarding such independence, as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Committee has approved the release of the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements for publication and filing with appropriate regulatory authorities.
Jeffrey R. Brown, Audit Committee Chair
James R. Chambers, Audit Committee Member
Lisa W. Hess, Audit Committee Member
Lawrence H. Linden, Audit Committee Member
Maureen O’Hara, Audit Committee Member
Donald K. Peterson, Audit Committee Member
March 10, 2016
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(In millions, except per accumulation unit amounts)
See notes to the consolidated financial statements
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions)
See notes to the consolidated financial statements
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
(In millions)
See notes to the consolidated financial statements
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
See notes to the consolidated financial statements
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1-Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Business: The TIAA Real Estate Account (“Account”) is an insurance separate account of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”) and was established by resolution of TIAA’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) on February 22, 1995, under the insurance laws of the State of New York, for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts issued by TIAA. The Account offers individual and group accumulating annuity contracts (with contributions made on a pre-tax or after-tax basis), as well as individual lifetime and term-certain variable payout annuity contracts (including the payment of death benefits to beneficiaries). Investors are entitled to transfer funds to or from the Account, and make withdrawals from the Account on a daily basis, under certain circumstances. Funds invested in the Account for each category of contract are expressed in terms of units, and unit values will fluctuate depending on the Account’s performance.
The investment objective of the Account is to seek favorable long-term returns primarily through rental income and capital appreciation from real estate and real estate-related investments owned by the Account. The Account holds real estate properties directly and through subsidiaries wholly owned by TIAA for the benefit of the Account. The Account also holds interests in real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships in which the Account does not hold a controlling interest; as such, such interests are not consolidated into these consolidated financial statements. The Account also holds an investment in a loan receivable with a commercial real estate property as underlying collateral. Additionally, the Account invests in real estate-related and non-real estate-related publicly traded securities, cash and other instruments to maintain adequate liquidity levels for operating expenses, capital expenditures and to fund benefit payments (withdrawals, transfers and related transactions).
The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires the use of estimates made by management. Actual results may vary from those estimates and such differences may be material. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies of the Account.
Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the Account and those subsidiaries wholly owned by TIAA for the benefit of the Account. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between the Account and such subsidiaries have been eliminated.
The Accumulation Unit Value (“AUV”) used for financial reporting purposes may differ from the AUV used for processing transactions. The AUV used for financial reporting purposes includes security and participant transactions effective through the period end date to which this report relates. Total return is computed based on the AUV used for processing transactions.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Determination of Investments at Fair Value: The Account reports all investments at fair value in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies. Further in accordance with the adoption of the fair value option allowed under ASC 825, Financial Instruments, and at the election of Account management, mortgage loans payable are reported at fair value. The FASB has defined fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used to determine the fair value of the Account’s investments and investment related mortgage loans payable.
Valuation of Real Estate Properties-Investments in real estate properties are stated at fair value, as determined in accordance with policies and procedures reviewed by the Investment Committee of the Board and in accordance with the responsibilities of the Board as a whole. Accordingly, the Account does not record depreciation. Determination of fair value involves significant levels of judgment because the actual fair value of real estate can be determined only by negotiation between the parties in a sales transaction. The Account’s primary objective when valuing its real estate investments will be to produce a valuation that represents a reasonable estimate of the fair value of its investments. Implicit in the Account’s definition of
fair value are the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby:
•
Buyer and seller are typically motivated;
•
Both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they consider their best interests;
•
A reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market;
•
Payment is made in terms of cash or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and
•
The price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale.
Property and investment values are affected by, among other things, the availability of capital, occupancy rates, rental rates, and interest and inflation rates. As a result, determining real estate and investment values involves many assumptions. Key inputs and assumptions include rental income and expense amounts, related rental income and expense growth rates, capital expenditures, discount rates and capitalization rates. Valuation techniques include discounted cash flow analysis, prevailing market capitalization rates or multiples applied to earnings from the property, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sale negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties. Amounts ultimately realized from each investment may vary significantly from the fair value presented.
Real estate properties owned by the Account are initially valued based on an independent third party appraisal, as reviewed by TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and as applicable by the Account’s independent fiduciary at the time of the closing of the purchase. Such initial valuation may result in a potential unrealized gain or loss reflecting the difference between an investment’s fair value (i.e., exit price) and its cost basis (which is inclusive of transaction costs).
Subsequently, each property is appraised each quarter by an independent third party appraiser, reviewed by TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and as applicable the Account’s independent fiduciary. In general, the Account obtains appraisals of its real estate properties spread out throughout the quarter, which is intended to result in appraisal adjustments, and thus, adjustments to the valuations of its holdings (to the extent such adjustments are made) that happen regularly throughout each quarter and not on one specific day or month in each period.
Further, management reserves the right to order an appraisal and/or conduct another valuation outside of the normal quarterly process when facts or circumstances at a specific property change. For example, under certain circumstances a valuation adjustment could be made when the account receives a bona fide bid for the sale of a property held within the Account or one of the Account’s joint ventures. Adjustments may be made for events or circumstances indicating an impairment of a tenant’s ability to pay amounts due to the Account under a lease (including due to a bankruptcy filing of that tenant). Alternatively, adjustments may be made to reflect the execution or renewal of a significant lease. Also, adjustments may be made to reflect factors (such as sales values for comparable properties or local employment rate) bearing uniquely on a particular region in which the Account holds properties. TIAA’s internal appraisal staff oversees the entire appraisal process, in conjunction with the Account’s independent fiduciary (the independent fiduciary is more fully described in the following paragraph). Any differences in the conclusions of TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and the independent appraiser will be reviewed by the independent fiduciary, which will make a final determination on the matter (which may include ordering a subsequent independent appraisal).
