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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016
OR
o
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number: 001-11312
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
GEORGIA
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
58-0869052
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
191 Peachtree Street, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia
(Address of principal executive offices)
30303-1740
(Zip Code)
(404) 407-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
 
Outstanding at October 27, 2016
Common Stock, $1 par value per share
 
393,383,468 shares


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters contained in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and as itemized herein. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the business and our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as:
our business and financial strategy;
our ability to obtain future financing arrangements;
future acquisitions and future dispositions of operating assets;
future acquisitions of land;
future development and redevelopment opportunities;
future dispositions of land and other non-core assets;
future repurchases of common stock;
projected operating results;
market and industry trends;
future distributions;
projected capital expenditures; 
interest rates;
statements about the benefits of the transactions involving us and Parkway Properties, Inc. ("Parkway"), including future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions;
all statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders;
benefits of the transactions with Parkway to tenants, employees, stockholders and other constituents of the combined company; and
integrating Parkway with us.
Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following:
the availability and terms of capital and financing;
the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures;
the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close;
the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions and investments or from dispositions;
the potential dilutive effect of common stock offerings;
the failure to achieve benefits from the repurchase of common stock;
the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets;
risks and uncertainties related to national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry in general, and the commercial real estate markets in particular;
changes to our strategy with regard to land and other non-core holdings that require impairment losses to be recognized;
leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly developed and/or recently acquired space, and the risk of declining leasing rates;
the adverse change in the financial condition of one or more of our major tenants;
volatility in interest rates and insurance rates;
competition from other developers or investors;
the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk);
the loss of key personnel;
the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues;
the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements;
the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners;
any failure to comply with debt covenants under credit agreements;
any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust and meet regulatory requirements;
the ability to successfully integrate our operations and employees in connection with the transactions with Parkway;
the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transactions with Parkway;

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risks associated with litigation resulting from the transactions with Parkway and from liabilities or contingent liabilities assumed in the transactions with Parkway;
risks associated with any errors or omissions in financial or other information of Parkway that has been previously provided to the public;
material changes in the dividend rates on securities or the ability to pay dividends on common shares or other securities;
potential changes to tax legislation;
changes in demand for properties;
risks associated with the acquisition, development, expansion, leasing and management of properties;
significant costs related to uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues;
the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the transactions with Parkway; and
those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by the Company, Parkway, and Parkway, Inc.
The words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “may,” “intend,” “will,” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, or expectations will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information, or otherwise, except as required under U.S. federal securities laws.

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.    Financial Statements.
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
(unaudited)
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
Real estate assets:
 
 
 
Operating properties, net of accumulated depreciation of $328,790 and $352,350 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
$
2,014,548

 
$
2,194,781

Projects under development
111,768

 
27,890

Land
9,669

 
17,829

 
2,135,985

 
2,240,500

Real estate assets and other assets held for sale, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $119,670 and $7,200 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
203,735

 
7,246

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
97,241

 
2,003

Restricted cash
6,566

 
4,304

Notes and accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,128 and $1,353 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
12,215

 
10,828

Deferred rents receivable
60,094

 
67,258

Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
116,933

 
102,577

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $110,679 and $103,458 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
105,015

 
124,615

Other assets
22,950

 
35,989

Total assets
$
2,760,734

 
$
2,595,320

Liabilities:


 


Notes payable
$
789,378

 
$
718,810

Liabilities of real estate assets held for sale
106,135

 
1,347

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
84,641

 
71,739

Deferred income
34,604

 
29,788

Intangible liabilities, net of accumulated amortization of $32,922 and $26,890 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
52,127

 
59,592

Other liabilities
28,412

 
30,629

Total liabilities
1,095,297

 
911,905

Commitments and contingencies


 


Equity:
 
 
 
Stockholders' investment:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $1 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, -0- shares issued and outstanding in 2016 and 2015

 

Common stock, $1 par value, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 220,498,850 and 220,255,676 shares issued in 2016 and 2015, respectively
220,499

 
220,256

Additional paid-in capital
1,723,552

 
1,722,224

Treasury stock at cost, 10,329,082 and 8,742,181 shares in 2016 and 2015, respectively
(148,373
)
 
(134,630
)
Distributions in excess of cumulative net income
(132,766
)
 
(124,435
)
Total stockholders' investment
1,662,912

 
1,683,415

Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests
2,525

 

Total equity
1,665,437

 
1,683,415

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,760,734

 
$
2,595,320

 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
 
 

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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)


 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rental property revenues
$
92,621

 
$
96,016

 
$
271,832

 
$
282,226

Fee income
1,945

 
1,686

 
5,968

 
5,206

Other
153

 
444

 
858

 
593

 
94,719

 
98,146

 
278,658

 
288,025

Costs and expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Rental property operating expenses
37,760

 
41,331

 
112,051

 
120,672

Reimbursed expenses
795

 
686

 
2,463

 
2,514

General and administrative expenses
4,368

 
2,976

 
17,301

 
12,405

Interest expense
7,710

 
7,673

 
22,457

 
23,219

Depreciation and amortization
31,843

 
32,538

 
96,192

 
103,564

Acquisition and merger costs
1,940

 
19

 
4,383

 
104

Other
173

 
170

 
681

 
970

 
84,589

 
85,393

 
255,528

 
263,448

Income from continuing operations before taxes, unconsolidated joint ventures, and sale of investment properties
10,130

 
12,753

 
23,130

 
24,577

Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
1,527

 
3,716

 
5,144

 
7,088

Income from continuing operations before gain on sale of investment properties
11,657

 
16,469

 
28,274

 
31,665

Gain on sale of investment properties

 
37,145

 
13,944

 
37,674

Income from continuing operations
11,657

 
53,614

 
42,218

 
69,339

Income (loss) from discontinued operations:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 
6

 

 
(14
)
Income (loss) on sale from discontinued operations

 

 

 
(551
)
 

 
6

 

 
(565
)
Net income
$
11,657

 
$
53,620

 
$
42,218

 
$
68,774

Per common share information — basic and diluted:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
0.06

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.32

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

Net income
$
0.06

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.32

Weighted average shares — basic
210,170

 
216,261

 
210,400

 
216,485

Weighted average shares — diluted
210,326

 
216,374

 
210,528

 
216,625

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.08

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.24


See accompanying notes.

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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015
(unaudited, in thousands)


 
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Distributions in
Excess of
Net Income
 
Stockholders’
Investment
 
Nonredeemable
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
Balance December 31, 2015
 
$
220,256

 
$
1,722,224

 
$
(134,630
)
 
$
(124,435
)
 
$
1,683,415

 
$

 
$
1,683,415

Net income
 

 

 

 
42,218

 
42,218

 

 
42,218

Common stock issued pursuant to stock based compensation
 
257

 
76

 

 

 
333

 

 
333

Amortization of stock options and restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 
(14
)
 
1,252

 

 

 
1,238

 

 
1,238

Contributions from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests
 

 

 

 

 

 
2,525

 
2,525

Repurchase of common stock
 

 

 
(13,743
)
 

 
(13,743
)
 

 
(13,743
)
Common dividends ($0.24 per share)
 

 

 

 
(50,549
)
 
(50,549
)
 

 
(50,549
)
Balance September 30, 2016
 
$
220,499

 
$
1,723,552

 
$
(148,373
)
 
$
(132,766
)
 
$
1,662,912

 
$
2,525

 
$
1,665,437

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance December 31, 2014
 
$
220,083

 
$
1,720,972

 
$
(86,840
)
 
$
(180,757
)
 
$
1,673,458

 
$

 
$
1,673,458

Net income
 

 

 

 
68,774

 
68,774

 

 
68,774

Common stock issued pursuant to stock based compensation
 
173

 
(244
)
 

 

 
(71
)
 

 
(71
)
Repurchase of common stock
 

 

 
(18,691
)
 

 
(18,691
)
 

 
(18,691
)
Amortization of stock options and restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 

 
1,104

 

 

 
1,104

 

 
1,104

Common dividends ($0.24 per share)
 

 

 

 
(52,011
)
 
(52,011
)
 

 
(52,011
)
Other
 

 
24

 

 

 
24

 

 
24

Balance September 30, 2015
 
$
220,256

 
$
1,721,856

 
$
(105,531
)
 
$
(163,994
)
 
$
1,672,587

 
$

 
$
1,672,587

See accompanying notes.

