10-Q


 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q 
(Mark one)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
September 30, 2015
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
 
to
 
           
Commission file number 1-14023 (Corporate Office Properties Trust)
Commission file number 333-189188 (Corporate Office Properties, L.P.)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
 
Maryland
 
23-2947217
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(IRS Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
 
Delaware
 
23-2930022
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(IRS Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
6711 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300, Columbia, MD
21046
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (443) 285-5400
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Corporate Office Properties Trust ý Yes   o No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. ý Yes   o No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Corporate Office Properties Trust ý Yes   o No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. ý Yes   o No





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Corporate Office Properties Trust
Large accelerated filer ý
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 

Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer ý
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Corporate Office Properties Trust o Yes   ý No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. o Yes   ý No

As of October 16, 2015, 94,533,250 of Corporate Office Properties Trust’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.
 
 
 
 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015 of Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) and Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”). Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer collectively to COPT, COPLP and their subsidiaries.

COPT is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, and the sole general partner of COPLP. As of September 30, 2015, COPT owned approximately 96.3% of the outstanding common units and approximately 95.5% of the outstanding preferred units in COPLP; the remaining common and preferred units in COPLP were owned by third parties. As the sole general partner of COPLP, COPT controls COPLP and can cause it to enter into major transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings and cause changes in its line of business, capital structure and distribution policies.

There are a few differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership which are reflected in this Form 10-Q. We believe it is important to understand the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership in the context of how the Company and the Operating Partnership operate as an interrelated, consolidated company. COPT is a real estate investment trust, whose only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of COPLP. As a result, COPT does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of COPLP, issuing public equity from time to time and guaranteeing certain debt of COPLP. COPT itself is not directly obligated under any indebtedness but guarantees some of the debt of COPLP. COPLP owns substantially all of the assets of COPT either directly or through its subsidiaries, conducts almost all of the operations of the business and is structured as a limited partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by COPT, which are contributed to COPLP in exchange for partnership units, COPLP generates the capital required by COPT’s business through COPLP’s operations, by COPLP’s direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness or through the issuance of partnership units.

Noncontrolling interests and shareholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated financial statements of COPT and those of COPLP. The common limited partnership interests in COPLP not owned by COPT are accounted for as partners’ capital in COPLP’s consolidated financial statements and as noncontrolling interests in COPT’s consolidated financial statements. COPLP’s consolidated financial statements also reflect COPT’s noncontrolling interests in certain real estate partnerships, limited liability companies (“LLCs”), business trusts and corporations; the differences between shareholders’ equity, partners’ capital and noncontrolling interests result from the differences in the equity issued at the COPT and COPLP levels and in COPT’s noncontrolling interests in these real estate partnerships, LLCs, business trusts and corporations. The only other significant differences between the consolidated financial statements of COPT and those of COPLP are assets in connection with a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan




(comprised primarily of mutual funds and equity securities) and the corresponding liability to the plan’s participants that are held directly by COPT.

We believe combining the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Company and the Operating Partnership into this single report results in the following benefits:
combined reports better reflect how management and the analyst community view the business as a single operating unit;
combined reports enhance investors’ understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling them to view the business as a whole and in the same manner as management;
combined reports are more efficient for the Company and the Operating Partnership and result in savings in time, effort and expense; and
combined reports are more efficient for investors by reducing duplicative disclosure and providing a single document for their review.

To help investors understand the significant differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report presents the following separate sections for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership:
consolidated financial statements;
the following notes to the consolidated financial statements:
Note 3, Fair Value Measurements of COPT and subsidiaries and COPLP and subsidiaries; and
Note 16, Earnings per Share of COPT and subsidiaries and Earnings per Unit of COPLP and subsidiaries;
“Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPT”; and
“Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPLP.”

This report also includes separate sections under Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures and separate Exhibit 31 and Exhibit 32 certifications for each of COPT and COPLP to establish that the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of each entity have made the requisite certifications and that COPT and COPLP are compliant with Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and 18 U.S.C. §1350.





TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements of Corporate Office Properties Trust
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Financial Statements of Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2



PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements


Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Assets
 

 
 

Properties, net:
 

 
 

Operating properties, net
$
2,932,843

 
$
2,751,488

Projects in development or held for future development
414,757

 
545,426

Total properties, net
3,347,600

 
3,296,914

Assets held for sale, net
150,572

 
14,339

Cash and cash equivalents
3,840

 
6,077

Restricted cash and marketable securities
9,286

 
9,069

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,010 and $717, respectively)
19,962

 
26,901

Deferred rent receivable (net of allowance of $1,816 and $1,418, respectively)
103,064

 
95,910

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net
106,174

 
43,854

Deferred leasing and financing costs, net
64,367

 
64,797

Investing receivables
46,821

 
52,147

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
66,787

 
60,249

Total assets
$
3,918,473

 
$
3,670,257

Liabilities and equity
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Debt, net
$
2,121,240

 
$
1,920,057

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
98,551

 
123,035

Rents received in advance and security deposits
34,504

 
31,011

Dividends and distributions payable
30,182

 
29,862

Deferred revenue associated with operating leases
20,113

 
13,031

Interest rate derivatives
5,844

 
1,855

Other liabilities
8,524

 
12,105

Total liabilities
2,318,958

 
2,130,956

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interest
19,608

 
18,417

Equity:
 

 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust’s shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Preferred Shares of beneficial interest at liquidation preference ($0.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding of 7,431,667 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014)
199,083

 
199,083

Common Shares of beneficial interest ($0.01 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized, shares issued and outstanding of 94,533,670 at September 30, 2015 and 93,255,284 at December 31, 2014)
945

 
933

Additional paid-in capital
2,002,730

 
1,969,968

Cumulative distributions in excess of net income
(686,986
)
 
(717,264
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(5,823
)
 
(1,297
)
Total Corporate Office Properties Trust’s shareholders’ equity
1,509,949

 
1,451,423

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries:
 

 
 

Common units in COPLP
50,992

 
51,534

Preferred units in COPLP
8,800

 
8,800

Other consolidated entities
10,166

 
9,127

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
69,958

 
69,461

Total equity
1,579,907

 
1,520,884

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity
$
3,918,473

 
$
3,670,257


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3




Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Rental revenue
$
109,080

 
$
96,207

 
$
312,826

 
$
288,574

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
24,606

 
22,069

 
71,761

 
70,538

Construction contract and other service revenues
17,058

 
34,739

 
97,554

 
80,390

Total revenues
150,744

 
153,015

 
482,141

 
439,502

Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
48,897

 
43,056

 
145,996

 
136,600

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
38,403

 
30,237

 
103,788

 
104,728

Construction contract and other service expenses
16,132

 
33,593

 
94,923

 
75,353

Impairment losses
2,307

 
66

 
3,545

 
1,368

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,439

 
7,211

 
22,864

 
22,882

Business development expenses and land carry costs
5,573

 
1,430

 
10,986

 
4,107

Total operating expenses
118,751

 
115,593

 
382,102

 
345,038

Operating income
31,993

 
37,422

 
100,039

 
94,464

Interest expense
(24,121
)
 
(24,802
)
 
(66,727
)
 
(69,107
)
Interest and other income
692

 
1,191

 
3,217

 
3,775

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt
85,745

 
(176
)
 
85,677

 
(446
)
Income from continuing operations before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes
94,309

 
13,635

 
122,206

 
28,686

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
18

 
193

 
52

 
206

Income tax expense
(48
)
 
(101
)
 
(153
)
 
(257
)
Income from continuing operations
94,279

 
13,727

 
122,105

 
28,635

Discontinued operations

 
191

 
156

 
4

Income before gain on sales of real estate
94,279

 
13,918

 
122,261

 
28,639

Gain on sales of real estate
15

 
10,630

 
4,000

 
10,630

Net income
94,294

 
24,548

 
126,261

 
39,269

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common units in COPLP
(3,357
)
 
(768
)
 
(4,231
)
 
(942
)
Preferred units in COPLP
(165
)
 