The independent fiduciary, RERC, LLC, has been appointed by a special subcommittee of the Investment Committee of the Board to, among other things, oversee the appraisal process. The independent fiduciary must approve all independent appraisers used by the Account. All appraisals are performed in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices, the real estate appraisal industry standards created by The Appraisal Foundation. Real estate appraisals are estimates of property values based on a professional’s opinion. Appraisals of properties held outside of the U.S. are performed in accordance with industry standards commonly applied in the applicable jurisdiction. These independent appraisers are always expected to be MAI-designated members of the Appraisal Institute (or its European equivalent, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and state certified appraisers from national or regional firms with relevant property type experience and market knowledge. Under the Account’s current procedures, each independent
appraisal firm will be rotated off of a particular property at least every three years, although such appraisal firm may perform appraisals of other Account properties subsequent to such rotation.
Also, the independent fiduciary can require additional appraisals if factors or events have occurred that could materially change a property’s value (including those identified above) and such change is not reflected in the quarterly valuation review, or otherwise to ensure that the Account is valued appropriately. The independent fiduciary must also approve any valuation change of real estate-related assets where a property’s value changed by more than 6% from the most recent independent annual appraisal, or if the value of the Account would change by more than 4% within any calendar quarter or more than 2% since the prior calendar month. When a real estate property is subject to a mortgage, the property is valued independently of the mortgage and the property and mortgage fair values are reported separately (see Valuation of Mortgage Loans Payable). The independent fiduciary reviews and approves all mortgage valuation adjustments before such adjustments are recorded by the Account. The Account continues to use the revised value for each real estate property and mortgage loan payable to calculate the Account’s daily net asset value until the next valuation review or appraisal.
Valuation of Real Estate Joint Ventures-Real estate joint ventures are stated at the fair value of the Account’s ownership interests of the underlying entities. The Account’s ownership interests are valued based on the fair value of the underlying real estate, any related mortgage loans payable, and other factors, such as ownership percentage, ownership rights, buy/sell agreements, distribution provisions and capital call obligations. Upon the disposition of all real estate investments by an investee entity, the Account will continue to state its equity in the remaining net assets of the investee entity during the wind down period, if any, which occurs prior to the dissolution of the investee entity.
Valuation of Real Estate Limited Partnerships-Limited partnership interests are stated at the fair value of the Account’s ownership in the partnership which are recorded based upon the changes in the net asset values of the limited partnerships as determined from the financial statements of the limited partnerships when received by the Account. Prior to the receipt of the financial statements from the limited partnerships, the Account estimates the value of its interest in good faith and will from time to time seek input from the issuer or the sponsor of the investments. Since market quotations are not readily available, the limited partnership interests are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by management under the direction of the Investment Committee of the Board and in accordance with the responsibilities of the Board as a whole.
Valuation of Marketable Securities-Equity securities listed or traded on any national market or exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of the principal securities market or exchange on which such securities are traded or, if there is no sale, at the mean of the last bid and asked prices on such market or exchange, exclusive of transaction costs.
Debt securities with readily available market quotations, other than money market instruments, are generally valued at the most recent bid price or the equivalent quoted yield for such securities (or those of comparable maturity, quality and type). Debt securities for which market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Investment Committee of the Board and in accordance with the responsibilities of the Board as a whole.
Short-term investments are valued in the same manner as debt securities, as described above.
Money market instruments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Equity and fixed income securities traded on a foreign exchange or in foreign markets are valued using their closing values under the valuation methods generally accepted in the country where traded, as of the valuation date. This value is converted to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the valuation day. Under certain circumstances (for example, if there are significant movements in the U.S. markets and there is an expectation the securities traded on foreign markets will adjust based on such movements when the foreign markets open the next day), the Account may adjust the value of equity or fixed income securities that trade on a foreign exchange or market after the foreign exchange or market has closed.
Valuation of Loans Receivable-Loans receivable are stated at fair value and are initially valued at the face amount of the loan funding. Subsequently, loans receivable are valued at least quarterly by TIAA’s internal valuation department based on market factors, such as market interest rates and spreads for comparable loans, the liquidity for loans of similar characteristics, the performance of the underlying collateral (such as
the loan-to-value ratio and the cash flow of the underlying collateral) and the credit quality of the counterparty. The independent fiduciary reviews and approves all loan receivable valuation adjustments before such adjustments are recorded by the Account. The Account continues to use the revised value for each loan receivable to calculate the Account’s daily net asset value until the next valuation review.
Valuation of Mortgage Loans Payable-Mortgage loans payable are stated at fair value. The estimated fair values of mortgage loans payable are based on the amount at which the liability could be transferred to a third party exclusive of transaction costs. Mortgage loans payable are valued internally by TIAA’s internal valuation department, as reviewed by the Account’s independent fiduciary, at least quarterly based on market factors, such as market interest rates and spreads for comparable loans, the performance of the underlying collateral (such as the loan-to-value ratio and the cash flow of the underlying collateral), the liquidity for mortgage loans of similar characteristics, the maturity date of the loan and the return demands of the market.
See Note 5-Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis for further discussion and disclosure regarding the determination of the fair value of the Account’s investments.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation: Portfolio investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of securities, income receipts and expense payments made in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of the transactions. The effect of any changes in foreign currency exchange rates on portfolio investments and mortgage loans payable are included in net realized and unrealized gains and losses on real estate properties and mortgage loans payable. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions include disposition of foreign currencies, and currency gains and losses between the accrual and receipt dates of portfolio investment income and between the trade and settlement dates of portfolio investment transactions.
Accumulation and Annuity Funds: The accumulation fund represents the net assets attributable to participants in the accumulation phase of their investment (“Accumulation Fund”). The annuity fund represents the net assets attributable to the participants currently receiving annuity payments (“Annuity Fund”). The net increase or decrease in net assets from investment operations is apportioned between the accounts based upon their relative daily net asset values. Once an Account participant begins receiving lifetime annuity income benefits, payment levels cannot be reduced as a result of the Account’s actual mortality experience. In addition, the contracts pursuant to which the Account is offered are required to stipulate the maximum expense charge for all Account level expenses that can be assessed, which is not to exceed 2.5% of average net assets per year. The Account pays a fee to TIAA to assume mortality and expense risks.
