Item 7.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the selected financial data and the consolidated financial statements and notes.
Overview of 2020 Performance and Company and Industry Trends
Cousins Properties Incorporated ("Cousins") (and collectively, with its subsidiaries, the "Company," "we," "our," or "us") is a publicly traded (NYSE: CUZ), self-administered, and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT. Cousins conducts substantially all of its business through Cousins Properties, LP ("CPLP"). Cousins owns in excess of 99% of CPLP and consolidates CPLP. CPLP owns Cousins TRS Services LLC, a taxable entity which owns and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties. Our strategy is to create value for our stockholders through ownership of the premier urban office portfolio in the Sun Belt markets, with a particular focus on Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Tampa, and Dallas. This strategy is based on a disciplined approach to capital allocation that includes value-add acquisitions, selective development projects, and timely dispositions of non-core assets. This strategy is also based on a simple, flexible, and low-leveraged balance sheet that allows us to pursue compelling growth opportunities at the most advantageous points in the cycle. To implement this strategy, we leverage our strong local operating platforms within each of our major markets.
Consistent with our strategy, on June 14, 2019, we merged with TIER REIT, Inc. (“TIER”) in a stock-for-stock transaction (the "Merger"). As a result, we acquired an interest in nine operating office properties containing 5.8 million square feet of space, two office properties under development that are expected to add 620,000 square feet of space upon completion, and seven strategically located land parcels on which up to 2.5 million square feet of additional space may be developed. As a part of this transaction, we issued $650 million in senior unsecured debt at a weighted average interest rate of 3.88%, which effectively replaced the majority of the TIER debt assumed in the Merger. We believe that this merger created a company with an attractive portfolio of trophy office assets balanced across the premier Sun Belt markets. We believe that the Merger has enhanced our position in our existing markets of Austin and Charlotte, provided a strategic entry into Dallas, and balanced our exposure in Atlanta. The Merger is also enhancing growth and providing value-add opportunities as a result of TIER's active and attractive development portfolio and land bank. As of December 31, 2020, our portfolio of real estate assets consisted of interests in 36 operating properties (35 office and one mixed-use), containing 19.4 million square feet space, and five projects (four office and one mixed-use) under active development.
During 2020, we completed multiple strategic acquisitions in our Charlotte market. During the fourth quarter, we purchased The RailYard, a 329,000 square foot operating property, for $201.3 million, including acquisition costs. In addition to The RailYard, we also acquired South End Station, a 3.4 acre parcel of land, and 303 Tremont, a 2.4 acre parcel of land, in the South End submarket for a combined gross purchase price of $46.9 million. During the second quarter, we purchased a 1,550 space parking garage adjacent to multiple of our properties for $85.3 million, including acquisition costs. We believe that collectively the investments create an advantageous concentration with compelling synergies in one of the best submarkets in the Sun Belt.
During 2020, we completed multiple dispositions of operating properties and interests in joint ventures. The most significant dispositions were as follows:
•In March 2020, we sold Hearst Tower, a 966,000 square foot office property in Charlotte, to Truist Financial Corporation ("Truist") for gross sales proceeds of $455.5 million upon execution of the purchase option included in the 561,000 square foot lease signed with Truist in 2019.
•In March 2020, we sold our interest in Charlotte Gateway Village, LLC ("Gateway"), a 50-50 joint venture with Bank of America Corporation ("BOA"), to BOA for $52.2 million which represented a 17% internal rate of return on our invested capital, as stipulated in the partnership agreement.
•In February 2020, we sold Woodcrest, a 386,000 square foot non-core office property in Cherry Hill, New Jersey that was acquired in the Merger, for a gross sales price of $25.3 million.
In 2020, we leased or renewed 1.4 million square feet of office space. The weighted average net effective rent per square foot, representing base rent less operating expense reimbursements and leasing costs, for new or renewed non-amenity leases with terms greater than one year was $24.50 per square foot. Cash basis net effective rent per square foot increased 13.1% on spaces that had been previously occupied in the past year. Cash basis net effective rent represents net rent at the end of the term paid by the prior tenant compared to the net rent at the beginning of the term paid by the current tenant. Our same property net operating income for the year decreased 0.5% and increased 0.7% on a cash basis. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have entered into lease amendments with certain tenants to provide payment deferrals without lease extensions.
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In addition, due to state and local regulations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen changes in physical occupancy at our properties which is materially impacting net operating income from parking. Our same property cash basis net operating income adjusted for payment deferrals and excluding parking for the year increased 4.5%.
On a regular basis we review and, as appropriate, revise our corporate contingency plan, which addresses the steps necessary to respond to an unexpected interruption of business, including the unavailability of our corporate office space. Since March 2020, in accordance with the advice of the CDC due to the threat presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our tenants widely adopted remote working for their office employees, and we increased our janitorial cleaning protocols in our buildings. The rental obligations under our leases have not been materially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to date, and any requests for rent adjustments are addressed on a case-by-case basis. We also have worked closely with essential vendors, including the contractors and others involved in our development projects, to assess potential impact of appropriate and necessary distancing measures upon our operations and our development delivery timelines.
Although the impact to our business of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been severe to date, the long-term impact of the pandemic on our tenants or prospective tenants and the world-wide economy is uncertain and will depend on the scope, severity, and duration of the pandemic. A prolonged economic downturn resulting from the pandemic could adversely affect many of our tenants or prospective tenants, which could, in turn, adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Market Conditions
We believe that the Sun Belt region, and in particular the six core Sun Belt markets in which we operate, possess some of the most attractive economic and real estate fundamentals in the nation. Our markets are located in states that lead the nation in new job growth and net migration as residents relocate from the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast to our markets. This migration, when combined with low levels of new supply, has led to steady office absorption and positive rent growth, supporting healthy office fundamentals. We believe that we are well positioned to benefit from, and ultimately outperform in, the current real estate environment.
Our Atlanta portfolio totals 7.2 million square feet, representing 35.0% of our Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 90.7% leased at December 31, 2020. In addition, we had two projects under development in Atlanta at December 31, 2020, one office property and one mixed-use property, in which we hold 90% and 20% interests, respectively. Decline in nonfarm employment in Atlanta for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 3.0%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 2.0% at year end. Our portfolio is well located, primarily in the Midtown, Buckhead, and Central Perimeter submarkets, with direct access to mass transit.
Our Austin portfolio totals 4.4 million square feet, representing 27.1% of our Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 94.3% leased at December 31, 2020. In addition, we have two projects under development in Austin, one owned in a 50-50 joint venture and one wholly-owned that together total 658,000 square feet and are a combined 92% leased. Decline in nonfarm employment in Austin for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 1.1%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 7.6%. Our portfolio is predominantly in the central business district and Northwest submarket where vacancy is 10.5% and 9.3%, respectively. We believe that our dominant presence in Austin, combined with strong employment relative to the rest of the nation is favorable for our existing portfolio.
Our Charlotte portfolio totals 2.6 million square feet, representing 11.2% of our Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 83.8% leased at December 31, 2020. Decline in nonfarm employment in Charlotte for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 5.4%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 6.1%. Our portfolio is located in the Uptown and South End submarkets where rent growth has significantly surpassed the national average. The overall market has benefited from Charlotte's strong population growth, which has increased at three times the national rate over the past decade. Strong demand and favorable economics have spurred a high level of new development across the market, specifically in Uptown where approximately 2.7 million square feet is currently under construction.
Our Phoenix portfolio totals 1.3 million square feet, representing 7.9% of our Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 94.2% leased at December 31, 2020. Decline in nonfarm employment in Phoenix for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 2.6%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 1.5%. Phoenix has experienced population growth at more than twice the national average, more than two-thirds of which was from new residents from outside the metropolitan area. Our portfolio is located in the Tempe submarket, in close proximity to Arizona State University and its 80,000 students, where Class A office vacancy is 5.4%.
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Our Tampa portfolio totals 1.7 million square feet, representing 7.8% of Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 93.4% leased at December 31, 2020. Decline in nonfarm employment in Tampa for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 4.0%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 1.3%. Metro-wide, the Tampa office market is experiencing low vacancy rates, and the Westshore submarket, where our portfolio is located, continues to achieve some of the highest rents in the metropolitan area, in part due to its central location and proximity to the Tampa airport.
Our Dallas portfolio totals 516,000 square feet, representing 3.1% of Net Operating Income for the fourth quarter of 2020 and was 94.5% leased at December 31, 2020. Decline in nonfarm employment in Dallas for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 2.5%, below the national average of 6.0%, and construction as a percentage of the total market square footage was 1.9%.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"), and the notes to consolidated financial statements include a summary of the significant accounting policies for the Company. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of certain estimates, a change in which could materially affect revenues, expenses, assets, or liabilities. Some of our accounting policies are considered to be critical accounting policies, which are ones that are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, and ones that also require significant judgment or complex estimation processes. Our critical accounting policies are as follows:
Revenue Recognition
Most of our revenues are derived from operating leases and are reflected as rental property revenues on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Several judgments and estimates are included in the rental property revenue recognition process including the determination of lease term, ownership of tenant improvements, lease modifications, and lease terminations.