(165
)
 
(495
)
 
(495
)
Other consolidated entities
(972
)
 
(895
)
 
(2,599
)
 
(2,481
)
Net income attributable to COPT
89,800

 
22,720

 
118,936

 
35,351

Preferred share dividends
(3,552
)
 
(3,553
)
 
(10,657
)
 
(12,387
)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares

 

 

 
(1,769
)
Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
86,248

 
$
19,167

 
$
108,279

 
$
21,195

Net income attributable to COPT:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income from continuing operations
$
89,800

 
$
22,537

 
$
118,783

 
$
35,342

Discontinued operations, net

 
183

 
153

 
9

Net income attributable to COPT
$
89,800

 
$
22,720

 
$
118,936

 
$
35,351

Basic earnings per common share (1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income from continuing operations
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Diluted earnings per common share (1)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.275

 
$
0.275

 
$
0.825

 
$
0.825

(1) Basic and diluted earnings per common share are calculated based on amounts attributable to common shareholders of Corporate Office Properties Trust.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
$
94,294

 
$
24,548

 
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

Other comprehensive (loss) income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Unrealized (losses) gains on interest rate derivatives
(3,638
)
 
1,015

 
(6,720
)
 
(4,738
)
Losses on interest rate derivatives included in interest expense
915

 
756

 
2,457

 
2,170

Equity in other comprehensive loss of equity method investee

 

 
(264
)
 

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(2,723
)
 
1,771

 
(4,527
)
 
(2,568
)
Comprehensive income
91,571

 
26,319

 
121,734

 
36,701

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4,453
)
 
(1,968
)
 
(7,324
)
 
(3,960
)
Comprehensive income attributable to COPT
$
87,118

 
$
24,351

 
$
114,410

 
$
32,741

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



5



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Preferred
Shares
 
Common
Shares
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Cumulative
Distributions in
Excess of Net
Income
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013 (87,394,512 common shares outstanding)
$
249,083

 
$
874

 
$
1,814,015

 
$
(641,868
)
 
$
3,480

 
$
71,665

 
$
1,497,249

Redemption of preferred shares (2,000,000 shares)
(50,000
)
 

 
1,769

 
(1,769
)
 

 

 
(50,000
)
Conversion of common units to common shares (117,149 shares)

 
1

 
1,544

 

 

 
(1,545
)
 

Costs associated with common shares issued to the public

 

 
(7
)
 

 

 

 
(7
)
Exercise of share options (57,888 shares)

 

 
1,359

 

 

 

 
1,359

Share-based compensation (142,182 shares issued, net of redemptions)

 
2

 
5,247

 

 

 

 
5,249

Redemption of vested equity awards

 

 
(1,389
)
 

 

 

 
(1,389
)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP

 

 
(248
)
 

 

 
248

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 
35,351

 
(2,609
)
 
2,313

 
35,055

Dividends

 

 

 
(84,692
)
 

 

 
(84,692
)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP

 

 

 

 

 
(3,710
)
 
(3,710
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 
3

 
3

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 
(1,606
)
 
(1,606
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 
(7
)
 

 

 

 
(7
)
Balance at September 30, 2014 (87,711,731 common shares outstanding)
$
199,083

 
$
877

 
$
1,822,283

 
$
(692,978
)
 
$
871

 
$
67,368

 
$
1,397,504

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2014 (93,255,284 common shares outstanding)
$
199,083

 
$
933

 
$
1,969,968

 
$
(717,264
)
 
$
(1,297
)
 
$
69,461

 
$
1,520,884

Conversion of common units to common shares (160,160 shares)

 
2

 
2,149

 

 

 
(2,151
)
 

Common shares issued under at-the-market program (890,241 shares)

 
9

 
26,526

 

 

 

 
26,535

Exercise of share options (76,474 shares)

 

 
2,008

 

 

 

 
2,008

Share-based compensation (151,511 shares issued, net of redemptions)

 
1

 
5,599

 

 

 

 
5,600

Redemption of vested equity awards

 

 
(2,330
)
 