Accounting for Investments: The investments held by the Account are accounted for as follows:
Real Estate Properties-Rent from real estate properties consists of all amounts earned under tenant operating leases, including base rent, recoveries of real estate taxes and other expenses and charges for miscellaneous services provided to tenants. Rental income is recognized in accordance with the billing terms of the lease agreements. The Account bears the direct expenses of the real estate properties owned. These expenses include, but are not limited to, fees to local property management companies, property taxes, utilities, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and other operating and administrative costs. An estimate of the net operating income earned from each real estate property is accrued by the Account on a daily basis and such estimates are adjusted when actual operating results are determined.
Real Estate Joint Ventures-The Account has limited ownership interests in various real estate joint ventures (collectively, the “joint ventures”). The Account records its contributions as increases to its investments in the joint ventures, and distributions from the joint ventures are treated as income within income from real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships in the Account’s consolidated statements of operations. Distributions that are identified as returns of capital are recorded as a reduction to the cost basis of the investment, whereas distributions identified as capital gains or losses are recorded as realized gains or losses. Income from the joint ventures is recorded based on the Account’s proportional interest of the income distributed by the joint ventures. Income earned but not yet distributed to the Account by the joint ventures is recorded as unrealized gains and losses.
Limited Partnerships-The Account has limited ownership interests in various private real estate funds (primarily limited partnerships) and a private real estate investment trust (collectively, the “limited partnerships”). The Account records its contributions as increases to the investments, and distributions from the investments are treated as income within income from real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships in the Account’s consolidated statements of operations. Distributions that are identified as returns of capital are recorded as a reduction to the cost basis of the investment, whereas distributions identified as capital gains or losses are recorded as realized gains or losses. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded based upon the changes in the net asset values of the limited partnerships as determined from the financial statements of the limited partnerships when received by the Account. Prior to the receipt of the financial statements from the limited partnerships, the Account estimates the value of its interest in good faith and will from time to time seek input from the issuer or the sponsor of the investments. Changes in value based on such estimates are recorded by the Account as unrealized gains and losses.
Marketable Securities-Transactions in marketable securities are accounted for as of the date the securities are purchased or sold (trade date). Interest income is recorded as earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date within dividend income. Dividends that are identified as returns of capital are recorded as a reduction to the cost basis of the investment, whereas dividends identified as capital gains or losses are recorded as realized gains or losses. Realized gains and losses on securities transactions are accounted for on the specific identification method.
Loan Receivable-The Account has a single ownership interest in a loan receivable. Interest income from the loan receivable is recognized using the effective interest method over the expected life of the loan.
Realized and Unrealized Gains and Losses-Realized gains and losses are recorded at the time an investment is sold or a distribution is received in relation to an investment sale from a joint venture or limited partnership. Real estate transactions are accounted for as of the date on which the purchase or sale transactions for the real estate properties close (settlement date). The Account recognizes a realized gain on the sale of a real estate property to the extent that the contract sales price exceeds the cost-to-date of the property being sold. A realized loss occurs when the cost-to-date exceeds the sales price. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as the fair values of the Account’s investments are adjusted, and as discussed within the Real Estate Joint Ventures and Limited Partnerships sections above.
Net Assets-The Account’s net assets as of the close of each valuation day are valued by taking the sum of:
•
the value of the Account’s cash; cash equivalents, and short-term and other debt instruments;
•
the value of the Account’s other securities and other non-real estate assets;
•
the value of the individual real properties (based on the most recent valuation of that property) and other real estate-related investments owned by the Account;
•
an estimate of the net operating income accrued by the Account from its properties, other real estate-related investments and non-real estate-related investments (including short-term marketable securities) since the end of the prior valuation day; and
•
actual net operating income earned from the Account’s properties, other real estate-related investments and non-real estate-related investments (but only to the extent any such item of income differs from the estimated income accrued for on such investments),
and then reducing the sum by liabilities held within the Account, including the daily investment management fee, administration and distribution fees, mortality and expense fee, and liquidity guarantee fee, and certain other expenses attributable to operating the Account. Daily estimates of net operating income are adjusted to reflect actual net operating income on a monthly basis, at which time such adjustments (if any) are reflected in the Account’s unit value.
After the end of every quarter, the Account reconciles the amount of expenses deducted from the Account (which is established in order to approximate the costs that the Account will incur) with the expenses the Account actually incurred. If there is a difference, the Account adds it to or deducts it from the Account in equal daily installments over the remaining days of the following quarter. Material differences may be repaid in the current calendar quarter. The Account’s at-cost deductions are based on projections of Account assets and overall expenses, and the size of any adjusting payments will be directly affected by the difference between management’s projections and the Account’s actual assets or expenses.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents are balances held by the Account in bank deposit accounts which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Account’s management monitors these balances to mitigate the exposure of risk due to concentration and has not experienced any losses from such concentration.
Other Assets and Other Liabilities: Other assets and other liabilities consist of operating assets and liabilities utilized and held at each individual real estate property investment. Other assets consist of, amongst other items, cash, tenant receivables and prepaid expenses; whereas other liabilities primarily consist of security deposits.
Federal Income Taxes: Based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 817, the Account is taxed as a segregated asset account of TIAA and as such, the Account incurs no material federal income tax attributable to the net investment activity of the Account. The Account’s federal income tax return is generally subject to examination for a period of three years after filed. State and local tax returns may be subject to examination for an additional period of time depending on the jurisdiction. Management has analyzed the Account’s tax positions taken for all open federal income tax years and has concluded that no provision for federal income tax is required in the Account’s consolidated financial statements.
Restricted Cash: The Account held $50.9 million and $20.4 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in escrow accounts for property taxes, insurance, and various other property related matters as required by certain creditors related to outstanding mortgage loans payable collateralized by certain real estate investments. These amounts are recorded within other assets on the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities. See Note 8-Mortgage Loans Payable for additional information regarding the Account’s outstanding mortgage loans payable.