Revenues derived from fixed lease payments, which exclude certain rental property revenue such as percentage rent and revenue related to the recovery of certain operating expenses from our tenants, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. We make significant assumptions and judgments in determining the lease term, including the judgments involved as to when a tenant has the right to use an underlying asset and assumptions when the lease provides the tenant with an extension or early termination option.
Most of our leases involve some form of improvements to leased space. We make significant judgments in reviewing various factors to assist in determining whether we or our tenants own the improvements. Those factors include, but are not limited to, whether or not the:
•Lease agreement’s terms obligate the tenant to construct or install specifically identified assets (i.e., the leasehold improvements);
•Tenant’s failure to make specified improvements is an event of default under which the landlord can require the lessee to make those improvements or otherwise enforce the landlord’s rights to those assets (or a monetary equivalent);
•Tenant is permitted to alter or remove the leasehold improvements without the landlord’s consent or without compensating the landlord for any lost utility or diminution in fair value;
•Tenant is required to provide the landlord with evidence supporting the cost of tenant improvements before the landlord pays the tenant for the tenant improvements;
•Landlord is obligated to fund cost overruns for the construction of leasehold improvements;
•Leasehold improvements are unique to the tenant or could reasonably be used by the lessor to lease to other parties; and
•Economic life of the leasehold improvements is such that a significant residual value of the assets is expected to accrue to the benefit of the landlord at the end of the lease term.
If we determine the improvements are our assets, we capitalize the cost of the improvements and recognize depreciation expense associated with such improvements over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the term of the lease. If the improvements are tenant assets, we defer the cost of improvements funded by us as a lease incentive asset and amortize it as a reduction of rental revenue over the term of the lease. Our determination of whether improvements are our assets or tenant assets also affects when we commence revenue recognition in connection with a lease.
We periodically enter into amendments to our leases. When a lease is amended, we need to determine whether (1) an additional right of use not included in the original lease is being granted as a result of the modification and (2) there is an
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increase in the lease payments that is commensurate with the standalone price for the additional right of use. If both of those conditions are met, the amendment is accounted for as a separate contract. If both of those conditions are not met, the amendment is accounted for as a lease modification. Most of our lease amendments result in a lease modification of our operating leases which will likely require us to reassess both the lease term and fixed lease payments, including considering any prepaid or accrued lease rentals relating to the original lease as a part of the lease payments for the modified lease.
Termination options in some of our leases allow the customer to terminate the lease prior to the end of the lease term under certain circumstances. Termination options require advance notification from the tenant and payment of a termination fee that reimburses us for a portion of the remaining rent under the original lease term and the undepreciated lease inception costs such as commissions, tenant improvements and lease incentives. Termination fee income, included in rental property revenue, is recognized on a straight-line basis from the date of the executed termination agreement through lease expiration when the amount of the fee is determinable and collectability of the fee is reasonably assured. This fee income is reduced on a straight-line basis by any accrued straight-line rent receivable related to the lease projected at the date of tenant vacancy.
Real Estate Carrying Value
The carrying values of our real estate assets are subject to several processes that involve a significant use of judgments and estimates. Those processes primarily include (i) purchase price allocations for acquired assets, (ii) depreciation and amortization and (iii) impairment. The judgments and estimates used in each of these processes have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Purchase Price Allocations for Acquired Assets
We evaluate all real estate acquisitions to determine if the transactions qualify as an acquisition of assets or of a business. In cases where we acquire a pool of properties of varying property types in different markets, we must determine whether the acquisition qualifies as an asset acquisition or an acquisition of a business. For purposes of this review, we separate the assets acquired based on their unique and different risk characteristics, which may be by property type, geographic concentration, or other factors. If we determine that substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar assets, generally 90% of total fair value of assets acquired, we account for the acquisition as an acquisition of assets. If we determine that there is no single or group of assets that make up substantially all of the fair value of assets acquired, we then evaluate whether the acquired set of assets includes an input and substantial process which create an output. If we determine that an input and substantial process creating an output are present, we account for the acquisition as an acquisition of a business. We use considerable judgment in determining whether the acquisition of a pool of assets is an acquisition of assets or of a business. Because acquisition costs are expensed for an acquisition of a business and capitalized for an acquisition of assets, results of operations could be materially different based on our determinations.
For acquisitions that are accounted for as an acquisition of an asset, we record the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on each asset and liability's relative fair value at the acquisition date to the total purchase price plus capitalized acquisition costs. For acquisitions that are accounted for as an acquisition of a business, we record the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities at fair value at the acquisition date. Fair value is based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize available market information and discount and/or capitalization rates as appropriate. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The acquired assets and assumed liabilities for an acquired operating property generally include, but are not limited to: land, buildings, and identified tangible and intangible assets and liabilities associated with in-place leases, including tenant improvements, leasing costs, value of above-market and below-market leases, and value of acquired in-place leases.
The fair value of the above-market or below-market component of an acquired lease is based upon the present value (calculated using a market discount rate) of the difference between the contractual rents to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term and management’s estimate of the rents that would be paid using fair market rental rates and rent escalations at the date of acquisition over the remaining term of the lease. An identifiable intangible asset or liability is recorded if there is an above-market or below-market lease at an acquired property. The amounts recorded for above-market leases are included in other assets on the balance sheets, and the amounts for below-market leases are included in other liabilities on the balance sheets. These amounts are amortized on a straight-line basis as an adjustment to rental income over the remaining term of the applicable leases.
The fair value of acquired in-place leases is derived based on our assessment of lost revenue and costs incurred for the period required to lease the “assumed vacant” property to the occupancy level when purchased. This fair value is based on a variety of considerations including, but not necessarily limited to: (i) the value associated with avoiding the cost of originating the acquired in-place leases; (ii) the value associated with lost revenue related to tenant reimbursable operating
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costs estimated to be incurred during the assumed lease-up period; and (iii) the value associated with lost rental revenue from existing leases during the assumed lease-up period. Factors considered in performing these analyses include an estimate of the carrying costs during the expected lease-up periods, such as real estate taxes, insurance, and other operating expenses, current market conditions, and costs to execute similar leases, such as leasing commissions, legal, and other related expenses. The amounts recorded for in-place leases are included in intangible assets on the balance sheets. These amounts are amortized as an increase to depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining term of the applicable leases.
Depreciation and Amortization
We also depreciate or amortize operating real estate assets over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method of depreciation. We use judgment when estimating the useful life of real estate assets and when allocating certain indirect project costs to projects under development, which are amortized over the useful life of the property once it becomes operational. Historical data, comparable properties, and replacement costs are some of the factors considered in determining useful lives and cost allocations.
Impairment
We also review our real estate assets on an asset group basis for impairment. We identify an asset group based on the lowest level of identifiable cash flows and take into consideration such things as shared expenses and amenities. This review includes our operating properties, properties under development, and land holdings.
The first step in this process is for us to determine whether an asset is considered to be held and used or held for sale. In order to be considered a real estate asset held for sale, we must, among other things, have the authority to commit to a plan to sell the asset in its current condition, have commenced the plan to sell the asset, and have determined that it is probable that the asset will sell within one year. If we determine that an asset is held for sale, we record an impairment if the fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying amount. All real estate assets not meeting the held for sale criteria are considered to be held and used.
In the impairment analysis for assets held and used, we must determine whether there are indicators of impairment. For operating properties, these indicators could include a reduction in our estimated hold period, a significant decline in a property’s leasing percentage, a current period operating loss or negative cash flows combined with a history of losses at the property, a significant decline in lease rates for that property or others in the property’s market, a significant change in the market value of the property, or an adverse change in the financial condition of significant tenants. For land holdings, indicators could include an overall decline in the market value of land in the region, a decline in development activity for the intended use of the land, or other adverse economic and market conditions. For projects under development, indicators could include material budget overruns without a corresponding funding source, significant delays in construction, occupancy, or stabilization schedule, regulatory changes or economic trends that have a significant impact on the market, or an adverse change in the financial condition of a significant future tenant.
If we determine that an asset that is held and used has indicators of impairment, we must determine whether the undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset exceed the carrying amount of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, we reduce the carrying amount of the asset to fair value.
In calculating the undiscounted net cash flows of an asset, we must estimate a number of inputs. We must estimate future rental rates, future capital expenditures, future operating expenses, and market capitalization rates for residual values, among other things. In addition, if there are alternative strategies for the future use of the asset, we assess the probability of each alternative strategy and perform a probability-weighted undiscounted cash flow analysis to assess the recoverability of the asset. We use considerable judgment in determining the alternative strategies and in assessing the probability of each strategy selected.
In determining the fair value of an asset, we exercise judgment on a number of factors. We may determine fair value by using a discounted cash flow calculation or by utilizing comparable market information. We must determine an appropriate discount rate to apply to the cash flows in the discounted cash flow calculation. We use judgment in analyzing comparable market information because no two real estate assets are identical in location and price. The estimates and judgments used in the impairment process are highly subjective and susceptible to frequent change.