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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)


 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
42,218

 
$
68,774

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Gain on sale of investment properties, including discontinued operations
(13,944
)
 
(37,123
)
Depreciation and amortization, including discontinued operations
96,192

 
103,614

Amortization of deferred financing costs
1,063

 
1,073

Stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
1,571

 
1,104

Effect of certain non-cash adjustments to rental revenues
(15,966
)
 
(21,907
)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
(5,144
)
 
(7,087
)
Operating distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures
5,893

 
5,570

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Change in other receivables and other assets, net
1,824

 
(6,452
)
Change in operating liabilities
5,544

 
(4,526
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
119,251

 
103,040

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from investment property sales
21,088

 
136,498

Property acquisition, development, and tenant asset expenditures
(122,357
)
 
(151,384
)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
(24,918
)
 
(7,486
)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures
4,150

 
6,318

Change in notes receivable and other assets
(5,699
)
 
1,149

Change in restricted cash
(3,667
)
 
293

Net cash used in investing activities
(131,403
)
 
(14,612
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from credit facility
182,800

 
269,000

Repayment of credit facility
(274,800
)
 
(275,200
)
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
270,000

 

Repayment of notes payable
(7,239
)
 
(6,574
)
Payment of loan issuance costs
(1,604
)
 

Common stock issued, net of expenses

 
8

Contributions from noncontrolling interests
2,525

 

Repurchase of common stock
(13,743
)
 
(18,320
)
Common dividends paid
(50,549
)
 
(52,011
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
107,390

 
(83,097
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
95,238

 
5,331

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
2,003

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
97,241

 
$
5,331

 
 
 
 
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
$
20,792

 
$
22,579

 
 
 
 
Significant non-cash transactions:
 
 
 

Transfer from operating properties to real estate assets and other assets held for sale
$
203,735

 
$
50,491

Transfer from operating properties to liabilities of real estate assets held for sale
106,135

 
2,843

Transfer from projects under development to operating properties

 
93,019

Change in accrued property acquisition, development, and tenant asset expenditures
11,384

 
(4,118
)
Transfer from land held to projects under development
8,099

 

Transfer from investment in unconsolidated joint ventures to projects under development
5,880

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See accompanying notes.

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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2016
(Unaudited)
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”), a Georgia corporation, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Cousins TRS Services LLC ("CTRS") is a taxable entity wholly owned by and consolidated with Cousins. CTRS owns and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties. All of the entities included in the condensed consolidated financial statements are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Company."
The Company develops, acquires, leases, manages, and owns primarily Class A office assets and opportunistic mixed-use properties in Sunbelt markets with a focus on Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Cousins has elected to be taxed as a REIT and intends to, among other things, distribute 90% of its net taxable income to stockholders, thereby eliminating any liability for federal income taxes under current law. Therefore, the results included herein do not include a federal income tax provision for Cousins.
The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and were prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary (which adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature) for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position as of September 30, 2016 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The accounting policies employed are substantially the same as those shown in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in such Form 10-K.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, there were no items of other comprehensive income. Therefore, no presentation of comprehensive income is required.
The Company evaluates all partnerships, joint ventures and other arrangements with variable interests to determine if the entity or arrangement qualifies as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). If the entity or arrangement qualifies as a VIE and the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, the Company is required to consolidate the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the VIE. The Company concluded that its joint venture with Callaway Gardens Resort, Inc. is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the assets, liabilities and results of operations have been consolidated. In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," and this adoption had no material impact on the Company.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." Under this ASU, the additional paid-in capital pool is eliminated, and an entity recognizes all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. This ASU also eliminated the requirement to defer recognition of an excess tax benefit until all benefits are realized through a reduction to taxes payable. This ASU also changes the treatment of excess tax benefits as operating cash flows in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2017, and is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting the new guidance.
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases," which amends the existing standards for lease accounting by requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting and reporting. The new standard will require lessees to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months and classify such leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. This classification will determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method (finance leases) or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease (operating leases). Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. ASU 2016-02 supersedes previous leasing standards.  The guidance is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2019, and is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting the

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new guidance. The impact of the adoption of this new guidance, if any, will be recorded retrospectively to all financial statements presented.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." Under the new guidance, companies will recognize revenue when the seller satisfies a performance obligation, which would be when the buyer takes control of the good or service. This new guidance could result in different amounts of revenue being recognized and could result in revenue being recognized in different reporting periods than under the current guidance. The new guidance specifically excludes revenue associated with lease contracts. ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," was subsequently issued modifying the effective date to periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The standard allows for either "full retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods presented, or "modified retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most recent period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing this guidance for future implementation and potential impact of adoption. The Company expects to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2018.
In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Costs" ("ASU 2015-03"). In accordance with ASU 2015-03, the Company began recording deferred financing costs related to its mortgage notes payable as a reduction in the carrying amount of its notes payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company reclassified $2.5 million in deferred financing costs from other assets to notes payable in its December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period's presentation. Deferred financing costs related to the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility continue to be included in other assets within the Company’s balance sheets in accordance with ASU 2015-15 "Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements."
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and the condensed consolidated statements of equity. Separation expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations have been reclassified from general and administrative expenses to other expenses. On the condensed consolidated statements of equity, all components of common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation are aggregated into one line item. These changes do not affect the previously reported total costs and expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations or the total equity in the condensed consolidated statements of equity for any period.

2. TRANSACTIONS WITH PARKWAY PROPERTIES, INC.

On October 6, 2016, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 28, 2016, (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Cousins, Parkway Properties, Inc. ("Parkway") and subsidiaries of Cousins and Parkway, Parkway merged with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Merger"), with this subsidiary continuing as the surviving corporation of the Merger. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of Parkway common stock and each outstanding share of Parkway limited voting stock was converted into 1.63 shares of Cousins common stock or limited voting preferred stock, respectively. In the Merger, former Parkway common stockholders received approximately 183 million shares of Cousins common stock and Parkway limited voting stockholders received approximately 7 million shares of Cousins limited voting preferred stock.

On October 7, 2016, pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Separation, Distribution and Transition Services Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2016 (the "Separation Agreement"), by and among Cousins, Parkway, New Parkway (as defined below), and certain other parties thereto, Cousins distributed pro rata to its common and limited voting preferred stockholders, including legacy Parkway common and limited voting stockholders, all of the outstanding shares of common and limited voting stock, respectively, of Parkway, Inc. ("New Parkway"), a newly-formed entity that contains the combined businesses relating to the ownership of real properties in Houston, Texas (the "Spin-Off"). In the Spin-Off, Cousins distributed one share of New Parkway common or limited voting stock for every eight shares of common or limited voting preferred stock of Cousins held of record as of the close of business on October 6, 2016. As a result of the Spin-Off, New Parkway is now an independent public company, and its common stock is listed under the symbol "PKY" on the New York Stock Exchange.

In connection with the Merger and Spin-Off, Cousins Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership ("CPLP"), was formed. As a result of a series of transactions undertaken pursuant to the Separation Agreement (the "Reorganization"), occurring after the Merger but prior to the Spin-Off, substantially all of Parkway's and the Company's assets and liabilities not pertaining to the ownership of real properties in Houston, Texas, were contributed to CPLP. As a result of the Merger and Spin-Off, substantially all of the Company's post-Merger, post-Spin-Off activities will be conducted through CPLP.

Approximately 98% of the partnership units of CPLP are owned by the Company, and approximately 2% are owned by legacy outside unit holders of Parkway LP (the "Outside Unit Holders"). Ownership of partnership units in CPLP will generally entitle the holder to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, CPLP in proportion to such holder's percentage

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ownership. The Company acts as the general partner in CPLP and has the exclusive right and full authority and responsibility to manage and operate CPLP's business. Limited partners generally do not have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of CPLP. Limited partners may redeem partnership units for cash, or at the Company's election, shares of Cousins' common stock on a one-for-one basis, at any time beginning twelve months following the date of the initial issuance of the partnership units, except for partnership units issued in connection with the Reorganization, which may be redeemed at any time. The Company will consolidate the accounts and operations of CPLP in its financial statements.

The Company will account for the Merger as a business combination with the Company as the accounting acquirer. The total value of the transaction is based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on October 5, 2016, the day immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, of $10.19 per share. Based on the shares issued in the transaction and on the units of CPLP effectively issued to the Outside Unit Holders in the transaction, the total value of the assets and liabilities assumed in the Merger is estimated to be $1.9 billion. Due to the limited time since the Merger, the initial accounting for this transaction is incomplete and, as such, the Company is unable to provide purchase price allocation and other disclosures associated with the Merger and Spin-Off. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company incurred $1.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively, in merger-related expenses.

3. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
As of September 30, 2016, 191 Peachtree Tower, a 1.2 million square-foot office building in Atlanta, Georgia, that is included in the Company's Atlanta/Office operating segment, was held for sale. Consequently, the assets and liabilities were reclassified as held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2016. 191 Peachtree Tower was sold in October 2016 for a gross sales price of $268 million. The sale does not represent a strategic shift in operations and, therefore, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 have been included in continuing operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company expects to recognize a gain on the sale of this asset in the fourth quarter of 2016.
As of December 31, 2015, 100 North Point Center East, a 129,000 square foot office building in Atlanta, Georgia, that was included in the Company's Atlanta/Office operating segment, was held for sale. This transaction closed in the first quarter of 2016 for a gross sales price of $22.0 million. The Company recognized a gain on the sale of this asset of $14.2 million.
The Company sold 191 Peachtree Tower and 100 North Point Center East as part of its on-going investment strategy of recycling investment capital to fund investment activity.
The major components of the assets and liabilities held for sale at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Real estate and other assets held for sale
 
 
 
Operating properties, net of accumulated depreciation of $100,250 and $7,072 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
$
171,543

 
$
6,421

Restricted cash
1,405

 

Accounts receivable
1,460

 
210

Deferred rents receivable
17,606

 
496

Intangible and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $19,420 and $128 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
11,721

 
119

 
$
203,735

 
$
7,246

Liabilities of real estate assets held for sale
 
 
 
Note payable, net of unamortized deferred loan costs of $188 in 2016
$
99,000

 
$

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
5,196

 
140

Intangible liabilities, net of accumulated amortization of $794 in 2016
638

 

Other liabilities
1,301

 
1,207

 
$
106,135

 
$
1,347

Following the Merger and Spin-Off, the Company sold Two Liberty Place, a 941,000 square foot office building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that was acquired in the Merger, for a gross sales price of $219.0 million. This property was held in a consolidated joint venture in which the Company owned a 19% interest.

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4. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES
The Company describes its investments in unconsolidated joint ventures in note 5 of notes to consolidated financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The following table summarizes balance sheet data of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
Total Assets
 
Total Debt
 
Total Equity
 
Company’s Investment
 
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
Terminus Office Holdings
$
274,417

 
$
277,444

 
$
208,572

 
$
211,216

 
$
52,743

 
$
56,369

 
$
27,381

 
$
29,110

 
EP I LLC
81,204

 
83,115

 
58,029

 
58,029

 
21,006

 
24,172

 
19,753

 
21,502

 
EP II LLC
68,179

 
70,704

 
44,736

 
40,910

 
22,136

 
24,331

 
17,892

 
19,118

 
Carolina Square Holdings LP
51,507

 
15,729

 
9,287

 

 
34,164

 
12,085

 
18,256

 
6,782

 
Charlotte Gateway Village, LLC
120,828

 
123,531

 
3,265

 
17,536

 
114,038

 
104,336

 
11,359

 
11,190

 
HICO Victory Center LP
13,798

 
13,532

 

 

 
13,793

 
13,229

 
9,419

 
9,138

 
DC Charlotte Plaza LLLP
15,168

 

 

 

 
15,164

 

 
8,188

 

 
CL Realty, L.L.C.
7,869

 
7,872

 

 

 
7,767

 
7,662

 
3,585

 
3,515

 
Temco Associates, LLC
5,324

 
5,284

 

 

 
5,196

 
5,133

 
1,100

 
977

 
Wildwood Associates
16,378

 
16,419

 

 

 
16,298

 
16,354

 
(1,125
)
(1)
(1,122
)
(1)
Crawford Long - CPI, LLC
28,449

 
29,143

 
73,193

 
74,286

 
(46,667
)
 
(46,238
)
 
(22,236
)
(1)
(22,021
)
(1)
AMCO 120 WT Holdings, LLC
8,288

 

 

 

 
7,941

 

 

 

 
Other

 
2,107

 

 

 

 
1,646

 

 
1,245

 
 
$
691,409

 
$
644,880

 
$
397,082

 
$
401,977

 
$
263,579

 
$
219,079

 
$
93,572

 
$
79,434

 
(1) Negative balances are included in deferred income on the balance sheets.
The following table summarizes statement of operations information of the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
Total Revenues
 
Net Income (Loss)
 
Company's Share of Income (Loss)
 
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
Terminus Office Holdings
$
31,630

 
$
30,144

 
$
3,874

 
$
1,923

 
$
1,937

 
$
962

 
EP I LLC
7,919

 
9,587

 
1,417

 
2,481

 
1,206

 
1,864

 
EP II LLC
3,605

 
536

 
(1,194
)
 
(150
)
 
(1,043
)
 
(100
)
 
Charlotte Gateway Village, LLC
26,245

 
25,311

 
11,077

 
9,438

 
1,447

 
883

 
HICO Victory Center LP
307

 

 
300

 

 
131

 

 
CL Realty, L.L.C.
327

 
674

 
105

 
346

 
70

 
178

 
DC Charlotte Plaza LLLP
47

 

 
45

 

 
24

 

 
Temco Associates, LLC
180

 
9,163

 
83

 
2,077

 
122

 
2,244

 
Wildwood Associates

 

 
(106
)
 
(89
)
 
(53
)
 
(45
)
 
Crawford Long - CPI, LLC
9,101

 
9,193

 
2,005

 
2,131

 
1,003

 
1,071

 
Other

 

 

 
(95
)
 
300

 
31

 
 
$
79,361

 
$
84,608

 
$
17,606

 
$
18,062

 
$
5,144

 
$
7,088

 
On March 29, 2016, a 50-50 joint venture, DC Charlotte Plaza LLLP, was formed between the Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors ("DFA") to develop DFA's 282,000 square foot regional headquarters building in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each partner contributed $6.6 million in pre-development costs upon formation of the venture. The Company will account for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method.

On August 26, 2016, the Company and affiliates of AMLI Residential (“AMLI”) formed AMCO 120 WT Holdings, LLC to develop a mixed-use property in Decatur, Georgia. The property is expected to contain approximately 30,000 square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space and 330 apartment units. Cousins holds a 20% interest in the joint venture, and AMLI holds an 80% interest. Initial contributions to the joint venture for the purchase of land were funded entirely by AMLI. Subsequent contributions will be funded in proportion to the members' percentage interests. The Company will account for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method.

In the Merger, the Company acquired a 74.6% interest in the US Airways Building, a 229,000 square foot office building in Tempe, Arizona. Because the building is owned as a tenancy-in-common, the Company expects to account for its interest in the

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building under the equity method. On October 20, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining 25.4% interest for $19.6 million at a date no later than February 28, 2017.
5. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets on the balance sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 included the following (in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
In-place leases, net of accumulated amortization of $103,352 and $88,035 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
$
95,101

 
$
112,937

Above-market tenant leases, net of accumulated amortization of $7,327 and $15,423 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
6,288

 
8,031

Goodwill
 
3,626

 
3,647

 
 
$
105,015

 
$
124,615


The following is a summary of goodwill activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Beginning balance
$
3,647

 
$
3,867

Allocated to property sales
(21
)
 
(127
)
Ending balance
$
3,626

 
$
3,740

6. OTHER ASSETS
Other assets on the balance sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 included the following (in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Furniture, fixtures and equipment, leasehold improvements, and other deferred costs, net of accumulated depreciation of $22,994 and $22,572 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
$
10,784

 
$
13,523

Lease inducements, net of accumulated amortization of $1,684 and $6,865 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
4,008

 
13,306

Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
5,759

 
4,408

Line of credit deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $2,033 and $1,380 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
2,320

 
2,972

Predevelopment costs and earnest money
 
79

 
1,780

 
 
$
22,950

 
$
35,989

7. NOTES PAYABLE
The following table summarizes the Company's notes payable balance at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Notes payable
 
$
792,866

 
$
721,293

Less: deferred financing costs of mortgage debt, net of accumulated amortization of $1,867 and $2,008 in 2016 and 2015, respectively
 
(3,488
)
 
(2,483
)
 
 
$
789,378

 
$
718,810

The following table details the terms and amounts of the Company’s outstanding notes payable at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):

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Description
 
Interest Rate
 
Maturity
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Post Oak Central mortgage note
 
4.26
%
 
2020
 
$
179,170

 
$
181,770

Fifth Third Center mortgage note

3.37
%

2026

150,000



The American Cancer Society Center mortgage note
 
6.45
%
 
2017
 
127,989

 
129,342

Colorado Tower mortgage note

3.45
%

2026

120,000



Promenade mortgage note
 
4.27
%
 
2022
 
106,068

 
108,203

191 Peachtree Tower mortgage note
 
3.35
%
 
2018
 
99,188

 
100,000

816 Congress mortgage note
 
3.75
%
 
2024
 
85,000

 
85,000

Meridian Mark Plaza mortgage note
 
6.00
%
 
2020
 
24,639

 
24,978

Credit Facility, unsecured
 
1.63
%
 
2019
 

 
92,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
892,054

 
721,293

191 Peachtree Tower mortgage note classified as Held for Sale
 
 
 
 
 