 

 

 
(2,330
)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP

 

 
(591
)
 

 

 
591

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 
118,936

 
(4,526
)
 
5,634

 
120,044

Dividends

 

 

 
(88,658
)
 

 

 
(88,658
)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP

 

 

 

 

 
(3,530
)
 
(3,530
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 
(47
)
 
(47
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 
(599
)
 

 

 

 
(599
)
Balance at September 30, 2015 (94,533,670 common shares outstanding)
$
199,083

 
$
945

 
$
2,002,730

 
$
(686,986
)
 
$
(5,823
)
 
$
69,958

 
$
1,579,907

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited) 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations received
$
373,607

 
$
358,212

Construction contract and other service revenues received
104,817

 
62,170

Property operating expenses paid
(146,274
)
 
(141,489
)
Construction contract and other service expenses paid
(112,614
)
 
(58,218
)
General, administrative, leasing, business development and land carry costs paid
(29,620
)
 
(22,288
)
Interest expense paid
(46,278
)
 
(54,683
)
Payments in connection with early extinguishment of debt
(18
)
 
(104
)
Interest and other income received
4,130

 
448

Income taxes (paid) refunded
(8
)
 
200

Net cash provided by operating activities
147,742

 
144,248

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Acquisitions of operating properties and related intangible assets
(202,866
)
 

Construction, development and redevelopment
(174,434
)
 
(150,862
)
Tenant improvements on operating properties
(18,129
)
 
(17,754
)
Other capital improvements on operating properties
(12,610
)
 
(21,179
)
Proceeds from dispositions of properties
45,066

 
57,973

Investing receivables funded
(22
)
 
(3,610
)
Investing receivables payments received
5,114

 
10,278

Leasing costs paid
(8,603
)
 
(10,549
)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets associated with investing activities
(4,348
)
 
(1,260
)
Other
(457
)
 
(83
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(371,289
)
 
(137,046
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
422,000

 
115,000

Unsecured senior notes
296,580

 
297,342

Other debt proceeds
50,000

 
11,569

Repayments of debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
(418,000
)
 
(115,000
)
Scheduled principal amortization
(5,011
)
 
(4,914
)
Other debt repayments
(50,681
)
 
(183,059
)
Deferred financing costs paid
(5,377
)
 
(694
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares
28,567

 
1,352

Redemption of preferred shares

 
(50,000
)
Common share dividends paid
(77,641
)
 
(72,217
)
Preferred share dividends paid
(10,657
)
 
(13,179
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in COPLP
(3,581
)
 
(3,786
)
Redemption of vested equity awards
(2,330
)
 
(1,389
)
Other
(2,559
)
 
(2,582
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
221,310

 
(21,557
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(2,237
)
 
(14,355
)
Cash and cash equivalents
 

 
 

Beginning of period
6,077

 
54,373

End of period
$
3,840

 
$
40,018

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 


7



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and other amortization
105,397

 
106,619

Impairment losses
3,779

 
1,371

Amortization of deferred financing costs
3,339

 
3,646

Increase in deferred rent receivable
(11,939
)
 
(2,738
)
Amortization of net debt discounts
805

 
659

Gain on sales of real estate
(4,000
)
 
(10,654
)
Share-based compensation
4,949

 
4,563

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt
(86,075
)
 
458

Other
1,922

 
(2,446
)
Operating changes in assets and liabilities:
 

 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
6,526

 
6,815

Increase in restricted cash and marketable securities
(1,102
)
 
(2,591
)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, net
(5,228
)
 
(26,553
)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(655
)
 
24,247

Increase in rents received in advance and security deposits
3,763

 
1,583

Net cash provided by operating activities
$
147,742

 
$
144,248

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Decrease in accrued capital improvements, leasing and other investing activity costs
$
(11,722
)
 
$
(174
)
Debt assumed on acquisition of operating property
$
55,490

 
$

Other liabilities assumed on acquisition of operating properties
$
5,265

 
$

Decrease in property in connection with surrender of property in settlement of debt
$
(82,738
)
 