In addition to our real estate assets, we review each of our investments in unconsolidated joint ventures for impairment. As part of this analysis, we first determine whether there are any indicators of impairment at any property held in a joint venture investment. If indicators of impairment are present for any of our investments in joint ventures, we calculate the fair value of the investment. If the fair value of the investment is less than the carrying value of the investment, we determine whether the impairment is temporary or other than temporary. If we assess the impairment to be temporary, we do not record
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an impairment charge. If we conclude that the impairment is other than temporary, we record an impairment charge. We use considerable judgment in the determination of whether there are indicators of impairment present and in the assumptions, estimations, and inputs used in calculating the fair value of the investment.
Development Cost Capitalization
We are involved in all stages of real estate ownership, including development. Prior to the point at which a project becomes probable of being developed (defined as more likely than not), we expense predevelopment costs. After we determine a project is probable, all subsequently incurred predevelopment costs, as well as interest and real estate taxes on qualifying assets and certain internal personnel and associated costs directly related to the project under development, are capitalized in accordance with accounting rules. If we abandon development of a project that had earlier been deemed probable, we charge all previously capitalized costs to expense. If this occurs, our predevelopment expenses could rise significantly. The determination of whether a project is probable requires judgment. If we determine that a project is probable, interest, general and administrative, and other expenses could be materially different than if we determine the project is not probable.
During the predevelopment period of a probable project and the period in which a project is under construction, we capitalize all direct and indirect costs associated with planning, developing, and constructing the project. Determination of what costs constitute direct and indirect project costs requires us, in some cases, to exercise judgment. If we determine certain costs to be direct or indirect project costs, amounts recorded in projects under development on the balance sheet and amounts recorded in general and administrative and other expenses on the statements of operations could be materially different than if we determine these costs are not directly or indirectly associated with the project.
Once a certain project is constructed and deemed substantially complete and ready for occupancy, carrying costs, such as real estate taxes, interest, internal personnel costs, and associated costs, are expensed as incurred. Determination of when construction of a project is substantially complete and held available for occupancy requires judgment. We consider projects and/or project phases to be both substantially complete and held for occupancy at the earlier of the date on which the project or phase reached economic occupancy of 90% or one year after its initial occupancy. Our judgment of the date the project is substantially complete has a direct impact on our operating expenses and net income for the period.
Stock-based Compensation
We have several types of stock-based compensation plans. For market-based awards, we are required to estimate fair values on the grant date (for equity-classified awards) and at each quarter-end (for liability-classified awards). The fair values of these awards are estimated using complex pricing valuation models that require a number of estimates and assumptions. For performance-based awards contingent on our future earnings, we must estimate future earnings quarterly and adjust the compensation costs accordingly.
We use considerable judgments in determining the fair value of market-based awards as well as estimating our progress towards performance-based awards. Compensation expense associated with these awards could vary significantly based upon these estimates.
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Results of Operations For The Year Ended December 31, 2020
General
Our financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been affected by the various acquisitions, dispositions, and completed developments during 2020 as well as the Merger and transactions with Norfolk Southern Railway Company ("NS") in 2019. Net income available to common stockholders for the year ended 2020 and 2019 was $237.3 million and $150.4 million, respectively. We detail below material changes in the components of net income available to common stockholders for the year ended 2020 compared to 2019.
See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations" from our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a comparison of 2019 to 2018 financial results.
Rental Property Revenues and Rental Property Operating Expenses
The following results include the performance of our Same Property portfolios. Our Same Property portfolios include 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 2020 versus 2019 comparison are from properties that were owned as of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.
We use Net Operating Income ("NOI"), a non-GAAP financial measure, to measure the operating performance of our properties. NOI is also widely used by industry analysts and investors to evaluate performance. NOI, which is rental property revenues (excluding termination fees) less rental property operating expenses, excludes certain components from net income in order to provide results that are more closely related to a property's results of operations. Certain items, such as interest expense, while included in net income, do not affect the operating performance of a real estate asset and are often incurred at the corporate level as opposed to the property level. As a result, we use only those income and expense items that are incurred at the property level to evaluate a property's performance. Depreciation, amortization, and impairment are also excluded from NOI. Same Property NOI allows analysts, investors, and management to analyze continuing operations and evaluate the growth trend of our portfolio.
Rental property revenues, rental property operating expenses, and NOI changed between the 2020 and 2019 periods as follows ($ in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Rental Property Revenues
Rental Property Operating Expenses
Same property rental property revenues decreased between 2020 and 2019 primarily due to a decrease in 2020 parking revenues resulting from decreased physical occupancy at our properties. Same property rental property operating expenses decreased between 2020 and 2019 primarily due to a decrease in expenses at properties resulting from lower physical occupancy in 2020.
Revenues and expenses for Legacy TIER properties represent amounts recorded for the properties acquired in the June 2019 Merger.
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Revenues and expenses of Other Non-Same Property increased between 2020 and 2019 primarily as a result of the addition of 1200 Peachtree in March 2019 and of Terminus, which was consolidated in October 2019 when we purchased our partner's interest in Terminus Office Holdings LLC ("TOH"), partially offset by the sale of Hearst Tower in March of 2020.
Fee Income
Fee income decreased $10.3 million (36.1%) between 2020 and 2019 primarily driven by timing of fee income related to the 2019 transactions with NS.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased $10.0 million (26.9%) between 2020 and 2019 primarily driven by long-term compensation expense decreases as a result of fluctuations in our common stock price for our liability-classified awards.
Interest Expense
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, increased $6.6 million (12.3%) between 2020 and 2019 primarily due to interest incurred on the unsecured senior notes issued in June 2019.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization changed between the 2020 and 2019 periods as follows ($ in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization for Legacy TIER properties represent amounts recorded on the properties acquired in the June 2019 Merger.
Depreciation and amortization of Other Non-Same Property decreased between 2020 and 2019 primarily as a result of the sale of Hearst in the first quarter of 2020; offset by Terminus, which was consolidated in the fourth quarter of 2019 when we purchased our partner's interest in TOH.
Transaction Costs
Included in transaction costs in both 2020 and 2019 are the costs associated with the Merger. These costs included legal, accounting, and financial advisory fees as well as the cost of due diligence work and the costs of combining the operations of TIER with the Company.
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Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following in 2020 and 2019 ($ in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Termination fee income 9 16 (7) (44) %
Net loss on sale of investment property (148) (15) (133) (887) %
Net operating income, depreciation and amortization, and interest expense from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased between 2020 and 2019 primarily due to the consolidation of Terminus in October 2019 when we purchased our partner's interest in TOH and the sale of our interest in Gateway Village in March of 2020.
Gain on Sales of Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
The gain on investment property transactions for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily includes the sale of our interests in the Wildwood Associates and Gateway Village joint ventures. The capitalization rate of Gateway Village was not a determinant of the sales price as, per the joint venture agreement, our interest was valued at a 17% internal rate of return on our invested capital. There was no capitalization rate associated with the sale of our interest in the Wildwood Associates joint venture as the underlying asset was land.
Gain on Investment Property Transactions
The gain on investment property transactions for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes the sale of Hearst Tower. The combined sales prices of the Heart Tower and Woodcrest dispositions represented a weighted average capitalization rate of 5.1%. Capitalization rates are calculated by dividing projected annualized NOI by the sales price.
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests includes the outside parties' share of the net income of CPLP as well as that of certain other consolidated entities. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests decreased $1.4 million (63.1%) between 2020 and 2019 primarily driven by the redemption of 1.7 million limited partnership units in CPLP completed in the first quarter of 2020, partially offset by the increase in net income in 2020.
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Funds from Operations
The table below shows Funds from Operations Available to Common Stockholders (“FFO”), a non-GAAP financial measure, and the related reconciliation to net income available to common stockholders for the Company. The Company calculates 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 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. Our management evaluates operating performance in part based on FFO. Additionally, our management uses FFO, along with other measures, to assess performance in connection with evaluating and granting incentive compensation to our officers and other key employees. The reconciliations of net income available to common stockholders to FFO and earnings per share to FFO per share are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share information):
Year Ended December 31,
Conversion of stock options — 8 — — 27 —
Conversion of unvested restricted stock units — 54 — — — —
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets:
Partners' share of real estate depreciation (742) — — (521) — —
(Gain)/loss on sale of depreciated properties:
Share of unconsolidated joint ventures (450) — — 15 — —
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures (44,578) — (0.31) — — —
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Net Operating Income
Company management evaluates the performance of its property portfolio in part based on NOI. NOI represents rental property revenues (excluding termination fees) 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 table reconciles net income (loss) to NOI for consolidated properties for each periods (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures (7,947) (12,666)
Gain on sale of investment in unconsolidated joint ventures (45,767) —
Gain on investment property transactions (90,125) (110,761)
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary short-term and long-term liquidity needs include the following:
•property and land acquisitions;
•expenditures on development projects;
•building improvements, tenant improvements, and leasing costs;
•principal and interest payments on indebtedness;
•general and administrative costs; and
•common stock dividends and distributions to outside unitholders of CPLP.
We may satisfy these needs with one or more of the following:
•cash and cash equivalents on hand;
•net cash from operations;
•proceeds from the sale of assets;
•borrowings under our Credit Facility;
•proceeds from mortgage notes payable;
•proceeds from construction loans;
•proceeds from unsecured loans;
•proceeds from offerings of equity securities; and
•joint venture formations.