Changes in Net Assets: Premiums include premiums paid by existing accumulation unit holders in the Account and transfers into the Account. Withdrawals and death benefits include withdrawals out of the Account which include transfers out of the Account and required minimum distributions.
Due to/from Investment Manager: Due to/from investment manager represents amounts that are to be paid or received by TIAA on behalf of the Account. Amounts generally are paid or received by the Account within one or two business days and no interest is contractually charged on these amounts.
New Accounting Pronouncement: In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). This ASU amends, amongst other items, the consolidation rules regarding the evaluation of whether a limited partnership or similar entity is a variable interest entity or voting interest entity as well as the elimination of the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. These amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Management is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-02 on the Account’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (“ASU 2015-03”). This ASU amends, amongst other items, the presentation of debt issuance costs on an entity’s balance sheet. These amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Management is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-03 on the Account’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)-Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (“ASU 2015-07”). This ASU removes the requirement to categorize all investments for which the fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient from the fair value hierarchy. The ASU also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The disclosures are limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. These amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and are applied retroactively. The Account has early adopted the new disclosure requirements for this filing.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit
Arrangements (“ASU 2015-15”). This ASU follows ASU 2015-03, which requires entities to present debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. ASU 2015-03 does not address how debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements should be presented on the balance sheet or amortized. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of credit arrangements, ASU 2015-15 clarifies that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs rateably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Account currently is not involved with line-of-credit arrangements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments (Topic 825)-Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU amends, amongst other items, certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. These amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017. Management is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on the Account’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) which will supersede Topic 840, Leases. This ASU applies to all entities that enter into a lease. Lessees will be required to report assets and liabilities that arise from leases. Lessor accounting is expected to remain unchanged except in certain circumstances. This ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including all interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the Account’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Note 2-Management Agreements, Arrangements and Related Party Transactions
Investment advisory services for the Account are provided by TIAA employees, under the direction of the Board and its Investment Committee, pursuant to investment management procedures adopted by TIAA for the Account. TIAA’s investment management decisions for the Account are subject to review by the Account’s independent fiduciary. TIAA also provides various portfolio accounting and related services for the Account.
The Account is a party to the Distribution Agreement for the Contracts Funded by the TIAA Real Estate Account (the “Distribution Agreement”), dated January 1, 2008, by and among TIAA, for itself and on behalf of the Account, and TIAA-CREF Individual and Institutional Services, LLC (“Services”), a wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA, a registered broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Services performs distribution services for the Account which include, among other things, (i) distribution of annuity contracts issued by TIAA and funded by the Account, (ii) advising existing annuity contract owners in connection with their accumulations and (iii) helping employers implement and manage retirement plans. In addition, TIAA performs administrative functions for the Account, which include, among other things, (i) maintaining accounting records and performing accounting services, (ii) receiving and allocating premiums, (iii) calculating and making annuity payments, (iv) processing withdrawal requests, (v) providing regulatory compliance and reporting services, (vi) maintaining the Account’s records of contract ownership and (vii) otherwise assisting generally in all aspects of the Account’s operations. Both distribution services (pursuant to the Distribution Agreement) and administrative services are provided to the Account by Services and TIAA, as applicable, on an at cost basis.
The Distribution Agreement is terminable by either party upon 60 days written notice and terminates automatically upon any assignment thereof.
TIAA and Services provide investment management, administrative and distribution services at cost. TIAA and Services receive payments from the Account on a daily basis according to formulas established each year and adjusted periodically with the objective of keeping the payments as close as possible to the Account’s expenses actually incurred. Any differences between actual expenses and the amounts paid by the Account are adjusted quarterly.
TIAA also provides a liquidity guarantee to the Account, for a fee, to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet participant transfer and cash withdrawal requests in the event that the Account’s cash flows
and liquid investments are insufficient to fund such requests. TIAA ensures sufficient funds are available for such transfer and withdrawal requests by purchasing accumulation units of the Account.
To the extent TIAA owns accumulation units issued pursuant to the liquidity guarantee, the independent fiduciary monitors and oversees, among other things, TIAA’s ownership interest in the Account and may require TIAA to eventually redeem some of its units, particularly when the Account has un-invested cash or liquid investments available. TIAA also receives a fee for assuming certain mortality and expense risks.
The expenses for the services noted above that are provided to the Account by TIAA and Services are identified in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and are reflected in Note 9-Financial Highlights.
Pursuant to its existing liquidity guarantee obligation, the TIAA General Account purchased in multiple transactions an aggregate of 4.7 million accumulation units (which are generally referred to as “liquidity units”) in the Account between December 2008 and June 2009 for an aggregate amount of $1.2 billion. TIAA has not purchased additional liquidity units since June 2009.
In accordance with this liquidity guarantee obligation, TIAA guarantees that all participants in the Account may redeem their accumulation units at their accumulation unit value next determined after their transfer or cash withdrawal request is received in good order. Liquidity units owned by TIAA are valued in the same manner as accumulation units owned by the Account’s participants. Management believes that TIAA has the ability to meet its obligations under the liquidity guarantee.
As discussed in the Account’s prospectus and in accordance with a prohibited transaction exemption from the U.S. Department of Labor (PTE 96-76), the Account’s independent fiduciary, RERC, has certain responsibilities with respect to the Account that it has undertaken or is currently undertaking with respect to TIAA’s purchase of liquidity units, including among other things, reviewing the purchase and redemption of liquidity units by TIAA to ensure the Account uses the correct unit values. In addition, as set forth in PTE 96-76, the independent fiduciary’s responsibilities include:
•
establishing the percentage of total accumulation units that TIAA’s ownership should not exceed (the “trigger point”) and creating a method for changing the trigger point;
•
approving any adjustment of TIAA’s ownership interest in the Account and, in its discretion, requiring an adjustment if TIAA’s ownership of liquidity units reaches the trigger point; and
•
once the trigger point has been reached, participating in any program to reduce TIAA’s ownership in the Account by utilizing cash flow or liquid investments in the Account, or by utilizing the proceeds from asset sales. The independent fiduciary’s role in participating in any such asset sales program would include (i) participating in the selection of properties for sale, (ii) providing sales guidelines and (iii) approving those sales if, in the independent fiduciary’s opinion, such sales are desirable to reduce TIAA’s ownership of liquidity units.