(99,188
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
792,866

 
$
721,293

Other Debt Information
In September 2016, the Company entered into a $120.0 million non-recourse mortgage secured by Colorado Tower, a 373,000 square foot office building in Austin, Texas. The mortgage bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.45% and matures September 1, 2026. Also in September 2016, the Company entered into a $150.0 million non-recourse mortgage secured by Fifth Third Center, a 698,000 square foot office building in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mortgage bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.37% and matures October 1, 2026.
In October 2016, the Company sold 191 Peachtree Tower and repaid the 191 Peachtree Tower mortgage note in full. In connection with the repayment, the Company paid a $3.7 million prepayment penalty.
In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company distributed the Post Oak Central mortgage note to New Parkway on October 7, 2016.
Fair Value
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate estimated fair values of the Company's notes payable were $915.0 million and $738.1 million, respectively, calculated by discounting the debt's remaining contractual cash flows at estimated rates at which similar loans could have been obtained at those respective dates. The estimate of the current market rate, which is the most significant input in the discounted cash flow calculation, is intended to replicate debt of similar maturity and loan-to-value relationship. These fair value calculations are considered to be Level 2 under the guidelines as set forth in ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurement," as the Company utilizes market rates for similar type loans from third-party brokers.
Other Information
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, interest expense was as follows (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
Total interest incurred
$
8,939

 
$
8,696

 
$
25,445

 
$
25,959

 
Interest capitalized
(1,229
)
 
(1,023
)
 
(2,988
)
 
(2,740
)
 
Total interest expense
$
7,710

 
$
7,673

 
$
22,457

 
$
23,219

 
The real estate and other assets of The American Cancer Society Center (the “ACS Center”) are restricted under the ACS Center loan agreement as they are not available to settle debts of the Company. However, provided that the ACS Center loan has not incurred any uncured event of default, as defined in the loan agreement, the cash flows from the ACS Center, after payments of debt service, operating expenses, and reserves, are available for distribution to the Company.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments
At September 30, 2016, the Company had outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds totaling $1.9 million. As a lessor, the Company had $79.0 million in future obligations under leases to fund tenant improvements as of September 30, 2016.

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As a lessee, the Company had future obligations under ground and other operating leases of $143.6 million as of September 30, 2016.
Litigation
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, claims and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are expected to be covered by liability insurance. Management makes assumptions and estimates concerning the likelihood and amount of any potential loss relating to these matters using the latest information available. The Company records a liability for litigation if an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. If an unfavorable outcome is probable and a reasonable estimate of the loss is a range, the Company accrues the best estimate within the range. If no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the Company accrues the minimum amount within the range. If an unfavorable outcome is probable but the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the litigation and indicates that an estimate of the loss or range of loss cannot be made. If an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and the estimated loss is material, the Company discloses the nature and estimate of the possible loss of the litigation. The Company does not disclose information with respect to litigation where an unfavorable outcome is considered to be remote or where the estimated loss would not be material. Based on current expectations, such matters, both individually and in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the liquidity, results of operations, business or financial condition of the Company.
9.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
In 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million of its outstanding common shares. The plan expires on September 8, 2017. The repurchases may be executed in the open market, through private negotiations, or in other transactions permitted under applicable law. The timing, manner, price, and amount of any repurchases will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will be subject to economic and market conditions, stock price, applicable legal requirements, and other factors. In March 2016, the program was suspended due to the announcement of the merger with Parkway.
Prior to suspension, the Company repurchased 6.8 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $61.5 million, including broker commissions, under this plan. The share repurchases were funded from cash on hand, borrowings under the Company's Credit Facility, and proceeds from the sale of assets. The repurchased shares were recorded as treasury shares on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has several types of stock-based compensation - stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) - which are described in note 12 of notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The expense related to a portion of the stock-based compensation awards is fixed. The expense related to other stock-based compensation awards fluctuates from period to period dependent, in part, on the Company's stock price and stock performance relative to its peers. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures, of $141,000 and a reversal of expense of $683,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $4.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
The Company maintains the 2009 Incentive Stock Plan (the "2009 Plan") and the 2005 Restricted Stock Unit Plan (the “RSU Plan”). Under the 2009 Plan, the Company made restricted stock grants in 2016 of 234,965 shares to key employees, which vest ratably over a three-year period. Under the RSU Plan, the Company awarded two types of performance-based RSUs to key employees based on the following metrics: (1) Total Stockholder Return of the Company, as defined in the RSU Plan, as compared to the companies in the SNL US REIT Office index (“TSR RSUs”), and (2) the ratio of cumulative funds from operations per share to targeted cumulative funds from operations per share (“FFO RSUs”) as defined in the RSU Plan. The performance period for both awards is January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, and the targeted units awarded of TSR RSUs and FFO RSUs is 214,151 and 97,797, respectively. The ultimate payout of these awards can range from 0% to 200% of the targeted number of units depending on the achievement of the market and performance metrics described above. Both of these RSUs cliff vest on January 29, 2019 and are to be settled in cash with payment dependent on upon attainment of required service, market, and performance criteria. The number of RSUs vesting will be determined at that date, and the payout per unit will be equal to the average closing price on each trading day during the 30-day period ending on December 31, 2018. The Company expenses an estimate of the fair value of the TSR RSUs over the performance period using a quarterly Monte Carlo valuation. The FFO RSUs are expensed over the vesting period using the fair market value of the Company's stock at the reporting date multiplied by the anticipated number of units to be paid based on the current estimate of what the ratio is expected to be upon vesting. Dividend equivalents on the TSR RSUs and the FFO RSUs will also be paid based upon the percentage vested.
In addition, in the second quarter of 2016, the Company issued 72,771 shares of common stock at fair value to members of its board of directors in lieu of fees, and recorded $765,000 in general and administrative expense related to these issuances.

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In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company modified its stock-based compensation arrangements in order to preserve the value of outstanding equity awards immediately before and immediately following the Spin-Off. As a result, restricted stock, stock options, and restricted stock units were modified as follows:
Restricted Stock--the Company converted 377,610 restricted stock outstanding immediately prior to the Spin-Off to 498,325 restricted stock.
Restricted Stock Units--the Company converted 981,612 shares of restricted stock units outstanding immediately prior to the Spin-Off to 1,295,417 shares of restricted stock units.
Stock Options--the Company converted 1,730,981 stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $21.99 immediately prior to the Spin-Off to 2,284,346 stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $16.66.
In addition, in connection with the Merger and Spin-Off, the Company effectively issued 672,375 stock options to certain former employees of Parkway at an exercise price of $7.82 per option.
11. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net income per share-basic is calculated as net income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including nonvested restricted stock which has nonforfeitable dividend rights. Net income per share-diluted is calculated as net income available to common stockholders divided by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted weighted average number of common shares uses the same weighted average share number as in the basic calculation and adds the potential dilution, if any, that would occur if stock options (or any other contracts to issue common stock) were exercised and resulted in additional common shares outstanding, calculated using the treasury stock method. Weighted average shares-basic and diluted for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, are as follows (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
Weighted average shares — basic
210,170

 
216,261

 
210,400

 
216,485

 
Dilutive potential common shares — stock options
156

 
113

 
128

 
140

 
Weighted average shares — diluted
210,326

 
216,374

 
210,528

 
216,625

 
Weighted average anti-dilutive stock options
1,103

 
1,553

 
1,110

 
1,553

 
Stock options are dilutive when the average market price of the Company's stock during the period exceeds the option exercise price. In periods where the Company is in a net loss position, the dilutive effect of stock options is not included in the diluted weighted average shares total.
Anti-dilutive stock options represent stock options which are outstanding but which are not exercisable during the period because the exercise price exceeded the average market value of the Company's stock. These anti-dilutive stock options are not included in the current calculation of dilutive weighted average shares but could be dilutive in the future.

12. REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
The Company's segments are based on the Company's method of internal reporting which classifies operations by property type and geographical area. The segments by property type are: Office, Mixed Use, and Other. The segments by geographical region are: Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, and Other. These reportable segments represent an aggregation of operating segments reported to the Chief Operating Decision Maker based on similar economic characteristics that include the type of property and the geographical location. Prior period information has been revised to reflect the change in segment reporting as described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Each segment includes both consolidated operations and the Company's share of joint venture operations.
Company management evaluates the performance of its reportable segments in part based on net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental property revenues less rental property operating expenses. NOI is not a measure of cash flows or operating results as measured by GAAP, is not indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. All companies may not calculate NOI in the same manner. The Company considers NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income as it helps both management and investors understand the core operations of the Company's operating assets. NOI excludes corporate general and administrative expenses, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairments, gains/loss on sales of real estate, and other non-operating items.