While we expect to have sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations for the foreseeable future, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated responses could adversely impact our future cash flows and financial condition.
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Financial Condition
A key component of our strategy is to maintain a conservative balance sheet with leverage and liquidity that enables us to be positioned for future growth. Our leverage metrics at December 31, 2020, which include net debt to EBITDAre, net debt to undepreciated assets, and net debt to total market capitalization, were among the strongest within our sector of public office REITS. As of December 31, 2020, we had $232.4 million outstanding under our Credit Facility with the ability to borrow an additional $767.6 million. We also had $6.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash on hand at December 31, 2020.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2020 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:
Commitments:
Performance bonds 577 577 — — —
(1)Interest on variable rate obligations is based on rates effective as of December 31, 2020.
In addition, we have several standing or renewable service contracts mainly related to the operation of our buildings. These contracts were entered into 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.
Debt Associated with the Merger
In connection with the Merger, we assumed and immediately repaid $679.0 million in unsecured variable rate debt of TIER with our credit facility. We also assumed the Legacy Union One mortgage note with a $66.0 million principal balance and a fixed interest rate of 4.24%. Subsequent to the Merger, we closed a $650 million private placement of unsecured senior notes which were issued in three tranches with maturities from eight to ten years and a weighted average fixed interest rate of 3.88%. Proceeds from the unsecured senior notes were used to repay amounts outstanding under the credit facility incurred in the Merger.
Other Loan Activity
In February 2020, we prepaid in full the $23.0 million Meridian Mark Plaza mortgage note, without penalty.
In 2019, we purchased our partner's interest in TOH. With this transaction, we consolidated TOH and recorded the assets and liabilities at fair value, assuming the venture's mortgage notes. Terminus 100 has a $115.0 million mortgage note, which is due in 2023 and has a 5.25% fixed interest rate. Terminus 200 has a $74.4 million mortgage note, which is due in 2023 and has a 3.79% fixed interest rate.
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Credit Facility
Our $1 billion Credit Facility matures on January 3, 2023. The Credit Facility contains financial covenants that require, among other things, the maintenance of an unencumbered interest coverage ratio of at least 1.75x; a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.50x; a secured leverage ratio of no more than 40%; and an overall leverage ratio of no more than 60%. The Credit Facility also contains customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as customary events of default. The amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility may be accelerated upon the occurrence of any events of default. We are in compliance with all covenants of the Credit Facility.
The interest rate applicable to the Credit Facility varies according to our leverage ratio, and may, at our election, be determined based on either (1) the current LIBOR plus a spread of between 1.05% and 1.45%, or (2) the greater of Bank of America's prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, or the one-month LIBOR plus 1.0% (the "Base Rate"), plus a spread of between 0.10% or 0.45%, based on leverage.
At December 31, 2020, the Credit Facility's spread over LIBOR was 1.05%. The amount that we may draw under the Credit Facility is a defined calculation based on the Company's unencumbered assets and other factors. The total available borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility was $767.6 million at December 31, 2020.
Unsecured Senior Notes
At December 31, 2020, we had $1 billion in unsecured senior notes outstanding that were issued in five tranches with maturity dates that range from 2025 to 2029. The weighted average fixed interest rates on these notes is 3.91%.
The unsecured senior notes contain financial covenants that require, among other things, the maintenance of an unencumbered interest coverage ratio of at least 1.75x; a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.50x; an overall leverage ratio of no more than 60%; and a secured leverage ratio of no more than 40%. The senior notes also contain customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as customary events of default. We are in compliance with all covenants of the unsecured senior notes.
Term Loan
We have a $250 million term loan that matures on December 2, 2021 (the "Term Loan"). The Term Loan contains financial covenants consistent with those of the Credit Facility. The Term Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus a spread, based on our leverage ratio, as defined in the Term Loan.
Other Debt Information
Our existing mortgage debt is primarily non-recourse, fixed-rate mortgage notes secured by various real estate assets. We expect to either refinance our non-recourse mortgage loans at maturity or repay the mortgage loans with other capital resources, including our credit facility, unsecured debt, non-recourse mortgages, construction loans, the sale of assets, joint venture equity, the issuance of common stock, the issuance of preferred stock, or the issuance of units of CPLP. 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, debt, or other capital sources. We are in compliance with all covenants of our existing non-recourse mortgages.
75% of our debt bears interest at a fixed rate. Our variable-interest debt instruments, including our Credit Facility and Term Loan, may use LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the rate. LIBOR has been the subject of regulatory guidance and proposals for reform and in July 2017, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates LIBOR) announced it intends to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. These reforms may cause LIBOR to no longer be provided or to perform differently than in the past. Recent proposals for LIBOR reforms may result in the establishment of new methods of calculating LIBOR or the establishment of one or more alternative benchmark rates. If LIBOR is no longer widely available, or otherwise at our option, our variable-interest debt instruments, including our Credit Facility and term loan facilities, provide for alternate interest rate calculations.
There can be no assurances as to what alternative interest rates may be and whether such interest rates will be more or less favorable than LIBOR and any other unforeseen impacts of the potential discontinuation of LIBOR. The Company intends to continue monitoring the developments with respect to the planned phasing out of LIBOR after 2021 and work with its lenders to ensure any transition away from LIBOR will have minimal impact on its financial condition, but can provide no assurances regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR.
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Future Capital Requirements
To meet capital requirements for future investment activities over the long-term, we intend to actively manage our portfolio of properties and strategically sell assets to exit our non-core holdings and reposition our portfolio of income-producing assets geographically. We expect to continue to utilize cash retained from operations as well third-party sources of capital such as indebtedness to fund future commitments as well as utilize construction facilities for some development assets, if available and under appropriate terms.
We may also generate capital through the issuance of securities that include common or preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, depositary shares or the issuance of CPLP limited partnership units.
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
We report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash totaled $6.1 million and $17.6 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Cash Flows" from our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the changes in cash flows between 2019 and 2018. The following table sets forth the changes in cash flows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, $ Change
The reasons for significant increases and decreases in cash flows between the periods are as follows:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities increased $47.9 million between the 2020 and 2019 periods primarily due to net cash received from operations of properties acquired in the Merger in June 2019, of 1200 Peachtree, which was acquired in March 2019, of Terminus, which was consolidated in October 2019 when we purchased our partner's interest in TOH, and of The RailYard, which was acquired in December 2020. The increases are partially offset by the disposition of operations at Hearst Tower, Woodcrest, and the Gateway Village joint venture which were sold in the first quarter of 2020, and by decreased parking revenue earned at properties resulting from decreased physical occupancy at our properties.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities decreased $225.0 million between the 2020 and 2019 periods primarily due to cash received from the sales of the Hearst Tower and Woodcrest operating properties, combined with the sales of our interests in the Gateway Village and Wildwood Associates joint ventures, which partially offsets the acquisitions of The RailYard and a parking garage in Charlotte as well as an increase in building and tenant improvements.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash flows from financing activities decreased $299.3 million between the 2020 and 2019 periods primarily due to funding of the Unsecured Senior Notes in 2019.
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Capital Expenditures. We incur capital expenditures related to our real estate assets that include the acquisition of properties, the development of new properties, the 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 statements of cash flows. Components of expenditures included in this line item for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in thousands):
Operating properties—building improvements 139,247 27,970
Accrued capital expenditures adjustment 25,745 (4,891)
Capital expenditures increased $137.0 million between December 31, 2020 and 2019 primarily due to continued building and tenant improvements at Domain 12, which began recognizing income in the second quarter of 2020, and due to tenant improvements at Terminus, Northpark, 10000 Avalon, and Corporate Center. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in development expenditures at 120 West Trinity, 10000 Avalon, and Domain 10 which have begun preliminary operational activity and are in the final stages of development. Tenant improvements and leasing costs, as well as related capitalized personnel costs, are a function of the number and size of executed new leases or renewals of existing leases. The amount of tenant improvements and leasing costs on a per square foot basis for 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
The amounts of tenant improvement and leasing costs on a per square foot basis vary by lease and by market. Average leasing costs during 2020 increased for new leases primarily due to a 2019 full-building lease at 1200 Peachtree with NS that has lower than average tenant improvement and leasing costs, and due to a 2020 multi-floor, longer term lease that has higher than average tenant improvements and leasing costs.
Dividends. We paid common dividends of $176.3 million and $142.9 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. We funded these dividends with cash provided by operating activities. We expect to fund our future quarterly common dividends with cash provided by operating activities, also using proceeds from investment property sales, distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures, and indebtedness, if necessary.
On a quarterly basis, we review the amount of our common dividend in light of current and projected future cash provided by operating activities 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 common dividends paid. In general, common dividends of any amount can be paid as long as leverage, as defined in our credit agreements, is less than 60% and we are not in default under our facility. Certain conditions also apply in which we can still pay common dividends if leverage is above that amount. We routinely monitor the status of our common dividend payments in light of the covenants of our credit agreements.
Effects of Inflation. We attempt to minimize the effects of inflation on income from operating properties by providing periodic fixed-rent increases and/or pass-through of certain operating expenses of properties to tenants or, in certain circumstances, rents tied to tenants’ sales.