$

Decrease in debt in connection with surrender of property in settlement of debt
$
(150,000
)
 
$

Decrease in fair value of derivatives applied to accumulated other comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interests
$
(4,263
)
 
$
(2,613
)
Equity in other comprehensive loss of an equity method investee
$
(264
)
 
$

Dividends/distribution payable
$
30,182

 
$
28,344

Decrease in noncontrolling interests and increase in shareholders’ equity in connection with the conversion of common units into common shares
$
2,151

 
$
1,545

Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in COPLP ownership
$
591

 
$
248

Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest and decrease in equity to carry redeemable noncontrolling interest at fair value
$
599

 
$
7

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


8





Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Assets
 

 
 

Properties, net:
 

 
 

Operating properties, net
$
2,932,843

 
$
2,751,488

Projects in development or held for future development
414,757

 
545,426

Total properties, net
3,347,600

 
3,296,914

Assets held for sale, net
150,572

 
14,339

Cash and cash equivalents
3,840

 
6,077

Restricted cash and marketable securities
3,787

 
3,187

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,010 and $717, respectively)
19,962

 
26,901

Deferred rent receivable (net of allowance of $1,816 and $1,418, respectively)
103,064

 
95,910

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net
106,174

 
43,854

Deferred leasing and financing costs, net
64,367

 
64,797

Investing receivables
46,821

 
52,147

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
66,787

 
60,249

Total assets
$
3,912,974

 
$
3,664,375

Liabilities and equity
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Debt, net
$
2,121,240

 
$
1,920,057

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
98,551

 
123,035

Rents received in advance and security deposits
34,504

 
31,011

Distributions payable
30,182

 
29,862

Deferred revenue associated with operating leases
20,113

 
13,031

Interest rate derivatives
5,844

 
1,855

Other liabilities
3,025

 
6,223

Total liabilities
2,313,459

 
2,125,074

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interest
19,608

 
18,417

Equity:
 

 
 

Corporate Office Properties, L.P.’s equity:
 

 
 

Preferred units
 
 
 
General partner, preferred units outstanding of 7,431,667 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
199,083

 
199,083

Limited partner, 352,000 preferred units outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
8,800

 
8,800

Common units, 94,533,670 and 93,255,284 held by the general partner and 3,677,391 and 3,837,551 held by limited partners at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
1,367,904

 
1,305,219

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,086
)
 
(1,381
)
Total Corporate Office Properties, L.P.’s equity
1,569,701

 
1,511,721

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
10,206

 
9,163

Total equity
1,579,907

 
1,520,884

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity
$
3,912,974

 
$
3,664,375

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


9



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Rental revenue
$
109,080

 
$
96,207

 
$
312,826

 
$
288,574

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
24,606

 
22,069

 
71,761

 
70,538

Construction contract and other service revenues
17,058

 
34,739

 
97,554

 
80,390

Total revenues
150,744

 
153,015

 
482,141

 
439,502

Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
48,897

 
43,056

 
145,996

 
136,600

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
38,403

 
30,237

 
103,788

 
104,728

Construction contract and other service expenses
16,132

 
33,593

 
94,923

 
75,353

Impairment losses
2,307

 
66

 
3,545

 
1,368

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,439

 
7,211

 
22,864

 
22,882

Business development expenses and land carry costs
5,573

 
1,430

 
10,986

 
4,107

Total operating expenses
118,751

 
115,593

 
382,102

 
345,038

Operating income
31,993

 
37,422

 
100,039

 
94,464

Interest expense
(24,121
)
 
(24,802
)
 
(66,727
)
 
(69,107
)
Interest and other income
692

 
1,191

 
3,217

 
3,775

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt
85,745

 
(176
)
 
85,677

 
(446
)
Income from continuing operations before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes
94,309

 
13,635

 
122,206

 
28,686

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
18

 
193

 
52

 
206

Income tax expense
(48
)
 
(101
)
 
(153
)
 