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Segment net income, amount of capital expenditures, and total assets are not presented in the following tables because management does not utilize these measures when analyzing its segments or when making resource allocation decisions. In the third quarter of 2016, the Company revised its disclosure to add the previously omitted revenues by segment for all periods presented. Information on the Company's segments along with a reconciliation of NOI to net income available to common stockholders is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Net Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
26,408

 
$

 
$

 
$
26,408

Atlanta
 
22,593

 
1,753

 

 
24,346

Austin
 
6,023

 

 

 
6,023

Charlotte
 
4,905

 

 

 
4,905

Other
 
(56
)
 

 
(5
)
 
(61
)
Total Net Operating Income
 
$
59,873

 
$
1,753

 
$
(5
)
 
$
61,621

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Net Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
26,039

 
$

 
$

 
$
26,039

Atlanta
 
21,255

 
1,492

 

 
22,747

Austin
 
4,424

 

 

 
4,424

Charlotte
 
4,072

 

 

 
4,072

Other
 
3,539

 

 
(5
)
 
3,534

Total Net Operating Income
 
$
59,329

 
$
1,492

 
$
(5
)
 
$
60,816

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Net Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
76,851

 
$

 
$

 
$
76,851

Atlanta
 
66,763

 
5,101

 

 
71,864

Austin
 
16,978

 

 

 
16,978

Charlotte
 
14,485

 

 

 
14,485

Other
 
(35
)
 

 
(1
)
 
(36
)
Total Net Operating Income
 
$
175,042

 
$
5,101

 
$
(1
)
 
$
180,142

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Net Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
76,549

 
$

 
$

 
$
76,549

Atlanta
 
64,725

 
4,343

 

 
69,068

Austin
 
10,524

 

 

 
10,524

Charlotte
 
12,026

 

 

 
12,026

Other
 
11,508

 

 
(32
)
 
11,476

Total Net Operating Income
 
$
175,332

 
$
4,343

 
$
(32
)
 
$
179,643

The following reconciles Net Operating Income to Net Income for each of the periods presented (in thousands):

16

Table of Contents


 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net Operating Income
$
61,621

 
$
60,816

 
$
180,142

 
$
179,643

Net operating income from unconsolidated joint ventures
(6,760
)
 
(6,131
)
 
(20,361
)
 
(18,103
)
Net operating loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 
14

Fee income
1,945

 
1,686

 
5,968

 
5,206

Other income
153

 
444

 
858

 
593

Reimbursed expenses
(795
)
 
(686
)
 
(2,463
)
 
(2,514
)
General and administrative expenses
(4,368
)
 
(2,976
)
 
(17,301
)
 
(12,405
)
Interest expense
(7,710
)
 
(7,673
)
 
(22,457
)
 
(23,219
)
Depreciation and amortization
(31,843
)
 
(32,538
)
 
(96,192
)
 
(103,564
)
Acquisition and merger costs
(1,940
)
 
(19
)
 
(4,383
)
 
(104
)
Other expenses
(173
)
 
(170
)
 
(681
)
 
(970
)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
1,527

 
3,716

 
5,144

 
7,088

Gain on sale of investment properties

 
37,145

 
13,944

 
37,674

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 
6

 

 
(565
)
Net Income
$
11,657

 
$
53,620

 
$
42,218

 
$
68,774

Revenues by reportable segment, including a reconciliation to total revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
46,046

 
$

 
$

 
$
46,046

Atlanta
 
36,693

 
3,197

 

 
39,890

Austin
 
10,469

 

 

 
10,469

Charlotte
 
6,799

 

 

 
6,799

Other
 
(57
)
 

 
2,098

 
2,041

Total segment revenues
 
99,950

 
3,197

 
2,098

 
105,245

Less Company's share of rental property revenues from unconsolidated joint ventures
 
(7,329
)
 
(3,197
)
 

 
(10,526
)
Total revenues
 
$
92,621

 
$

 
$
2,098

 
$
94,719

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
45,117

 
$

 
$

 
$
45,117

Atlanta
 
40,898

 
2,657

 

 
43,555

Austin
 
7,505

 

 

 
7,505

Charlotte
 
5,704

 

 

 
5,704

Other
 
3,875

 

 
2,130

 
6,005

Total segment revenues
 
103,099

 
2,657

 
2,130

 
107,886

Less Company's share of rental property revenues from unconsolidated joint ventures
 
(7,083
)
 
(2,657
)
 

 
(9,740
)
Total revenues
 
$
96,016

 
$

 
$
2,130

 
$
98,146



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Table of Contents


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
133,450

 
$

 
$

 
$
133,450

Atlanta
 
110,915

 
9,200

 

 
120,115

Austin
 
29,825

 

 

 
29,825

Charlotte
 
19,533

 

 

 
19,533

Other
 
(54
)
 

 
6,826

 
6,772

Total segment revenues
 
293,669

 
9,200

 
6,826

 
309,695

Less Company's share of rental property revenues from unconsolidated joint ventures
 
(21,837
)
 
(9,200
)
 

 
(31,037
)
Total revenues
 
$
271,832

 
$

 
$
6,826

 
$
278,658

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Office
 
Mixed-Use
 
Other
 
Total
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Houston
 
$
133,326

 
$

 
$

 
$
133,326

Atlanta
 
119,694

 
7,201

 

 
126,895

Austin
 
18,744

 

 

 
18,744

Charlotte
 
17,027

 

 

 
17,027

Other
 
13,988

 

 
5,799

 
19,787

Total segment revenues
 
302,779

 
7,201

 
5,799

 
315,779

Less Company's share of rental property revenues from unconsolidated joint ventures
 
(20,553
)
 
(7,201
)
 

 
(27,754
)
Total revenues
 
$
282,226

 
$

 
$
5,799

 
$
288,025




18

Table of Contents


Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview:
Cousins Properties Incorporated ("Cousins") (and collectively, with its subsidiaries, the "Company," "we," "our," or "us") is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT. Our core focus is on the acquisition, development, leasing, management, and ownership of Class-A office assets and opportunistic mixed-use properties in Sunbelt markets with a focus on Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. As of September 30, 2016, our portfolio of real estate assets consisted of interests in 15 operating office properties containing 14.6 million square feet of space, two operating mixed-use properties containing 786,000 square feet of space, and five projects (four office and one mixed-use) under active development. We have a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets and opportunist investments. This streamlined approach enables us to maintain a targeted, asset specific approach to investing where we seek to leverage our development skills, relationships, market knowledge, and operational expertise. We intend to generate returns and create value for stockholders through the continued lease up of our portfolio, through the execution of our development pipeline, and through opportunistic investments in office and mixed-use projects within our core markets.
We leased or renewed 970,707 square feet of office space during the third quarter of 2016. The weighted average net effective rent of these leases, representing base rent less operating expense reimbursements and leasing costs, was $17.33 per square foot. For those leases that were previously occupied within the past year, net effective rent increased 27.9%. Same property net operating income increased by 3.6% between the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.
On October 6, 2016, we completed a merger with Parkway Properties, Inc. (“Parkway”) and on October 7, 2016, we completed a spin-off of the operations of the combined companies' Houston operations into a separate public company. In addition to increased scale and enhanced portfolio diversity, we believe that these transactions will enhance our flexibility to meet customer space needs and allow us to attract and retain quality local market talent that, over time, will drive customer retention and occupancy.  In addition, by creating two independent public real estate companies with differentiated assets and strategies, we believe that investors will realize greater transparency into the assets and operations of each company.
Results of Operations
The following is based on our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:
Net Operating Income
The following table summarizes rental property revenues, rental property operating expenses and net operating income ("NOI") for each of the periods presented, including our same property portfolio. Our same property portfolio is comprised of office properties that have been fully operational in each of the comparable reporting periods. A fully operational property is one that has achieved 90% economic occupancy for each of the periods presented or has been substantially complete and owned by us for each of the periods presented. Same property amounts for the 2016 versus 2015 comparison are from properties that have been owned since January 1, 2015 through the end of the current reporting period, excluding dispositions. This information is presented for consolidated properties only and does not include net operating income from our unconsolidated joint ventures.