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Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
General. We have a number of off balance sheet joint ventures with varying structures, as described in note 8 to our consolidated financial statements. The joint ventures in which we have an interest are involved in the ownership and/or development of real estate. A venture will fund capital requirements or operational needs with cash from operations or financing proceeds. If additional capital is deemed necessary, a venture may request a contribution from the partners, and we will evaluate such request. Except as previously discussed, based on the nature of the activities conducted in these ventures, management cannot estimate with any degree of accuracy amounts that we may be required to fund in the short or long-term. However, management does not believe that additional funding of these ventures will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Debt. At December 31, 2020, our unconsolidated joint ventures had aggregate outstanding indebtedness to third parties of $230.3 million. This debt represents mortgage or construction loans, most of which are non-recourse to us. In addition, in certain instances, we provide “non-recourse carve-out guarantees” on these non-recourse loans. We guarantee 12.5% of the loan amount related to the Carolina Square construction loan, which has a lending capacity of $79.7 million, and $77.0 million outstanding at December 31, 2020.
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Our primary exposure to market risk results from our debt, which bears interest at both fixed and variable rates. We attempt to mitigate this risk by limiting our debt exposure in total and our maturities in any one year and weighting more towards fixed-rate debt in our portfolio. The fixed rate debt obligations limit the risk of fluctuating interest rates. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had $1.7 billion of fixed rate debt outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 3.95% and 3.97%, respectively.
At December 31, 2020, we had $482.4 million of variable rate debt outstanding, which consisted of the Credit Facility with $232.4 million outstanding at an interest rate of 1.19% and the $250.0 million Term Loan with an interest rate of 1.34%. At December 31, 2019, we had $250.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding, which consisted of the $250.0 million Term Loan with an interest rate of 3.70%. Based on our average variable rate debt balances in 2020, interest incurred would have increased by $3.8 million in 2020 if these interest rates had been 1% higher.
The information presented above should be read in conjunction with note 11 of notes to consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We did not have a significant level of notes receivable at December 31, 2020.
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Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The consolidated financial statements, notes to consolidated financial statements, and report of independent registered public accounting firm are included on pages F-1 through F-36.
The following selected quarterly financial information (unaudited) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Quarters
First Second Third Fourth
Gain (loss) on investment property transactions 90,916 (201) (523) (67)
Basic net income per common share $ 1.19 $ 0.16 $ 0.19 $ 0.07
Diluted net income per common share $ 1.18 $ 0.16 $ 0.19 $ 0.07
Quarters
First Second Third Fourth
Other financial statements and financial statement schedules required under Regulation S-X are filed pursuant to Item 15 of Part IV of this report.
During 2020, our quarterly results varied primarily as a result of sales of Hearst Tower, Woodcrest, and our interest in Gateway Village during the first quarter, the commencement of operations of multiple developments throughout the year, and the acquisition of The RailYard in the fourth quarter. During 2019, our quarterly results varied primarily as a result of the Merger with TIER, transactions with NS, and the acquisition of our partner's interest in TOH.
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
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Item 9A.Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the 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 judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding our control objectives.
As of the end of the period covered by this annual 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.
Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Management, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. The framework on which the assessment was based is described in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, we concluded that we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, issued an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, which follows this report of management.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Cousins Properties Incorporated
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Cousins Properties Incorporated and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, of the Company and our report dated February 11, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 11, 2021
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by Items 401, 405, 406, and 407 of Regulation S-K is presented in item X in part I above and is included under the captions “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” and “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s Stockholders, and is incorporated herein by reference. The Company has the Code which is applicable to its Board of Directors and all of its employees. The Code is publicly available on the “Investor Relations” page of its website site at www.cousins.com. Section 1 of the Code applies to the Company’s senior executive and financial officers and is a “code of ethics” as defined by applicable SEC rules and regulations. If the Company makes any amendments to the Code other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grants any waivers, including implicit waivers, from a provision of the Code to the Company’s senior executive or financial officers, the Company will disclose on its website the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Items 402 and 407 of Regulation S-K is included under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation,” and "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" in the Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information under the captions “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock” and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in the Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information under the caption “Certain Transactions” and “Director Independence” in the Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information under the caption “Summary of Fees to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Registrant’s Stockholders has fee information for fiscal years 2020 and 2019 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)1. Financial Statements
A.The following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant, together with the applicable report of independent registered public accounting firm, are filed as a part of this report:
Page Number
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets—December 31, 2020 and 2019 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-9
2.Financial Statement Schedule
The following financial statement schedule for the Registrant is filed as a part of this report:
Page Number
NOTE: Other schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(b)Exhibits
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21† Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23† Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
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104† Cover Page Interactive Data File.
* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
† Filed herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Cousins Properties Incorporated(Registrant)
BY: /s/ Gregg D. Adzema
Gregg D. Adzema
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature Capacity Date
M. Colin Connolly (Principal Executive Officer)
Gregg D. Adzema (Principal Financial Officer)
Jeffrey D. Symes (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Charles T. Cannada Director February 11, 2021
Charles T. Cannada
/s/ Robert M. Chapman Chairman of the Board and Director February 11, 2021
Robert M. Chapman
/s/ Scott W. Fordham Director February 11, 2021
Scott W. Fordham
/s/ Lillian C. Giornelli Director February 11, 2021
Lillian C. Giornelli
/s/ R. Kent Griffin, Jr. Director February 11, 2021
R. Kent Griffin, Jr.
/s/ Donna W. Hyland Director February 11, 2021
Donna W. Hyland
/s/ R. Dary Stone Director February 11, 2021
R. Dary Stone
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Cousins Properties Incorporated Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets—December 31, 2020 and 2019 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-9
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Cousins Properties Incorporated
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cousins Properties Incorporated and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 11, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Revenue Recognition - Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Rental property revenues are derived from operating leases to tenants. The Company recognizes fixed lease payments, which exclude certain rental property revenue such as percentage rent and revenue related to the recovery of certain operating expenses from tenants, on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The timing and amount of rental revenue recognition is largely dependent on whether the Company is the owner of tenant improvements at the leased property. In determining whether the Company or the tenant owns such tenant improvements, management of the Company considers a number of factors, including, among other things: (1) whether the tenant is obligated by the terms of the lease agreement to construct or install the leasehold improvements; (2) whether the landlord can require the lessee to make specified improvements or otherwise enforce its economic rights to those assets; (3) whether the tenant is permitted to alter or remove the leasehold improvements without the landlord’s consent or without compensating the landlord for any lost utility or diminution in fair value; (4) whether the tenant is required to provide the landlord with documentation supporting the cost of tenant improvements prior to reimbursement by the landlord; (5) whether the Company is obligated to fund cost overruns for the construction of leasehold improvements; (6) whether the leasehold improvements are unique to the tenant or could
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reasonably be used by other parties; and (7) whether the economic life of the leasehold improvements is such that a significant residual value of the assets is expected to accrue to the benefit of the landlord at the end of the lease terms.
The determination of whether the Company or its tenant owns the tenant improvements and the timing and amount of revenue recognition requires the exercise of significant judgment by management based on the facts and circumstances of the specific lease arrangement and is not based on any one factor. Auditing management’s conclusions with respect to these matters often is complex and requires subjective judgment.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to management’s determination of the owner of the tenant improvements and the related impact on the timing and amount of revenue recognition, included the following, among others:
•We tested the effectiveness of controls over revenue recognition, including the determination of the owner of tenant improvements and the timing and amounts of rental revenues to be recognized over the term of the related lease.
•We selected a sample of lease agreements and performed the following to evaluate the appropriateness of management’s conclusions regarding the owner of the tenant improvements and the timing and amount of revenue recognition:
◦Evaluated the reasonableness and consistency of the factors considered by management to determine the owner of the tenant improvements and compared such factors to the terms in the lease agreement or other supporting documents.
◦Tested tenant improvement costs (including the amounts funded by the Company or the tenant) by reconciling the amounts recorded by the Company to invoices or other supporting documents and evaluated whether the costs were consistent with the terms of the lease agreement and the Company’s ownership determination.
◦Tested the timing and amounts recognized as rental property revenues, including any amortization of deferred revenue or lease incentives, by independently calculating such rental revenue amounts to be recognized and comparing it to the amounts recorded by the Company.
Operating Properties - Impairment - Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s operating properties are evaluated for potential impairment on a quarterly basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an operating property’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. As part of the Company’s quarterly impairment indicator analysis, management considers numerous potential indicators of impairment of operating properties. These indicators could include a decline in a property’s leasing percentage, a current period operating loss or negative cash flows combined with a history of losses at the property, a decline in lease rates for that property or others in the property’s market, a significant change in the market value of the property, or an adverse change in the financial conditions of significant tenants at the property. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying value of the Company’s operating properties totaled $6.2 billion.
The identification of impairment indicators for operating properties requires management to make significant judgments with respect to the operating properties and market conditions. Given the subjectivity in identifying those events and changes in circumstances, the audit procedures involve especially subjective judgment and an increased extent of effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to our evaluation of the Company’s determination of the presence of impairment indicators at operating properties included the following, among others:
•We tested the effectiveness of controls over the quarterly impairment indicator analysis for operating properties.