(257
)
Income from continuing operations
94,279

 
13,727

 
122,105

 
28,635

Discontinued operations

 
191

 
156

 
4

Income before gain on sales of real estate
94,279

 
13,918

 
122,261

 
28,639

Gain on sales of real estate
15

 
10,630

 
4,000

 
10,630

Net income
94,294

 
24,548

 
126,261

 
39,269

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities
(972
)
 
(897
)
 
(2,602
)
 
(2,471
)
Net income attributable to COPLP
93,322

 
23,651

 
123,659

 
36,798

Preferred unit distributions
(3,717
)
 
(3,718
)
 
(11,152
)
 
(12,882
)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units

 

 

 
(1,769
)
Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
89,605

 
$
19,933

 
$
112,507

 
$
22,147

Net income attributable to COPLP:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income from continuing operations
$
93,322

 
$
23,460

 
$
123,500

 
$
36,789

Discontinued operations, net

 
191

 
159

 
9

Net income attributable to COPLP
$
93,322

 
$
23,651

 
$
123,659

 
$
36,798

Basic earnings per common unit (1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income from continuing operations
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Diluted earnings per common unit (1)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Distributions declared per common unit
$
0.275

 
$
0.275

 
$
0.825

 
$
0.825

(1) Basic and diluted earnings per common unit are calculated based on amounts attributable to common unitholders of Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

10



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited) 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
$
94,294

 
$
24,548

 
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

Other comprehensive (loss) income
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate derivatives
(3,638
)
 
1,015

 
(6,720
)
 
(4,738
)
Losses on interest rate derivatives included in interest expense
915

 
756

 
2,457

 
2,170

Equity in other comprehensive loss of equity method investee

 

 
(264
)
 

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(2,723
)
 
1,771

 
(4,527
)
 
(2,568
)
Comprehensive income
91,571

 
26,319

 
121,734

 
36,701

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(1,035
)
 
(964
)
 
(2,780
)
 
(2,630
)
Comprehensive income attributable to COPLP
$
90,536

 
$
25,355

 
$
118,954

 
$
34,071

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



11



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Limited Partner Preferred Units
 
General Partner
 Preferred Units
 
Common Units
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
 
 
 
Units
 
Amount
 
Units
 
Amount
 
Units
 
Amount
 
 
 
Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
9,431,667

 
$
249,083

 
91,372,212

 
$
1,226,318

 
$
3,605

 
$
9,443

 
$
1,497,249

Redemption of preferred units resulting from redemption of preferred shares

 

 
(2,000,000
)
 
(50,000
)
 

 

 

 

 
(50,000
)
Costs associated with common shares issued to the public

 

 

 

 

 
(7
)
 

 

 
(7
)
Issuance of common units resulting from exercise of share options

 

 

 

 
57,888

 
1,359

 

 

 
1,359

Share-based compensation (units net of redemption)

 

 

 

 
142,182

 
5,249

 

 

 
5,249

Redemptions of vested equity awards

 

 

 

 

 
(1,389
)
 

 

 
(1,389
)
Comprehensive income

 
495

 

 
12,387

 

 
23,916

 
(2,726
)
 
983

 
35,055

Distributions to owners of common and preferred units

 
(495
)
 

 
(12,387
)
 

 
(75,520
)
 

 

 
(88,402
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,606
)
 
(1,606
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
3

 
3

Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
(7
)
 

 

 
(7
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
7,431,667

 
$
199,083

 
91,572,282

 
$
1,179,919

 
$
879

 
$
8,823

 
$
1,397,504

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2014
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
7,431,667

 
$
199,083

 
97,092,835

 
$
1,305,219

 
$
(1,381
)
 
$
9,163

 
$
1,520,884

Issuance of common units resulting from common shares issued under at-the-market program

 

 

 

 
890,241

 
26,535

 

 

 
26,535

Issuance of common units resulting from exercise of share options

 

 

 

 
76,474

 
2,008

 

 

 
2,008

Share-based compensation (units net of redemption)

 

 

 

 
151,511

 
5,600

 

 

 
5,600

Redemptions of vested equity awards

 

 

 

 

 
(2,330
)
 

 