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Table of Contents


 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Rental Property Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Property
$
69,817

 
$
70,198

 
$
(381
)
 
(0.5
)%
 
$
138,442

 
$
137,280

 
$
1,162

 
0.8
 %
Non-Same Property
22,804

 
25,818

 
(3,014
)
 
(11.7
)%
 
133,390

 
144,946

 
(11,556
)
 
(8.0
)%
Total Rental Property Revenues
$
92,621

 
$
96,016

 
$
(3,395
)
 
(3.5
)%
 
$
271,832

 
$
282,226

 
$
(10,394
)
 
(3.7
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rental Property Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Property
$
30,396

 
$
30,849

 
$
(453
)
 
(1.5
)%
 
$
58,762

 
$
59,337

 
$
(575
)
 
(1.0
)%
Non-Same Property
7,364

 
10,482

 
(3,118
)
 
(29.7
)%
 
53,289

 
61,335

 
(8,046
)
 
(13.1
)%
Total Rental Property Operating Expenses
$
37,760

 
$
41,331

 
$
(3,571
)
 
(8.6
)%
 
$
112,051

 
$
120,672

 
$
(8,621
)
 
(7.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Operating Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Property NOI
$
39,421


$
39,349

 
$
72

 
0.2
 %
 
$
79,680

 
$
77,943

 
$
1,737

 
2.2
 %
Non-Same Property NOI
15,440


15,336

 
104

 
0.7
 %
 
80,101

 
83,611

 
(3,510
)
 
(4.2
)%
Total NOI
$
54,861


$
54,685

 
$
176

 
0.3
 %
 
$
159,781

 
$
161,554

 
$
(1,773
)
 
(1.1
)%
Same property NOI increased between the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 periods primarily due to increased occupancy rates at 816 Congress and a decrease in real estate taxes between the periods. Non-same property revenues and expenses decreased between the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 periods due to the sales of 2100 Ross, The Points at Waterview, and the North Point Center East buildings.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $1.4 million (47%) and $4.9 million (39%) between the 2016 and 2015 three and nine month periods, respectively. These increases are primarily driven by increases in long-term incentive compensation expense and bonus expense. Long-term incentive compensation expense increased $823,000 and $3.6 million in the 2016 and 2015 three and nine, periods, respectively, due to fluctuations in our common stock price relative to our office peers included in the SNL US Office REIT Index. Bonus expense increased by $697,000 and $900,000 in the 2016 and 2015 three and nine month periods, respectively, due to increases in performance measures on which bonuses are based.
Interest Expense
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, decreased $762,000 (3%) between the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods primarily driven by a decline in average borrowings under the Credit Facility, the repayment of The Points at Waterview mortgage loan in October 2015, and an increase in interest capitalized to projects under development. These decreases were partially offset by increases from the Fifth Third Center and Colorado Tower mortgage notes that closed in September 2016.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization decreased $7.4 million (7%) between the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods primarily driven by the sales of 2100 Ross, The Points at Waterview, and three North Point Center East buildings in the second half of 2015, and the sale of 100 North Point Center East in the first quarter 2016.
Acquisition and Merger Costs
Acquisition and merger costs increased $1.9 million and $4.4 million in the 2016 and 2015 three and nine month periods, respectively, due to costs related to the merger with Parkway that closed in October 2016. The Company expects to incur additional merger-related costs in the fourth quarter of 2016, including all costs that were contingent upon the closing of the transactions.
Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following during the three and nine month periods as follows (in thousands):

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Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
$ Change
 
2016
 
2015
 
$ Change
Net operating income
$
6,760

 
$
6,131

 
$
629

 
$
20,361

 
$
18,103

 
$
2,258

Land sales less cost of sales

 
2,038

 
(2,038
)
 

 
2,280

 
(2,280
)
Other income, net
72

 
283

 
(211
)
 
612

 
605

 
7

Depreciation and amortization
(3,267
)
 
(2,891
)
 
(376
)
 
(9,758
)
 
(8,406
)
 
(1,352
)
Interest expense
(2,038
)
 
(1,845
)
 
(193
)
 
(6,071
)
 
(5,494
)
 
(577
)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
$
1,527

 
$
3,716

 
$
(2,189
)
 
$
5,144

 
$
7,088

 
$
(1,944
)
Net operating income from unconsolidated joint ventures increased $629,000 and $2.3 million between the 2016 and 2015 three and nine periods, respectively, primarily due to increased occupancy at Terminus and increased parking revenue at Gateway Village. Land sales less cost of sales decreased $2.0 million in each of the 2016 and 2015 three and nine month periods from land sales at Temco Associates, LLC in the third quarter 2015. The increase in depreciation and amortization is due to the commencement of operations at Emory Point II during the third quarter of 2015.
Gain on Sale of Investment Properties
We sold no properties in the three months ended September 30, 2016, and sold 2100 Ross in the three months ended September 30, 2015, accounting for the gain in that period and in the nine month 2015 period. Gain on sale of investment properties in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 relates to the sale of 100 North Point Center East earlier in 2016.
Discontinued Operations
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new guidance on discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only assets held for sale and disposals representing a major strategic shift in operations will be presented as discontinued operations. We adopted this new standard in the second quarter of 2014. Therefore, the properties sold subsequently are not reflected as discontinued operations in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. We expect that the Spin-Off (defined below) resulting from the transactions with Parkway will result in discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Funds From Operations
The table below shows Funds from Operations (“FFO”) and the related reconciliation to net income. We calculate FFO in accordance with the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts’ (“NAREIT”) definition, which is net income available to common stockholders (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding extraordinary items, cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and gains on sale or impairment losses on depreciable property, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures to reflect FFO on the same basis.
FFO is used by industry analysts and investors as a supplemental measure of a REIT’s operating performance. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of REIT operating performance that excludes historical cost depreciation, among other items, from GAAP net income. The use of FFO, combined with the required primary GAAP presentations, has been fundamentally beneficial, improving the understanding of operating results of REITs among the investing public and making comparisons of REIT operating results more meaningful. Company management evaluates operating performance in part based on FFO. Additionally, we use FFO, along with other measures, to assess performance in connection with evaluating and granting incentive compensation to its officers and other key employees. The reconciliation of net income to FFO is as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share information):

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Table of Contents


 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net Income
$
11,657

 
$
53,620

 
$
42,218

 
$
68,774

Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets:
 
 
 
 

 

Consolidated properties
31,514

 
32,123

 
95,152

 
102,353

Share of unconsolidated joint ventures
3,268

 
2,891

 
9,758

 
8,406

(Gain) loss on sale of depreciated properties:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated properties

 
(36,167
)
 
(13,944
)
 
(35,893
)
Funds From Operations
$
46,439

 
$
52,467

 
$
133,184

 
$
143,640

Per Common Share — Basic and Diluted:
 
 
 
 

 

Net Income
$
0.06

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.32

Funds From Operations
$
0.22

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.63

 
$
0.66

Weighted Average Shares — Basic
210,170

 
216,261

 
210,400

 
216,485

Weighted Average Shares — Diluted
210,326

 
216,374

 
210,528

 
216,625


Net Operating Income

Company management evaluates the performance of its property portfolio in part based on net operating income (“NOI”). NOI represents rental property revenues less rental property operating expenses. NOI is not a measure of cash flows or operating results as measured by GAAP, is not indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. All companies may not calculate NOI in the same manner. The Company considers NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income as it helps both management and investors understand the core operations of the Company's operating assets. NOI excludes corporate general and administrative expenses, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairments, gains/loss on sales of real estate, and other non-operating items.

The following reconciles NOI to Net Income each of the periods presented (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net Operating Income
$
54,861

 
$
54,685

 
$
159,781

 
$
161,554

Fee income
1,945

 
1,686

 
5,968

 
5,206

Other income
153

 
444

 
858

 
593

Reimbursed expenses
(795
)
 
(686
)
 
(2,463
)
 
(2,514
)
General and administrative expenses
(4,368
)
 
(2,976
)
 
(17,301
)
 
(12,405
)
Interest expense
(7,710
)
 
(7,673
)
 
(22,457
)
 
(23,219
)
Depreciation and amortization
(31,843
)
 
(32,538
)
 
(96,192
)
 
(103,564
)
Acquisition and merger costs
(1,940
)
 
(19
)
 
(4,383
)
 
(104
)
Other expenses
(173
)
 
(170
)
 
(681
)
 
(970
)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures
1,527

 
3,716

 
5,144

 
7,088

Gain on sale of investment properties

 
37,145

 
13,944

 
37,674

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 
6

 

 
(565
)
Net Income
$
11,657

 
$
53,620

 
$
42,218

 
$
68,774



22

Table of Contents


Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity needs include the following:
property acquisitions;
expenditures on development projects;
building improvements, tenant improvements, and leasing costs;
principal and interest payments on indebtedness;
repurchase of our common stock; and
common stock dividends.
We may satisfy these needs with one or more of the following:
net cash from operations;
sales of assets;
borrowings under our Credit Facility;
proceeds from mortgage notes payable;
proceeds from construction loans;
proceeds from unsecured term loans;
proceeds from offerings of debt or equity securities; and
joint venture formations.