The independent fiduciary, which has the right to adjust the trigger point, has established the trigger point at 45% of the outstanding accumulation units and it will continue to monitor TIAA’s ownership interest in the Account and provide further recommendations as necessary.
As of March 31, 2013, the independent fiduciary completed the systematic redemption of all of the liquidity units held by TIAA. Approximately one-quarter of such units were redeemed evenly over the business days in each of the months of June, September, December 2012, and March 2013, representing a total of $940.3 million and $325.4 million redeemed during 2012 and 2013, respectively.
TIAA and Services provide certain services to the Account on an at cost basis. See Note 9-Financial Highlights for details of the expense charge and expense ratio.
Note 3-Credit Risk Concentrations
Concentrations of credit risk may arise when a number of properties or tenants are located in a similar geographic region such that the economic conditions of that region could impact tenants’ obligations to meet their contractual obligations or cause the values of individual properties to decline. The Account has no significant concentrations of tenants as no single tenant has annual contract rent that makes up more than 3% of the rental income of the Account.
The Account’s wholly owned real estate investments and investments in joint ventures are located in the United States. The following table represents the diversification of the Account’s portfolio by region and property type as of December 31, 2015:
Diversification by Fair Value(1)
(1)
Wholly owned properties are represented at fair value and gross of any debt, while joint venture properties are represented at the net equity value.
(2)
Represents interest in Storage Portfolio investment and a fee interest encumbered by a ground lease real estate investment.
Properties in the “East” region are located in: CT, DC, DE, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV
Properties in the “West” region are located in: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Properties in the “South” region are located in: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX
Properties in the “Midwest” region are located in: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
Note 4-Leases
The Account’s wholly owned real estate properties are leased to tenants under operating lease agreements which expire on various dates through 2090. Aggregate minimum annual rentals for wholly owned real estate investments owned by the Account through the non-cancelable lease term, excluding short-term residential leases, are as follows (in millions):
Certain leases provide for additional rental amounts based upon the recovery of actual operating expenses in excess of specified base amounts, sales volume or contractual increases as defined in the lease agreement. These contractual contingent rentals are not included in the table above.
Note 5-Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Valuation Hierarchy: The Account’s fair value measurements are grouped categorically into three levels, as defined by the FASB. The levels are defined as follows:
Level 1-Valuations using unadjusted quoted prices for assets traded in active markets, such as stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Active markets are defined as having the following characteristics for the measured asset or liability: (i) many transactions, (ii) current prices, (iii) price quotes not varying substantially among market makers, (iv) narrow bid/ask spreads and (v) most information regarding the issuer is publicly available. Level 1 assets held by the Account are generally marketable equity securities.
Level 2-Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active, dealer or broker markets. Fair values are primarily obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities. Level 2
inputs for fair value measurements are inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include:
a. Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
b. Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active (that is, markets in which there are few transactions for the asset (or liability), the prices are not current, price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers (for example, some brokered markets), or in which little information is released publicly);
c. Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable within the market for the asset (or liability) (for example, interest rates and yield curves, implied volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates that are observable at commonly quoted intervals); and
d. Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (for example, market-corroborated inputs).
Examples of securities which may be held by the Account and included in Level 2 include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, government agency notes, variable notes, United States Treasury securities, and debt securities.
Level 3-Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and are not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections that are not observable in the market, and require significant professional judgment in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities. Examples of Level 3 assets and liabilities which may be held by the Account from time to time include investments in real estate, investments in joint ventures, and loans receivable and payable.
An investment’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy described above is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Account’s limited partnership investments are valued using the net asset value per share as a practical expedient, which excludes the investments from the valuation hierarchy.
The Account’s determination of fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based upon vendor-provided, evaluated prices or internally developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced market data, including interest rate yield curves, market spreads, and currency rates. Valuation adjustments will be made to reflect changes in credit quality, counterparty’s creditworthiness, the Account’s creditworthiness, liquidity, and other observable and unobservable inputs that are applied consistently over time.
The methods described above are considered to produce fair values that represent a good faith estimate of what an unaffiliated buyer in the marketplace would pay to purchase the asset or would receive to transfer the liability. Since fair value calculations involve significant professional judgment in the application of both observable and unobservable attributes, actual realizable values or future fair values may differ from amounts reported. Furthermore, while the Account believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments, while reasonable, could result in different estimates of fair value at the reporting date. As discussed in Note 1-Organization and Significant Accounting Policies in more detail, the Account generally obtains independent third party appraisals on a quarterly basis; there may be circumstances in the interim in which the true realizable value of a property is not reflected in the Account’s daily net asset value calculation or in the Account’s periodic consolidated financial statements. This disparity may be more apparent when the commercial and/or residential real estate markets experience an overall and possibly dramatic decline (or increase) in property values in a relatively short period of time between appraisals.
The following tables show the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets
(Level 1); significant other observable inputs (Level 2); significant unobservable inputs (Level 3); and Practical Expedient (in millions):
(1)
The Account early adopted Accounting Pronouncement ASU 2015-07, which removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient.
The following tables show the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):
(1)
Includes purchases, contributions for joint ventures, capital expenditures and lending for loans receivable.
(2)
Includes operating income for real estate joint ventures, net of distributions, and principal payments and extinguishments of mortgage loans payable.
The following table shows quantitative information about unobservable inputs related to the Level 3 fair value measurements as of December 31, 2015.