•We tested the completeness and accuracy of management’s impairment analysis by:
◦Evaluating whether all operating properties are included in the impairment analysis.
◦Evaluating management's process for identifying impairment indicators at operating properties.
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◦Developing an independent expectation of potential impairment indicators and comparing such expectations to those included in the impairment analysis.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 11, 2021
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.
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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31,
Assets:
Real estate assets:
Liabilities:
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Stockholders' investment:
Distributions in excess of cumulative net income (1,078,304) (1,137,200)
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests 28,404 68,561
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Expenses:
Gain on sales of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 45,767 — —
Gain on extinguishment of debt — — 8
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (836) (2,265) (1,601)
Net income per common share — basic and diluted $ 1.60 $ 1.17 $ 0.75
Dividends declared per common share $ 1.20 $ 1.16 $ 1.04
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In thousands, except per share data)
Common stock issued pursuant to stock based compensation — 91 416 — — 507 — 507
Contributions from nonredeemable noncontrolling interest — — — — — — 8,087 8,087
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Gain on sales of investment in unconsolidated joint ventures (45,767) — —
Effect of non-cash adjustments to rental revenues (52,593) (44,839) (32,401)
Operating distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures 9,303 11,792 16,756
Gain on extinguishment of debt — — (8)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
Change in other receivables and other assets, net (2,439) (10,079) (6,049)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of interest in unconsolidated joint ventures, net 53,601 — —
Cash and restricted cash acquired in merger — 85,989 —
Contributions to unconsolidated joint ventures (4,285) (23,361) (50,933)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures 2,151 10 2,032
Change in notes receivable and other assets (161) (96) (8,317)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of unsecured senior notes — 650,000 —
Payment of deferred financing costs (73) (2,868) (6,166)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 5,197 8,087 1,497
Distributions to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests (1,156) (2,411) (2,653)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
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COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Business: Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”), a Georgia corporation, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Cousins conducts substantially all of its business through Cousins Properties, LP ("CPLP"). Cousins owns in excess of 99% of CPLP and consolidates CPLP. CPLP wholly owns Cousins TRS Services LLC ("CTRS") a taxable entity which owns and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties.
Cousins, CPLP, CTRS, and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) develop, acquire, lease, manage, and own primarily Class A office properties and opportunistic mixed-use developments in the Sun Belt markets of the United States with a focus on Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Tampa, and Dallas. Cousins has elected to be taxed as a REIT and intends to, among other things, distribute at least 100% 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. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s portfolio of real estate assets consisted of interests in 19.7 million square feet of office space and 310,000 square feet of mixed-use space.
Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated partnerships and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company presents its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification” or “ASC”). The Codification is the single source of authoritative accounting principles applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP.
On June 14, 2019, the Company restated and amended its articles of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the issued and outstanding shares of its common and preferred stock pursuant to which (1) each four shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock were combined into one share of the Company's common or preferred stock, respectively, and (2) the authorized number of the Company's common stock was proportionally reduced to 175 million shares. Fractional shares of common stock resulting from the reverse stock split were settled in cash. Preferred stock was redeemed with each four shares combined into one share; fractional shares of preferred stock were redeemed without payout. Immediately thereafter, the Company further amended its articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of its common stock from 175 million to 300 million shares. All shares of common stock, stock options, restricted stock units, and per share information presented in the consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on a retroactive basis for all periods presented.
For the three years ended December 31, 2020, there were no items of other comprehensive income. Therefore, the Company did not present comprehensive income. Additionally, certain subtotals within the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 were removed to conform to the current period presentation.
On January 1, 2019, the Company began recording lease termination fees in rental property revenues on the consolidated statements of operations as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, "Leases," ("ASC 842"). The prior period amounts, which were included in other revenues, were reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
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 Codification. 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.
In 2020, the Company transferred the right to purchase a building to a special purpose entity to facilitate a potential reverse Section 1031 exchange under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the special purpose entity purchased the building and retained the assets acquired therefrom. To realize the tax deferral available under Section 1031 exchange, the Company must identify the like-kind property to be disposed of within 45 days of the acquisition date and complete the transfer of the title to the to-be-exchanged building within 180 days of the acquisition date. We concluded that Cousins has a controlling financial interest and is, therefore, the primary beneficiary of the venture. The Company consolidates this VIE entity. As of December 31, 2020, this VIE had total assets of $210.2 million and total liabilities of $209.7 million. The liabilities of this VIE eliminate in our consolidated balance sheet.
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2.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Real Estate Assets
Cost Capitalization: Costs related to planning, developing, leasing, and constructing a property, including costs of development personnel working directly on projects under development, are capitalized. In addition, the Company capitalizes interest to qualifying assets under development based on average accumulated expenditures outstanding during the period. In capitalizing interest to qualifying assets, the Company first uses the interest incurred on specific project debt, if any, and next uses the Company’s weighted average interest rate for non-project specific debt. The Company also capitalizes interest to investments accounted for under the equity method when the investee has property under development with a carrying value in excess of the investee’s borrowings. To the extent debt exists within an unconsolidated joint venture during the construction period, the venture capitalizes interest on that venture-specific debt.
The Company capitalizes interest, real estate taxes, and certain operating expenses on the unoccupied portion of recently completed development properties from the date a project is substantially complete to the earlier of (1) the date on which the project achieves 90% economic occupancy or (2) one year after it is substantially complete.
Through December 31, 2018, the Company capitalized direct and indirect leasing costs related to leases that are probable of being executed. These costs included commissions paid to outside brokers, legal costs incurred to negotiate and document a lease agreement, and internal costs that are based on time spent by leasing personnel on successful leases. The Company allocated these costs to individual tenant leases and amortized them over the related lease term. Beginning January 1, 2019, in connection with the implementation of ASC 842, the Company only capitalizes direct costs of a lease, which would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained. These costs generally would include commissions paid to employees or third parties and any other costs incremental to executing a lease that would not have otherwise been incurred.
Impairment: We review our real estate assets on a property-by-property basis for impairment. This review includes our operating properties, properties under development, and land holdings.
The first step in this process is for us to determine whether an asset is considered to be held and used or held for sale, in accordance with accounting guidance. In order to be considered a real estate asset held for sale, we must, among other things, have the authority to commit to a plan to sell the asset in its current condition, have commenced the plan to sell the asset, and have determined that it is probable that the asset will sell within one year. If we determine that an asset is held for sale, we record an impairment loss if the fair value less costs to sell is less than the carrying amount. All real estate assets not meeting the held for sale criteria are considered to be held and used.
In the impairment analysis for assets held and used, we must determine whether there are indicators of impairment. For operating properties, these indicators could include a decline in a property’s leasing percentage, a current period operating loss or negative cash flows combined with a history of losses at the property, a decline in lease rates for that property or others in the property’s market, a significant change in the market value of the property, or an adverse change in the financial condition of significant tenants. For land holdings, indicators could include an overall decline in the market value of land in the region, a decline in development activity for the intended use of the land, or other adverse economic and market conditions. For projects under development, indicators could include material budget overruns without a corresponding funding source, significant delays in construction, occupancy, or stabilization schedule, regulatory changes or economic trends that have a significant impact on the market, or an adverse change in the financial condition of a significant tenant.
Acquisition of Real Estate Assets: The Company evaluates all real estate acquisitions to determine if the transactions qualify as an acquisition of assets or of a business. If the Company determines that substantially all of the fair value is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar assets, the Company will account for the acquisition as an acquisition of assets and not a business. If the Company determines that there is no single or group of assets that make up substantially all of the fair value of assets acquired, the Company must determine whether the acquired set of assets includes an input and substantial processes which create an output. Based on the facts of the transactions and guidance in ASC 805, if the Company determines that an input and substantial processes that create an output are present, the Company will account for the acquisition as an acquisition of a business.
For acquisitions that are accounted for as an acquisition of an asset, the Company records the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on each asset and liability's relative fair value at the acquisition date to the total purchase price plus capitalized acquisition costs. For acquisitions that are accounted for as an acquisition of a business, the Company records the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities at fair value at the acquisition date. The acquired assets and assumed liabilities for an operating property acquisition generally include but are not limited to: land, buildings and improvements, and identified tangible and intangible assets and liabilities associated with in-place leases,
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including leasing costs, value of above-market and below-market tenant leases, value of above-market and below-market ground leases, acquired in-place lease values, and tenant relationships, if any.
The fair value of land is derived from comparable sales of land within the same submarket and/or region. The fair value of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements, and leasing costs are based upon current market replacement costs and other relevant market rate information.
The fair value of the above-market or below-market component of an acquired lease is based upon the present value (calculated using a market discount rate) of the difference between (1) the contractual rents to be paid pursuant to the lease over its remaining term and (2) management’s estimate of the rents that would be paid using fair market rental rates and rent escalations at the date of acquisition over the remaining term of the lease. The amounts recorded for above-market and below-market ground leases are included in intangible liabilities and intangible assets, respectively, and are amortized on a straight-line basis into rental property revenues over the remaining terms of the applicable leases.
The fair value of acquired in-place leases is derived based on management’s assessment of lost revenue and costs incurred for the period required to lease the “assumed vacant” property to the occupancy level when purchased. The amount recorded for acquired in-place leases is included in intangible assets and amortized as an increase to depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining term of the applicable leases.