As of September 30, 2016, we had no amounts drawn on our Credit Facility. We had $1.0 million drawn under our letters of credit, and the ability to borrow $499.0 million under our Credit Facility.
In September 2016, we entered into a $120.0 million non-recourse mortgage secured by Colorado Tower, a 373,000 square foot office building in Austin, Texas. The mortgage bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.45% and matures September 1, 2026. Also in September 2016, we entered into a $150.0 million non-recourse mortgage secured by Fifth Third Center, a 698,000 square foot office building in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mortgage bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 3.37% and matures October 1, 2026.
In October 2016, we sold 191 Peachtree Tower and repaid the 191 Peachtree Tower mortgage note in full. In connection with the repayment, we paid a $3.7 million prepayment penalty.
In the first quarter of 2016, we commenced development of an office project and continued development on two other projects. We commenced development of two office projects in the third quarter of 2016.
In the first quarter of 2016, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of common stock under our stock repurchase program for an aggregate total price of $13.7 million, and there were no repurchases of common stock in the second or third quarters 2016. The repurchase program was suspended in March 2016 due to the merger with Parkway. The repurchased shares are recorded as treasury shares on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We funded these activities with cash from operations, proceeds from asset sales and borrowings under our Credit Facility.
In connection with the transactions with Parkway (see below), we assumed ten consolidated mortgages with an aggregate stated principal balance of $542.0 million and an average stated interest rate of 5.24% as of October 6, 2016.
As of October 31, 2016, we had $200 million outstanding under our Credit Facility.

Transactions with Parkway Properties, Inc.

On October 6, 2016, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 28, 2016, (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Cousins, Parkway Properties, Inc. ("Parkway") and subsidiaries of Cousins and Parkway, Parkway merged with and into a subsidiary of the Company (the "Merger"), with this subsidiary continuing as the surviving corporation of the Merger. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of Parkway common stock and each outstanding share of Parkway limited voting stock was converted into 1.63 shares of Cousins common stock or limited voting preferred stock, respectively. In the Merger, former Parkway common stockholders received approximately 183 million shares of Cousins common stock and Parkway limited voting stockholders received approximately 7 million shares of Cousins limited voting preferred stock.

On October 7, 2016, pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Separation, Distribution and Transition Services Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2016 (the "Separation Agreement"), by and among Cousins, Parkway, New Parkway (as defined below) and certain other parties thereto, Cousins distributed pro rata to its common and limited voting preferred stockholders, including legacy Parkway common and limited voting stockholders, all of the outstanding shares of common and limited voting stock, respectively, of Parkway, Inc. ("New Parkway"), a newly-formed entity that contains the combined businesses relating to the ownership of real properties in Houston, Texas (the "Spin-Off"). In the Spin-Off, Cousins distributed one share of New Parkway

23

Table of Contents


common or limited voting stock for every eight shares of common or limited voting preferred stock of Cousins held of record as of the close of business on October 6, 2016. As a result of the Spin-Off, New Parkway is now an independent public company and its common stock is listed under the symbol "PKY" on the New York Stock Exchange.

In connection with the Merger and Spin-Off, Cousins Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership ("CPLP"), was formed. As a result of a series of transactions undertaken pursuant to the Separation Agreement (the "Reorganization"), occurring after the Merger but prior to the Spin-Off, substantially all of Parkway's and the Company's assets and liabilities not pertaining to the ownership of real properties in Houston, Texas, were contributed to CPLP. As a result of the Merger and Spin-Off, substantially all of the Company's post-Merger, post-Spin-Off activities will be conducted through CPLP.

Approximately 98% of the partnership units of CPLP are owned by the Company, and approximately 2% are owned by legacy outside unit holders of Parkway LP (the "Outside Unit Holders"). Ownership of partnership units in CPLP will generally entitle the holder to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, CPLP in proportion to such holder's percentage ownership. The Company acts as the general partner in CPLP and has the exclusive right and full authority and responsibility to manage and operate CPLP's business. Limited partners generally do not have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of CPLP. Limited partners may redeem partnership units for cash, or at the Company's election, shares of Cousins' common stock on a one-for-one basis, at any time beginning twelve months following the date of the initial issuance of the partnership units, except for partnership units issued in connection with the Reorganization, which may be redeemed at any time. The Company will consolidate the accounts and operations of CPLP in its financial statements.

The Company will account for the Merger as a business combination with the Company as the accounting acquirer. The total value of the transaction is based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on October 5, 2016, the day immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, of $10.19 per share. Based on the shares issued in the transaction and on the units of CPLP effectively issued to the Outside Unit Holders in the transaction, the total value of the assets and liabilities assumed in the Merger is estimated to be $1.9 billion. Due to the limited time since the Merger, the initial accounting for this transaction is incomplete and, as such, the Company is unable to provide purchase price allocation and other disclosures associated with the Merger and Spin-Off. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company incurred $1.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively, in merger-related expenses.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2016 with respect to our outstanding contractual obligations and commitments (in thousands):
 
 
Total
 
Less than 1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
More than 5 years
Contractual Obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unsecured Credit Facility
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Mortgage notes payable
 
892,054

 
141,007

 
123,990

 
212,919

 
414,138

Interest commitments (1)
 
183,844

 
37,432

 
53,669

 
40,072

 
52,671

Ground leases
 
143,438

 
1,651

 
3,310

 
3,320

 
135,157

Other operating leases
 
119

 
40

 
79

 

 

Total contractual obligations
 
$
1,219,455

 
$
180,130

 
$
181,048

 
$
256,311

 
$
601,966

Commitments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unfunded tenant improvements and other
 
$
79,045

 
$
62,887

 
$
5,158

 
$
11,000

 
$

Letters of credit
 
1,000

 
1,000

 

 

 

Performance bonds
 
945

 
945

 

 

 

Total commitments
 
$
80,990

 
$
64,832

 
$
5,158

 
$
11,000

 
$

(1)
Interest on variable rate obligations is based on rates effective as of September 30, 2016.
In October 2016, we repaid the 191 Peachtree mortgage note in the amount of $99.2 million which was scheduled to mature in 2018.
In connection with the Spin-Off, the Company distributed the Post Oak Central mortgage note to New Parkway on October 7, 2016.

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In addition, we have several standing or renewable service contracts mainly related to the operation of buildings. These contracts are in the ordinary course of business and are generally one year or less. These contracts are not included in the above table and are usually reimbursed in whole or in part by tenants.
Other Debt Information
The real estate and other assets of The American Cancer Society Center (the “ACS Center”) are restricted under the ACS Center loan agreement in that they are not available to settle our debts. However, provided that the ACS Center loan has not incurred any uncured event of default, as defined in the loan agreement, the cash flows from the ACS Center, after payments of debt service, operating expenses and reserves, are available for distribution to us.
Our existing mortgage debt is primarily non-recourse, fixed-rate mortgage notes secured by various real estate assets. Many of our non-recourse mortgages contain covenants which, if not satisfied, could result in acceleration of the maturity of the debt. We expect to either refinance the non-recourse mortgages at maturity or repay the mortgages with proceeds from asset sales or other financings.
Future Capital Requirements
Over the long term, we intend to actively manage our portfolio of properties and strategically sell assets to exit non-core holdings, reposition the portfolio geographically and by product type, and generate capital for future investment activities. We expect to continue to utilize indebtedness to fund future commitments, if available and under appropriate terms. We may also seek equity capital and capital from joint venture partners to implement our strategy.
Our business model is dependent upon raising or recycling capital to meet obligations and to fund development and acquisition activity. If one or more sources of capital are not available when required, we may be forced to reduce the number of projects we acquire or develop and/or raise capital on potentially unfavorable terms, or we may be unable to raise capital, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Cash Flows Summary
We report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. The following table sets forth the changes in cash flows (in thousands):
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
119,251

 
$
103,040

 
$
16,211

Net cash used in investing activities
(131,403
)
 
(14,612
)
 
(116,791
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
107,390

 
(83,097
)
 
190,487

The reasons for significant increases and decreases in cash flows between the periods are as follows:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Cash flows from operating activities increased $16.2 million between the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods due to a decrease in lease inducements extended to tenants and lower software development costs.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash flows from investing activities decreased $116.8 million between the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from asset sales and an increase in contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures. These decreases were offset by lower property acquisition, development and tenant asset expenditures between the periods.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash flows from financing activities increased $190.5 million between the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods, primarily due to the closing of the mortgage notes payable on Fifth Third Center and Colorado Tower in the third quarter 2016, partially offset by an increase in net repayments under the Credit Facility.
Capital Expenditures. We incur costs related to our real estate assets that include acquisition of properties, development of new properties, redevelopment of existing or newly purchased properties, leasing costs for new or replacement tenants, and ongoing property repairs and maintenance.
Capital expenditures for assets we develop or acquire and then hold and operate are included in the property acquisition, development, and tenant asset expenditures line item within investing activities on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Amounts accrued are removed from the table below (accrued capital adjustment) to show the components of these costs on a cash basis. Components of costs included in this line item for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

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Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Development
$
69,899

 
$
53,781

Operating — building improvements
2,063

 
65,801

Operating — leasing costs
53,425

 
17,539

Capitalized interest
2,988

 
2,740

Capitalized personnel costs
5,366

 
5,945

Change in accrued capital expenditures
(11,384
)
 