 
(2,330
)
Comprehensive income

 
495

 

 
10,657

 

 
112,507

 
(4,705
)
 
1,090

 
120,044

Distributions to owners of common and preferred units

 
(495
)
 

 
(10,657
)
 

 
(81,036
)
 

 

 
(92,188
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(47
)
 
(47
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 
(599
)
 

 

 
(599
)
Balance at September 30, 2015
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
7,431,667

 
$
199,083

 
98,211,061

 
$
1,367,904

 
$
(6,086
)
 
$
10,206

 
$
1,579,907

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

12



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations received
$
373,607

 
$
358,212

Construction contract and other service revenues received
104,817

 
62,170

Property operating expenses paid
(146,274
)
 
(141,489
)
Construction contract and other service expenses paid
(112,614
)
 
(58,218
)
General, administrative, leasing, business development and land carry costs paid
(29,620
)
 
(22,288
)
Interest expense paid
(46,278
)
 
(54,683
)
Payments in connection with early extinguishment of debt
(18
)
 
(104
)
Interest and other income received
4,130

 
448

Income taxes (paid) refunded
(8
)
 
200

Net cash provided by operating activities
147,742

 
144,248

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Acquisitions of operating properties and related intangible assets
(202,866
)
 

Construction, development and redevelopment
(174,434
)
 
(150,862
)
Tenant improvements on operating properties
(18,129
)
 
(17,754
)
Other capital improvements on operating properties
(12,610
)
 
(21,179
)
Proceeds from dispositions of properties
45,066

 
57,973

Investing receivables funded
(22
)
 
(3,610
)
Investing receivables payments received
5,114

 
10,278

Leasing costs paid
(8,603
)
 
(10,549
)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets associated with investing activities
(4,348
)
 
(1,260
)
Other
(457
)
 
(83
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(371,289
)
 
(137,046
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
422,000

 
115,000

Unsecured senior notes
296,580

 
297,342

Other debt proceeds
50,000

 
11,569

Repayments of debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
(418,000
)
 
(115,000
)
Scheduled principal amortization
(5,011
)
 
(4,914
)
Other debt repayments
(50,681
)
 
(183,059
)
Deferred financing costs paid
(5,377
)
 
(694
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units
28,567

 
1,352

Redemption of preferred units

 
(50,000
)
Common unit distributions paid
(80,727
)
 
(75,508
)
Preferred unit distributions paid
(11,152
)
 
(13,674
)
Redemption of vested equity awards
(2,330
)
 
(1,389
)
Other
(2,559
)
 
(2,582
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
221,310

 
(21,557
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(2,237
)
 
(14,355
)
Cash and cash equivalents
 

 
 

Beginning of period
6,077

 
54,373

End of period
$
3,840

 
$
40,018

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

13



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and other amortization
105,397

 
106,619

Impairment losses
3,779

 
1,371

Amortization of deferred financing costs
3,339

 
3,646

Increase in deferred rent receivable
(11,939
)
 
(2,738
)
Amortization of net debt discounts
805

 
659

Gain on sales of real estate
(4,000
)
 
(10,654
)
Share-based compensation
4,949

 
4,563

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt
(86,075
)
 
458

Other
1,922

 
(2,446
)
Operating changes in assets and liabilities:
 

 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
6,526

 
6,815

Increase in restricted cash and marketable securities
(1,485
)
 
(2,558
)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, net
(5,228
)
 
(26,553
)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(272
)
 
24,214

Increase in rents received in advance and security deposits
3,763

 
1,583

Net cash provided by operating activities
$
147,742

 
$
144,248

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Decrease in accrued capital improvements, leasing and other investing activity costs
$
(11,722
)
 
$
(174
)
Debt assumed on acquisition of operating property
$
55,490

 
$

Other liabilities assumed on acquisition of operating properties
$
5,265

 
$

Decrease in property in connection with surrender of property in settlement of debt
$
(82,738
)
 
$

Decrease in debt in connection with surrender of property in settlement of debt
$
(150,000
)
 