Depreciation and Amortization: Real estate assets are stated at depreciated cost less impairment, if any. Buildings are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which range generally from 30 to 42 years. The life of a particular building depends upon a number of factors including whether the building was developed or acquired and the condition of the building upon acquisition. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives of three to five years. Tenant improvements, leasing costs, and leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the applicable leases or the estimated useful life of the assets, whichever is shorter. The Company accelerates the depreciation of tenant assets if it estimates that the lease term will end prior to the termination date. This acceleration may occur if a tenant files for bankruptcy, vacates its premises, or defaults in another manner on its lease. Deferred expenses are amortized over the period of estimated benefit. The Company uses the straight-line method for all depreciation and amortization.
Investment in Joint Ventures
For joint ventures that the Company does not control, but over which it exercises significant influence, the Company uses the equity method of accounting. The Company's judgment with regard to its level of influence or control of an entity involves consideration of various factors including the form of its ownership interest; its representation in the entity's governance; its ability to participate in policy-making decisions; and the rights of other investors to participate in the decision-making process, to replace the Company as manager, and/or to liquidate the venture. These ventures are recorded at cost and adjusted for equity in earnings (losses) and cash contributions and distributions. Any difference between the carrying amount of these investments on the Company’s balance sheet and the underlying equity in net assets on the joint venture’s balance sheet is adjusted as the related underlying assets are depreciated, amortized, or sold. The Company generally allocates income and loss from an unconsolidated joint venture based on the venture's distribution priorities, which may be different from its stated ownership percentage.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of its investment in unconsolidated joint ventures in accordance with accounting standards for equity investments by first reviewing each investment for any indicators of impairment. If indicators are present, the Company estimates the fair value of the investment. If the carrying value of the investment is greater than the estimated fair value, management makes an assessment of whether the impairment is “temporary” or “other-than-temporary.” In making this assessment, management considers the following: (1) the length of time and the extent to which fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the entity, and (3) the Company’s intent and ability to retain its interest long enough for a recovery in market value. If management concludes that the impairment is "other than temporary," the Company reduces the investment to its estimated fair value.
Noncontrolling Interest
The Company consolidates CPLP and certain joint ventures in which it owns a controlling interest. In cases where the entity’s documents do not contain a required redemption clause, the Company records the partner’s share of the entity in the equity section of the balance sheets in nonredeemable noncontrolling interests. In cases where the entity’s documents contain a provision requiring the Company to purchase the partner’s share of the venture at a certain value upon demand or at a future date, if any, the Company records the partner’s share of the entity in redeemable noncontrolling interests on the balance sheets. The outside partners' interests in CPLP are redeemable upon demand, into cash or shares of common stock of the Company at the Company's sole discretion. Therefore, noncontrolling interests associated with CPLP are considered
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nonredeemable noncontrolling interests. The noncontrolling partners' share of all consolidated entities' income is reflected in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest on the statements of operations.
Revenue Recognition
Rental Property Revenues: The Company recognizes contractual revenues from leases on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective lease. If we determine the improvements are our assets, we capitalize the cost of the improvements and recognize depreciation expense associated with such improvements over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the term of the lease. If the improvements are tenant assets, we defer the cost of improvements funded by us as a lease incentive asset and amortize it as a reduction of rental revenue over the term of the lease. Our determination of whether improvements are our assets or tenant assets also affects when we commence revenue recognition in connection with a lease. The Company records deferred revenue for the portion of company owned tenant improvements funded or reimbursed by tenants and amortizes this amount on a straight-line basis into rental income over the term of the related lease. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had unamortized deferred income related to tenant funded tenant improvements of $31.6 million and $17.8 million, respectively, included in deferred income on the consolidated balance sheets.
Certain leases also provide for percentage rents based upon the level of sales achieved by the lessee. Percentage rents are recognized once the specified sales target is achieved. In addition, leases typically provide for reimbursement of the tenants' share of real estate taxes, insurance, and other operating expenses to the Company. Operating expense reimbursements are recognized as the related expenses are incurred. During 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Company recognized $142.5 million, $122.4 million, and $79.8 million, respectively, in revenues from tenants related to operating expense reimbursements.
The Company makes valuation adjustments to all tenant-related accounts receivable based upon its estimate of the likelihood of collectibility of amounts due from the tenant. The amount of any valuation adjustment is based on the tenant’s credit and business risk, history of payment, and other factors considered by management.
In limited circumstances to date, we have entered into lease amendments with certain tenants, a majority of which are small retail operators who have experienced disruptions in their business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these agreements forgive rents and extend the lease term for the equivalent number of months at the end of the original lease and others provide for forgiveness without extension. Rent forgiveness, with or without extensions, is accounted for as lease modifications, and the Company will recognize the effects over time through straight-line rent over the lease term. Other agreements provide for payment deferrals without extensions. The Company will also account for these deferral agreements as lease modifications and has included these deferred payments in deferred rents receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Fee Income: The Company recognizes development, management, and leasing fees as it satisfies the related performance obligations under the respective contracts. The Company recognizes development and leasing fees received from investments in unconsolidated joint ventures and related salaries and other direct costs incurred by the Company as income and expense based on the percentage of the joint venture which the Company does not own. Correspondingly, the Company adjusts its investment in unconsolidated joint ventures when fees are paid to the Company by a joint venture in which the Company has an ownership interest.
Gain on Investment Property Transactions: The Company recognizes a gain on the sale of investment property at the time the buyer obtains control of the investment property. If the Company maintains any continuing involvement with the investment property, that continuing involvement is considered to be one or more additional performance obligations and additional gains or losses will be recognized as these performance obligations are satisfied.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify as a REIT, the Company must distribute annually at least 90% of its adjusted taxable income, as defined in the Code, to its stockholders and satisfy certain other organizational and operating requirements. It is management’s current intention to adhere to these requirements and maintain the Company's REIT status. As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax at the corporate level on the taxable income it distributes to its stockholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income taxes at regular corporate rates and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for four subsequent taxable years. The Company may be subject to certain state and local taxes on its income and property, and to federal income taxes on its undistributed taxable income.
CTRS is a C-Corporation for federal income tax purposes and uses the liability method for accounting for income taxes. Tax return positions are recognized in the financial statements when they are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained
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upon examination by the taxing authority. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities result from temporary differences. Temporary differences are differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future periods. A valuation allowance may be placed on deferred income tax assets, if it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset may not be realized.
Stock Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation using the fair value based method of accounting. We classify share-based payment awards granted in exchange for employee services as either equity awards or liability awards. Equity classified awards are measured based on the fair value on the date of grant. Awards that are to be settled in cash are classified as liability awards. The value of all of the Company's share-based awards is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award - the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). No compensation costs are recognized for awards which employees do not render the requisite service period.
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 plus noncontrolling interests in CPLP 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 that would occur if the outside units in CPLP were converted into the Company's common stock, stock options (or any other contracts to issue common stock) were exercised, and equity-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") were vested and settled resulting in additional common shares outstanding, calculated using the treasury stock method. Stock options are dilutive when the average market price of the Company’s stock during the period exceeds the option exercise price. Market-based RSUs are dilutive when granted with the dilution impact calculated based on projected vesting percentages. Performance-based RSUs are dilutive once the minimum performance criteria has been met and the dilution impact is calculated based on projected vesting percentages.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash and highly-liquid money market instruments. Highly-liquid money market instruments include securities and repurchase agreements with original maturities of three months or less, money market mutual funds, and United States Treasury Bills with maturities of 30 days or less.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash primarily includes escrow accounts held by lenders to pay real estate taxes, earnest money paid in connection with future acquisitions, and proceeds from property sales held by qualified intermediaries for potential like-kind exchanges in accordance with Section 1031 of the Code, if any.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
3. TRANSACTIONS WITH TIER REIT, INC.
On June 14, 2019, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 25, 2019 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company and TIER REIT, Inc. (“TIER”), TIER merged with and into a subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”) with this subsidiary continuing as the surviving corporation of the Merger. The Merger has enhanced the Company's position in its existing markets of Austin and Charlotte, provided a strategic entry into Dallas, and rebalanced the Company's portfolio across its markets. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of TIER common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger, was converted into 2.98 newly issued, pre-reverse split shares of the Company’s common stock with fractional shares being settled in cash. In the Merger, former TIER common stockholders received approximately 166 million pre-reverse split shares of common stock of the Company. As discussed in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, immediately following the Merger, the Company completed a 1-for-4 reverse stock split.
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The Merger has been accounted for as a business combination with the Company as the accounting acquirer, which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their acquisition date fair value. The total value of the transaction is based on the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on June 13, 2019, the day immediately prior to the closing of the Merger. Based on the shares issued in the transaction, the total fair value of the assets acquired net of liabilities assumed in the Merger was $1.6 billion. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company incurred expenses related to the Merger of $428,000 and $52.9 million, respectively.
Management engaged a third party valuation specialist to assist with valuing the real estate assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Merger. The third party used cash flow analyses, as well as a market approach, an income approach, and a cost approach to determine the fair value of real estate assets acquired.