Real Estate Properties and Joint Ventures: The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Account’s real estate property and joint venture investments are the selection of certain investment rates (Discount Rate, Terminal Capitalization Rate, and Overall Capitalization Rate). Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in significantly lower (higher) fair value measurements, respectively.
Mortgage Loans Payable: The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Account’s mortgage loans payable are the loan to value ratios and the selection of certain credit spreads and weighted average cost of capital risk premiums. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value, respectively.
Loans Receivable: The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Account’s loan receivable are the loan to value ratios and the selection of certain credit spreads. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3.
The amount of total net unrealized gains (losses) included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in net unrealized gains (losses) relating to Level 3 investments and mortgage loans payable using significant unobservable inputs still held as of the reporting date is as follows (in millions):
Note 6-Investments in Joint Ventures
The Account owns interests in several real estate properties through joint ventures and receives distributions and allocations of profits and losses from the joint ventures based on the Account’s ownership interest in those investments. Several of these joint ventures have mortgage loans payable collateralized by the properties owned by the aforementioned joint ventures. At December 31, 2015, the Account held investments in joint ventures with non-controlling ownership interest percentages that ranged from 33% to 90%. Certain joint ventures are subject to adjusted distribution percentages when earnings in the investment reach a pre-determined threshold. The fair value of the Account’s equity interest in these joint ventures was $4.1 billion and $3.0 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Account’s most significant joint venture investment is The Florida Mall, which represented 2.9% of the Account’s net assets and 2.7% of the Account’s invested assets at December 31, 2015. The Account’s proportionate share of the mortgage loans payable held within the joint venture investments at fair value was $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Account’s share in the outstanding principal of the mortgage loans payable held within the joint venture investments was $1.6 billion and $1.7 billion at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
A condensed summary of the financial position and results of operations of the joint ventures are shown below (in millions):
Note 7-Investments in Limited Partnerships
The Account invests in limited partnerships, limited liability companies and private real estate equity investment trusts that own real estate properties and real estate related securities including mezzanine debt. The Account receives distributions from these investments based on the Account’s ownership interest percentage. At December 31, 2015, the Account held non-controlling ownership interests in three limited partnerships and one limited liability company ranging from 5.3% to 18.5%. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the fair value of the Account’s ownership interest was $144.8 million and $357.5 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2015, two of the limited partnership investments were in dissolution. Colony Realty Partners LP began liquidation in May 2014 with final dissolution anticipated during 2016. Lion Gables Apartment Fund began liquidation in February 2015 and has dissolved all of the Fund’s assets. Final dissolution of the entity is anticipated during 2016.
Cobalt Industrial REIT, in which the Account held a 10.998% interest, and Heitman Value Partners Fund, in which the Account held an 8.43% interest, were legally dissolved in December 2015.
Transwestern Mezzanine Realty Partners III may engage in liquidation activities in 2017 based on the terms of its partnership agreement. The Account may elect to sell or transfer its ownership units by giving notice and acquiring consent from the management committee of the limited partnership, which requires approval by a majority of the members.
Note 8-Mortgage Loans Payable
At December 31, 2015, the Account had outstanding mortgage loans payable secured by the following properties (in millions):
(1)
The mortgage is adjusted monthly for principal payments.
(2)
Interest rates are fixed, unless stated otherwise.
(3)
The fair value adjustment consists of the difference (positive or negative) between the principal amount of the outstanding debt and the fair value of the outstanding debt. See Note 1-Organization and Significant Accounting Policies.
(4)
Mortgage loan was paid off on May 11, 2015.
(5)
These properties are each owned by separate wholly owned subsidiaries of TIAA for benefit of the Account. The assets and credit of each of these borrowings entities are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of the Account or any other entity or person other than such borrowing entity.
(6)
Represents mortgage loans on these individual properties which are held within the Kierland Apartment portfolio.
(7)
Represents mortgage loans on these individual properties which are held within the Palomino Park portfolio.
(8)
This mortgage includes three individual loans, all with equal recourse, interest and maturity. The principal balances by loan are $79.0 million, $45.0 million, and $13.5 million.
(9)
This property was sold on February 12, 2015.
(10)
Mortgage loan was paid off on August 5, 2015.
(11)
Mortgage loan was paid off on October 1, 2015.
Principal payment schedule on mortgage loans payable as of December 31, 2015 was as follows (in millions):
Note 9-Financial Highlights
Selected condensed financial information for an Accumulation Unit of the Account is presented below. Per Accumulation Unit data is calculated on average units outstanding.
(1)
Expense charges per Accumulation Unit and the Ratio of Expenses to average net assets reflect the year to date Account level expenses and exclude real estate property level expenses which are included in real estate income, net.
(2)
Real estate investment portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of real estate property investments (including contributions to, or return of capital distributions received from, existing joint venture and limited partnership investments) by the average value of the portfolio of real estate investments held during the period.
(3)
Marketable securities portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of securities, excluding securities having maturity dates at acquisition of one year or less, by the average value of the portfolio securities held during the period.
Note 10-Accumulation Units
Changes in the number of Accumulation Units outstanding were as follows (in millions):
Note 11-Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments-The Account had $45.0 million and $0.2 million of outstanding immediately callable commitments to purchase additional interests in its limited partnership investments as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The commitment at December 31, 2015 is related to the Taconic New York City GP Fund, LP, in which the Account has entered into an agreement to provide funding. As of December 31, 2015, no funding payments have been made but once the obligation is funded, the Account anticipates holding a 60%-90% interest in the fund.
The Account has committed a total of $46.1 million and $63.9 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, to various tenants for tenant improvements and leasing inducements.
Contingencies-The Account is party to various claims and routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Management of the Account does not believe the results of any such claims or litigation, individually, or in the aggregate, will have a material effect on the Account’s business, financial position, or results of operations.