5,578

Total property acquisition and development expenditures
$
122,357

 
$
151,384

Capital expenditures decreased in 2016 mainly due to decreased building improvement costs over the prior year. This decrease was offset by an increase in development expenditures and tenant leasing costs. Tenant improvements and leasing costs, as well as related capitalized personnel costs, are a function of the number and size of newly executed leases or renewals of existing leases. The amounts of tenant improvement and leasing costs for our office portfolio on a per square foot basis were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
New leases
 
$4.39
Renewal leases
 
$4.07
Expansion leases
 
$6.48
The amounts of tenant improvement and leasing costs on a per square foot basis vary by lease and by market. Given the level of expected leasing and renewal activity, management expects tenant improvements and leasing costs per square foot in future periods to remain consistent with those experienced in the first nine months of 2016.
Dividends. We paid common dividends of $50.5 million and $52.0 million in the 2016 and 2015 nine month periods, respectively. We funded the dividends with cash provided by operating activities. We expect to fund our future quarterly distributions to common stockholders with cash provided by operating activities, proceeds from investment property sales, distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures, and indebtedness, if necessary.
On a quarterly basis, we review the amount of the common dividend in light of current and projected future cash flows from the sources noted above and also consider the requirements needed to maintain our REIT status. In addition, we have certain covenants under our Credit Facility which could limit the amount of dividends paid. In general, dividends of any amount can be paid as long as leverage, as defined in the facility, is less than 60% and we are not in default under our facility. Certain conditions also apply in which we can still pay dividends if leverage is above that amount. We routinely monitor the status of our dividend payments in light of our Credit Facility covenants.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
General. We have a number of off balance sheet joint ventures with varying structures, as described in note 5 of our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and note 4 of this Form 10-Q. The joint ventures in which we have an interest are involved in the ownership, acquisition, and/or development of real estate. A venture will fund capital requirements or operational needs with cash from operations or financing proceeds, if possible. If additional capital is deemed necessary, a venture may request a contribution from the partners, and we will evaluate such request.
Debt. At September 30, 2016, our unconsolidated joint ventures had aggregate outstanding indebtedness to third parties of $397.1 million. These loans are generally mortgage or construction loans, most of which are non-recourse to us except as described in the paragraph below. In addition, in certain instances, we provide “non-recourse carve-out guarantees” on these non-recourse loans. Certain of these loans have variable interest rates, which creates exposure to the ventures in the form of market risk from interest rate changes.
We guarantee repayment of up to $8.6 million of the EP II construction loan, which has a total capacity of $46.0 million. At September 30, 2016, we guaranteed $3.4 million, based on amounts outstanding under this loan as of that date. This guarantee may be reduced and/or eliminated based on the achievement of certain criteria. We also guarantee 12.5% of the loan amount related to the Carolina Square construction loan, which has a lending capacity of $79.8 million, and an outstanding balance of $9.3 million as of September 30, 2016. At September 30, 2016, we guaranteed $1.2 million of the amount outstanding.
Critical Accounting Policies

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There have been no material changes in the critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes in the market risk associated with our notes payable at September 30, 2016 compared to that as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control objectives.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer along with the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness, design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)). Based upon the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer along with the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. In addition, based on such evaluation we have identified no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings.
Information regarding legal proceedings is described under the subheading "Litigation" in note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements set forth in this Form 10-Q.
Item 1A. Risk Factors

Risk factors that affect our business and financial results are discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report other than as set forth below. You should carefully consider the risks described in our Annual Report and below, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report and below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and/or operating results. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, and/or results of operations could be negatively affected.

As a result of the merger and spin-off with Parkway Properties, Inc. (the "Transactions"), the composition of the Board of Directors has changed.

Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, the Board of Directors changed and currently consists of nine members, five of which served on the Company's Board of Directors and four of which served on Parkway's Board of Directors. One of the four directors who formerly served on Parkway's board of directors was selected by TPG Pantera VI ("TPG") and TPG management (collectively with TPG, the "TPG Entities"), pursuant to the Company Stockholders Agreement (as defined below).

Our stockholders agreement with the TPG Parties grants the TPG Parties influence over the Company.

In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, we have entered into a stockholders agreement with the TPG Parties (the “Company Stockholders Agreement”), in order to establish various arrangements and restrictions with respect to governance of the Company, and certain rights with respect to shares of common stock of the Company owned by TPG.

Pursuant to the terms of the Company Stockholders Agreement, for so long as TPG beneficially owns at least 5% of our common stock on an as-converted basis, TPG will have the right to nominate one director to the Company's Board of Directors. In addition, for so long as TPG beneficially owns at least 5% of our common stock on an as-converted basis, TPG will have the right to have their nominee to the Company's Board of Directors appointed to the Investment and the Compensation Committees of the Company's Board of Directors.

The Company Stockholders Agreement provides that we shall file, within thirty days of the closing of the Transactions, a registration statement registering for sale all of the registrable securities held by TPG. The Company Stockholders Agreement also provides TPG with customary registration rights following the closing of the Merger and the Spin-Off, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company Stockholders Agreement.

In addition, in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company's Board of Directors granted to the TPG Entities an exemption from the ownership limit included in our articles of incorporation, establishing for the TPG Entities an aggregate substitute in lieu of the ownership limit to permit them to constructively and beneficially own (without duplication) (i) during the term of the standstill provided by the Company Stockholders Agreement, up to 15% of our outstanding voting securities, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company Stockholders Agreement, and (ii) following the term of the standstill provided by the Company Stockholders Agreement, shares of our common stock held by the TPG Entities at the expiration of the standstill, subject to the terms, conditions, limitations, reductions and terminations set forth in an investor representation letter entered into with the TPG Parties.

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The interests of the TPG Entities could conflict with or differ from your interests as a holder of our common stock. For example, the level of ownership and board rights held by TPG could delay, defer or prevent a change of control or impede a merger, takeover or other business combination that our common stockholders may otherwise view favorably. In addition, a sale of a substantial number of shares of stock in the future by the TPG Entities could cause a decline in our stock price.

Our future results will suffer if we do not effectively manage our expanded portfolio of properties following the Merger and Spin-Off and any failure by us to effectively manage our portfolio could have a material and adverse effect on our business and our ability to make distributions to shareholders, as required for us to continue to qualify as a REIT.

As a result of the Merger and Spin-Off, the size of our business has increased. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose challenges for management, including challenges related to acting as landlord to a larger portfolio of properties and associated increased costs and complexity. Additionally, as a result of the Merger and Spin-Off, we have entered new markets, including Orlando, Tampa and Phoenix. We may face challenges in adapting our business to different market conditions in such new markets. There can be no assurances that we will be successful.

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
We did not make any sales of unregistered securities during the third quarter of 2016.
We purchased the following common shares during the third quarter of 2016:
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased*
 
Average Price Paid per Share*
July 1 - 31

 
$

August 1 - 31

 
$

September 1 - 30
474

 
$
10.88

 
474

 
$

*Activity for the third quarter of 2016 related to the remittances of shares for income taxes in association with option exercises and restricted stock vestings. For information on our equity compensation plans, see note 12 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and note 10 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements set forth in this Form 10-Q.






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Item 6. Exhibits.
 
 
 
2.1
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 28, 2016, by and among Parkway Properties, Inc., Parkway Properties LP, the Registrant and Clinic Sub Inc, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1
 
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended August 9, 1999, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1.1
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended July 22, 2003, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1.2
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended December 15, 2004, filed as Exhibit 3(a)(i) to the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1.3
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended May 4, 2010, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1.4
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended May 9, 2014, filed as Exhibit 3.1.4 to the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
3.1.5
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cousins, as amended October 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2016).
 
 
 
3.1.6
 
Articles of Amendment to Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cousins, as amended October 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1.1 to the Registrant's Current Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2016).
 
 
 
3.2
 
Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated December 4, 2012, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
10.1
 
Stockholders Agreement, dated April 28, 2016, by and among the Registrant, TPG VI Pantera Holdings, L.P. and TPG VI Management, LLC, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
10.2
 
Voting Agreement, dated April 28, 2016, by and among the Registrant, TPG VI Pantera Holdings, L.P. and TPG VI Management, LLC, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
 
11.0
 *
Computation of Per Share Earnings.
 
 
 
31.1
 †
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2
 †
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.1
 †
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32.2
 †
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101
 †
The following financial information for the Registrant, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) the condensed consolidated statements of operations, (iii) the condensed consolidated statements of equity, (iv) the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and (v) the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


 *
 
Data required by ASC 260, “Earnings per Share,” is provided in note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report.
 †
 
Filed herewith.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
 
 
 /s/ Gregg D. Adzema
 
Gregg D. Adzema 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer) 
Date: November 1, 2016


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