The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Real estate assets held for sale 20,835
Cash and cash equivalents 84,042
Restricted cash 1,947
Notes and other receivables 8,278
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures 331
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 53,321
Deferred income 8,388
Intangible liabilities 47,988
Other liabilities 7,793
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests 5,329
The following unaudited supplemental pro forma information is based upon the Company's historical consolidated statements of operations, adjusted as if the Merger had occurred on January 1, 2018. The supplemental pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of future results, or of actual results, that would have been achieved had the Merger been consummated at the beginning of the period.
Year ended December 31,
(unaudited, in thousands)
Net income available to common stockholders 229,503 27,742
2019 supplemental pro forma earnings were adjusted to exclude the $52.9 million of transaction costs incurred in the year ended December 31, 2019. Supplemental pro forma earnings for the year ended December 31, 2018 were adjusted to include this charge.
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4. TRANSACTIONS WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
On March 1, 2019, the Company entered into a series of agreements and executed related transactions with Norfolk Southern Railway Company (“NS”) as follows:
•Sold land to NS for $52.5 million.
•Executed a Development Agreement with NS whereby the Company will receive fees totaling $5 million in consideration for development services for NS’s corporate headquarters that is being constructed on the land sold to NS.
•Executed a Consulting Agreement with NS whereby the Company will receive fees totaling $32 million in consideration for consulting services for NS’s corporate headquarters. The Development Agreement and Consulting Agreement are collectively referred to below as the “Fee Agreements.”
•Purchased a building from NS (“1200 Peachtree”) for $82 million subject to a three-year market rate lease with NS that covers the entire building.
The Company sold the land to NS for $5.0 million above its carrying amount, which included $37.0 million of land purchased in 2018, $6.5 million of land purchased in 2019, and $4.0 million of site preparation work. The Company purchased 1200 Peachtree from NS for an amount it determined to be $10.3 million below the building’s fair value.
The Company determined that all contracts and transactions associated with NS should be combined for accounting purposes, and the amounts exchanged under the combined contracts should be allocated to the various components of the overall transaction at fair value or market value as discussed below. The Company determined that the purchase of 1200 Peachtree should be recorded at fair value of $92.3 million (see note 5 for allocation of the purchase price). The Company determined that the lease with NS at the 1200 Peachtree building was at market value under ASC 842. The land sale was accounted for under ASC 610-20, and no gain or loss was recorded on the derecognition of this non-financial asset as the fair value was determined to equal the carrying amount. Consideration related to various services provided to NS, and accounted for under ASC 606, was determined to be $52.3 million and represents the negotiated market value for the services agreed to by the Company and NS in the contracts. This amount included non-cash consideration of the $10.3 million discount on the purchase of 1200 Peachtree as well as cash consideration of $5.0 million from the land sale contract (difference between fair value and contract amount), $5.0 million from the Development Agreement, and $32.0 million from the Consulting Agreement. Since all of the agreements and contracts above were executed for the purpose of delivering and constructing a corporate headquarters for NS and all of the services and deliverables are highly interdependent, the Company determined that the services represent a single performance obligation under ASC 606.
The Company determined that control of the services to be provided is being transferred over time and, thus, the Company must recognize the $52.3 million contract price in revenue as it satisfies the performance obligation. The Company determined that the inputs method of measuring progress of satisfying the performance obligation was the most appropriate method of recognizing revenue for the services component. Therefore, the Company began recognizing revenue on March 1, 2019, based upon the time spent by the Company’s employees in providing these services as compared to the total estimated time required to satisfy the performance obligation. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $14.9 million and $21.4 million, respectively, in fee income in the statement of operations related to the services provided to NS. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had deferred income related to NS included in the consolidated balance sheet of $5.7 million and $11.3 million, respectively.
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5. REAL ESTATE
Acquisitions
During 2020, the Company acquired The RailYard in Charlotte for $201.3 million, including acquisition costs. The Company accounted for this transaction as an acquisition of an asset and the following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price of this property (in thousands):
The RailYard
Tangible assets:
Intangible assets:
In-place leases 8,850
Above market leases 439
Intangible assets 9,289
Intangible liabilities:
Below market leases (9,129)
Intangible liabilities (9,129)
Total net assets acquired $ 201,313
During 2020, the Company also acquired a 1,550 space parking garage in Charlotte for $85.3 million, including acquisition costs. This property is included in real estate assets on the consolidated balance sheet and in the Company's Charlotte/Office operating segment.
Additionally, the Company completed multiple land acquisitions in the South End submarket of Charlotte during the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company acquired 3.4 and 2.4acres of land to be used for future development for a gross purchase price of $28.1 million and $18.8 million, respectively.
During 2019, the Company acquired 1200 Peachtree as discussed in note 4 and acquired its partner's interest in Terminus Office Holdings LLC as discussed in note 8.The Company accounted for these transactions as an acquisition of assets and the following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price of these properties (in thousands):
1200 Peachtree Terminus
Tangible assets:
Intangible assets:
Above market leases — 7,193
Intangible liabilities:
Below market leases — (4,745)
Intangible liabilities — (4,745)
Dispositions
The Company had two dispositions of consolidated operating properties during the year ended December 31, 2020 and had no dispositions during the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company sold the following properties in 2020 ($ in thousands):
Property Property Type Location Square Feet Sales Price
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The Company sold the properties noted above as part of its ongoing investment strategy, using these proceeds to fund new investment activity. The gain of $90.3 million from the sale of these properties is net of $459,000 of state income tax.
During February 2019, the Company sold air rights that cover eight acres in Downtown Atlanta for a gross sales price of $13.3 million and recorded a gain of $13.1 million.
The Company's Burnett Plaza property was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020 and the Company's Woodcrest and Hearst Tower properties were classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2019. The major classes of assets and liabilities of these properties held for sale were as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Real estate assets and other assets held for sale 2020 2019
Notes and accounts receivable 439 5,520
Total real estate assets and other assets held for sale $ 125,746 $ 360,582
Liabilities of real estate assets held for sale
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 7,399 $ 12,497
Total liabilities of real estate assets held for sale $ 12,606 $ 21,231
Impairment
The Company tests for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate a building’s carrying value may not be recoverable. The test is conducted using undiscounted cash flows for the shorter of the building’s estimated hold period or its remaining useful life. When testing for recoverability of buildings held for investment, projected cash flows are used over its expected hold period. If the expected hold period includes some likelihood of shorter-term hold period from a potential sale, the probability of a sale is layered into the analysis. If any building's held for investment analysis were to fail the impairment test, its book value would be written down to its then current estimated fair value, before any selling expense, and that building would continue to depreciate over its remaining useful life. None of the Company’s buildings were impaired during any periods presented while under the held for investments classification.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company decided to accept an offer, with conditions, on Burnett Plaza. Based on the status of this offer as of December 31, 2020, the Company concluded the sale was probable within one year and, therefore, transferred the assets and liabilities of the building to held for sale. Because the carrying value of the building exceeded the expected net sale proceeds (including selling costs), the Company recorded a $14.8 million impairment charge in the accompanying statement of operations. The net proceeds were based on the third-party offer to purchase (a Level 2 input under authoritative guidance for fair value measurements).
The Company may record additional impairment charges if operating results of individual buildings are materially different from our forecasts, the economy and the office industry weakens, or we shorten our contemplated holding period for additional buildings.
6. LEASES
At December 31, 2020, the Company had five properties subject to operating ground leases with a weighted average remaining term of 71 years and one finance ground leases with a weighted average remaining term of five years. At December 31, 2020, the Company had right-of-use assets from operating ground leases of $55.8 million included in operating properties, projects under development, or land on the consolidated balance sheet and right-of-use assets from finance ground leases of $3.7 million included in land on the consolidated balance sheet. At December 31, 2020, the Company had lease liabilities for operating and finance ground leases of $58.6 million and $3.6 million, respectively, included in other liabilities
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on the consolidated balance sheet. The weighted average discount rate on these ground leases at December 31, 2020 was 4.5%.
Rental payments on these ground leases are adjusted periodically based on either the Consumer Price Index, changes in developed square feet on the underlying leased asset, or on a pre-determined schedule. The monthly payments on a pre-determined schedule are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases while payments resulting from changes in the Consumer Price Index or future development are reflected in the statement of operations at the time of the change.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the Company recognized operating ground lease expense of $4.3 million, $3.9 million, and $3.5 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020 the Company had no variable lease expenses related to ground lease expense, and recognized interest expense related to finance ground leases of $474,000. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid $3.5 million in cash related to operating ground leases and made $474,000 in cash payments related to financing ground leases. During 2020, the Company purchased one parcel of land previously under the Company's control through a finance ground lease for $6.4 million.
The following table represents the undiscounted cash flows of our scheduled obligations for future minimum payments for ground leases as of December 31, 2020, with a reconciliation of these cash flows to the related ground lease liabilities in accordance with ASC 842 (in thousands):
Operating Ground Leases Finance Ground Leases
The following table represents the undiscounted cash flows of our scheduled obligations for future minimum payments for ground leases as of December 31, 2019, with a reconciliation of these cash flows to the related ground lease liabilities in accordance with ASC 842 (in thousands):
Operating Ground Leases Finance Ground Leases
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