Note 12-Subsequent Events
Purchases
430 West 15th Street-New York, NY
On February 1, 2016, the Account purchased the leasehold interest in a 98,087 square foot, eight-story office property located in New York, New York for $108.4 million. At the time of purchase, the property was 100% leased.
Sales
Residences at Rivers Edge-Medford, MA
On February 12, 2016, the Account sold a multi-family property located in Medford, Massachusetts for a net sales price of $89.4 million, resulting in a realized gain of $8.2 million from the sale, the majority of which had been previously recognized as unrealized gains in the Account’s consolidated statements of operations. The Account’s cost basis in the property at the date of sale was $81.2 million.
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES-60.5% and 59.3%
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
REAL ESTATE JOINT VENTURES AND LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS-17.5% and 15.2%
REAL ESTATE JOINT VENTURES-16.9% and 13.6% (Note 6)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
MARKETABLE SECURITIES-21.6% and 25.5%
REAL ESTATE-RELATED MARKETABLE SECURITIES-4.2% and 8.2%
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
OTHER MARKETABLE SECURITIES-17.4% and 17.3%
GOVERNMENT AGENCY NOTES-11.0% and 10.7%
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS
(Dollar values shown in millions)
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Participants of the TIAA Real Estate Account and the Board of Trustees of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedules of investments, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of changes in net assets and of cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the TIAA Real Estate Account and its subsidiaries (the “Account”) at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Account’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements 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, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
March 10, 2016
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrant maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the registrant’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) and the Principal Financial Officer (“PFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and participation of the registrant’s management, including the registrant’s PEO and PFO, the registrant conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of December 31, 2015. Based upon management’s review, the PEO and the PFO concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2015.
(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Account. The Account’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Account’s PEO and PFO to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Account’s consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
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.
Management has made a comprehensive review, evaluation, and assessment of the Account’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on this assessment, management has concluded that as of December 31, 2015, the Account’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
(c) Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEMS 10 AND 11. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT; EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The TIAA Real Estate Account has no officers or directors and no TIAA trustee or executive officer receives compensation from the Account. The Trustees and certain principal executive officers of TIAA as of March 1, 2016, their dates of birth, and their principal occupations during at least the last five years, are as follows:
Trustees
Ronald L. Thompson (Chairman), DOB: 6/17/49
Director, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Medical University of South Carolina Foundation, and Trustee, Washington University in St. Louis. Member, Plymouth Ventures Partnership II Advisory Board.
Jeffrey R. Brown, DOB: 2/16/68
Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor of Business and Dean of the College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (since 2015). Professor of Finance and Director of the Center for Business and Public Policy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (since 2007).
James R. Chambers, DOB: 9/19/57
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2013), Weight Watchers International, Inc. President, US Snacks and Confectionary at Kraft Foods (2010 to 2012). Director, Big Lots, Inc.
Robert C. Clark, DOB: 2/26/44
Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor and Austin Wakeman Scott Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, Harvard University (since 2003). Director of the Hodson Trust, Time Warner, Inc. and Omnicom Group, Inc.
Lisa W. Hess, DOB: 8/8/55
President and Managing Partner, SkyTop Capital (since 2010). Director of Radian Group, Inc., Covariance Capital Management, Inc. (“Covariance”), and TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB.
Edward M. Hundert, M.D., DOB: 10/1/56
Harvard University Medical School, Dean for Medical Education and Daniel D. Federman, M.D. Professor in Residence of Global Health and Social Medicine and Medical Education (since 2014). Formerly, senior lecturer in Medical Ethics (2007 to 2014), and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard Medical School (2011 to 2014). Formerly, independent consultant, Huron Consulting Group (2011 to 2014).
Lawrence H. Linden, DOB: 2/19/47
Founding Trustee of the Linden Trust for Conservation, Member of the Board of Directors of the World Wildlife Fund and Advisory Director to the Redstone Strategy Group. Strategic Advisory Board Member, New World Capital Group.
Maureen O’Hara, DOB: 6/13/53
R.W. Purcell Professor of Finance at Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University (since 1992), where she has taught since 1979. Chair of the board of Investment Technology Group, Inc. (2007 to 2016), and member of the board (2003 to 2016). Director of New Star Financial, Inc.
Donald K. Peterson, DOB: 8/13/49
Trustee emeritus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Director, Sanford C. Bernstein Fund Inc., Bernstein Fund Inc., and TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB.
Sidney A. Ribeau, DOB: 12/3/47
Professor of Communications, Howard University (since 2014). President, Howard University (2008 to 2013). Director, Worthington Industries.
Dorothy K. Robinson, DOB: 2/18/51
Of Counsel at K&L Gates (since 2016). Former Senior Counselor to the President of Yale University (2014 to 2015). Formerly, Vice President and General Counsel, Yale University (1995 to 2014). Trustee of Yale University Press, London. Director, TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB.
Kim M. Sharan, DOB: 10/20/57
Former President of Financial Planning and Wealth Strategies and Chief Marketing Officer at Ameriprise Financial (2002 to 2014). Director, Girls, Inc.
David L. Shedlarz, DOB: 4/17/48
Director, Pitney Bowes Inc., The Hershey Company, and TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB.
Marta Tienda, DOB: 8/10/50
Maurice P. During ’22 Professor in Demographic Studies and Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs, Princeton University (since 1999). Olivia Margaret Sage Visiting Scholar at the Russell Sage Foundation (since 2015). Trustee, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Jacobs Foundation.
Officer-Trustees
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., DOB: 10/28/51
President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA and CREF (since 2008).
Other TIAA Executive Officers
Robert G. Leary, DOB: 3/20/61
Executive Vice President, Asset Management Chief Executive Officer of TIAA. Principal Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of CREF and VA-1. Principal Executive Officer and President of TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds. Prior to joining TIAA, Mr. Leary served as a Representative, Securities Research, Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer, U.S., ING Americas, Chief Executive Officer, ING Insurance US, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ING Investment Management, Americas.
Virginia M. Wilson, DOB: 7/22/54
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of TIAA and Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer of CREF. Prior to joining TIAA, Ms. Wilson served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation.
Ronald Pressman, DOB: 4/11/58
Executive Vice President, Institutional Financial Services Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, and Executive Vice President of the TIAA-CREF Fund Complex. Prior to joining TIAA, Mr. Pressman served as President and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Capital Real Estate.
Edward D. Van Dolsen, DOB: 4/21/58
Executive Vice President, Individual Financial Services Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, and Executive Vice President of the TIAA-CREF Fund Complex.
Portfolio Management Team
Gerald Casimir, DOB: 10/16/59
Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, TIAA Real Estate Account. (Since 2015) Head of U.S. Real Estate Asset Management, TIAA (2011-2015). Head of Real Estate Asset Management, U.S. Northeastern Region, TIAA (2009-2011).
Gordon (Chris) McGibbon, DOB: 11/25/72
Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Real Estate, TIAA. (Since 2016)
Heather Davis, DOB: 12/18/60
Senior Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer, Global Real Assets, TIAA. (Since 2016)
Audit Committee Financial Expert
On February 10, 2016, the Board of Trustees of TIAA determined that Lisa W. Hess and Donald K. Peterson qualify as Audit Committee Financial Experts. Each such Trustee is independent (as that term is used in
Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and has not accepted, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from TIAA, other than in his or her capacity as Trustee.
Code of Ethics
The Board of Trustees of TIAA has adopted a code of ethics for senior financial officers, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or controller, and persons performing similar functions, in conformity with rules promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this annual report.
During the reporting period, there were no implicit or explicit waivers granted by the Registrant from any provision of the code of ethics.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
The TIAA general account plays a significant role in operating the Real Estate Account, including providing a liquidity guarantee, and investment advisory, administrative, and other services. In addition, Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA, provides distribution services for the Account.
Liquidity Guarantee. If the Account’s liquid assets and its cash flow from operating activities and participant transactions are insufficient to fund redemption requests, the TIAA general account has agreed to purchase liquidity units. TIAA thereby guarantees that a participant can redeem accumulation units at their net asset value next determined. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Account expensed $31.7 million for this liquidity guarantee from TIAA through a daily deduction from the net assets of the Account. During 2012 and through the date of this annual report, the TIAA general account has not purchased any liquidity units. During the months of June, September, December 2012, and March 2013, the Account redeemed all outstanding liquidity units representing a total of $940.3 million and $325.4 million redeemed during 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Investment Advisory and Administration Services/Mortality and Expense Risks Borne by TIAA. Deductions are made each valuation day from the net assets of the Account for various services required to manage investments, administer the Account and distribute the contracts. These services are performed at cost by TIAA and Services. Deductions are also made each valuation day to cover mortality and expense risks borne by TIAA.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Account expensed $69.3 million for investment advisory services and $1.1 million for mortality and expense risks provided/borne by TIAA. For the same period, the Account expensed $80.8 million for administrative and distribution services provided by TIAA and Services.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) performs independent audits of the registrant’s consolidated financial statements. To maintain auditor independence and avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest, the registrant, as a policy, does not engage PwC for management advisory or consulting services.
Audit Fees. PwC’s fees for professional services rendered for the audits of the registrant’s annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and review of consolidated financial statements included in the registrant’s quarterly reports were $1,130,000 and $1,169,000 respectively.
Audit-Related Fees. The registrant had no audit-related services for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Tax Fees. PwC had no tax fees with respect to registrant for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
All Other Fees. Other than as set forth above, there were no additional fees with respect to registrant.
Preapproval Policy. In June of 2003, the audit committee of TIAA’s Board of Trustees (“Audit Committee”) adopted a Preapproval Policy for External Audit Firm Services (the “Policy”), which applies to the registrant. The Policy describes the types of services that may be provided by the independent auditor to the registrant without impairing the auditor’s independence. Under the Policy, the Audit Committee is required to preapprove services to be performed by the registrant’s independent auditor in order to ensure that such services do not impair the auditor’s independence.
The Policy requires the Audit Committee to: (i) appoint the independent auditor to perform the financial statement audit for the registrant and certain of its affiliates, including approving the terms of the engagement and (ii) preapprove the audit, audit-related and tax services to be provided by the independent auditor and the fees to be charged for provision of such services from year to year.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(1)
(A)
Distribution Agreement for the Contracts Funded by the TIAA Real Estate Account, dated as of January 1, 2008, by and among Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, for itself and on behalf of the Account, and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC.4
(3)
(A)
Restated Charter of TIAA (as amended).5
(B)
Amended Bylaws of TIAA.6
(4)
(A)
Forms of RA, GRA, GSRA, SRA, IRA Real Estate Account Endorsements2, Keogh Contract,3 Retirement Select and Retirement Select Plus Contracts and Endorsements1 and Retirement Choice and Retirement Choice Plus Contracts.3
(B)
Forms of Income-Paying Contracts2
(C)
Form of Contract Endorsement for Internal Transfer Limitation7
(10)
(A)
Amended and Restated Independent Fiduciary Letter Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2015, between TIAA, on behalf of the Registrant, and RERC, LLC8
(B)
Custodian Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2008, by and between TIAA, on behalf of the Registrant, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, N.A.9
*(14)
Code of Ethics of TIAA
*(31)
Rule 13(a)-15(e)/ Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e) Certifications
*(32)
Section 1350 Certifications
**(101)
The following financial information from the annual report on Form 10-K for the periods ended December 31, 2015, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, (ii) the Statements of Operations, (iii) the Statements of Changes in Net Assets, (iv) the Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to the Financial Statements. Any other required schedule has been omitted because the schedule is not applicable to the registrant.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant, TIAA Real Estate Account, has duly caused this annual report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on the 10th day of March, 2016.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed by the following trustees and officers of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15(D) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED
SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT
Because the Registrant has no voting securities, nor its own management or board of directors, no annual report or proxy materials will be sent to contract owners holding interests in the Account.