$

Decrease in fair value of derivatives applied to accumulated other comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interests
$
(4,263
)
 
$
(2,613
)
Equity in other comprehensive loss of an equity method investee
$
(264
)
 
$

Distributions payable
$
30,182

 
$
28,344

Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest and decrease in equity to carry redeemable noncontrolling interest at fair value
$
599

 
$
7

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



14



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries and Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
 
1.    Organization
 
Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a fully-integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”) is the entity through which COPT, the sole general partner of COPLP, conducts almost all of its operations and owns almost all of its assets. Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, “we”, “us” and “our” as used herein refer to each of the Company and the Operating Partnership. We focus primarily on serving the specialized requirements of United States Government agencies and their contractors, most of whom are engaged in national security and information technology related activities. We generally acquire, develop, manage and lease office and data center properties concentrated in large office parks located near knowledge-based government demand drivers and/or in targeted markets or submarkets in the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region. As of September 30, 2015, our properties included the following:

183 operating office properties totaling 18.8 million square feet;
10 office properties under, or contractually committed for, construction or redevelopment that we estimate will total approximately 1.2 million square feet upon completion, including one partially operational property included above;
1,450 acres of land we control that we believe are potentially developable into approximately 17.7 million square feet; and
a wholesale data center with a critical load of 19.25 megawatts.
 
COPLP owns real estate both directly and through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies (“LLCs”).  In addition to owning real estate, COPLP also owns subsidiaries that provide real estate services such as property management and construction and development services primarily for our properties but also for third parties. Some of these services are performed by a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”).

Equity interests in COPLP are in the form of common and preferred units. As of September 30, 2015, COPT owned 96.3% of the outstanding COPLP common units (“common units”) and 95.5% of the outstanding COPLP preferred units (“preferred units”); the remaining common and preferred units in COPLP were owned by third parties. Common units in COPLP not owned by COPT carry certain redemption rights. The number of common units in COPLP owned by COPT is equivalent to the number of outstanding common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”) of COPT, and the entitlement of all COPLP common units to quarterly distributions and payments in liquidation is substantially the same as those of COPT common shareholders. Similarly, in the case of each series of preferred units in COPLP held by COPT, there is a series of preferred shares of beneficial interest (“preferred shares”) in COPT that is equivalent in number and carries substantially the same terms as such series of COPLP preferred units. COPT’s common shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “OFC”.

Because COPLP is managed by COPT, and COPT conducts substantially all of its operations through COPLP, we refer to COPT’s executive officers as COPLP’s executive officers, and although, as a partnership, COPLP does not have a board of trustees, we refer to COPT’s Board of Trustees as COPLP’s Board of Trustees.
  
2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The COPT consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPT, the Operating Partnership, their subsidiaries and other entities in which COPT has a majority voting interest and control.  The COPLP consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPLP, its subsidiaries and other entities in which COPLP has a majority voting interest and control.  We also consolidate certain entities when control of such entities can be achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of such entities.  We eliminate all significant intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation.

 We use the equity method of accounting when we own an interest in an entity and can exert significant influence over but cannot control the entity’s operations. We discontinue equity method accounting if our investment in an entity (and net advances) is reduced to zero unless we have guaranteed obligations of the entity or are otherwise committed to provide further financial support for the entity.
 

15



These interim financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly present our financial position and results of operations.  All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accounting policies described in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, this guidance requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We are required to adopt this guidance for our annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018 using one of two methods: retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at the time of adoption, or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this guidance recognized at the date of initial application. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of extraordinary and unusual items in statements of operations. This guidance eliminates the concept of extraordinary items. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements for items that are either unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence remain and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We expect that the application of this guidance will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding amendments to the consolidation analysis. This guidance amends the criteria for determining which entities are considered variable interest entities (“VIE”), amends the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance that changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. This guidance requires an entity to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. This guidance was further updated in August 2015 with respect to debt issuance costs of line-of-credit arrangements to note that it will be permissible for an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of a line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance will be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented. We expect that the application of this guidance will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments following a business combination.  The guidance requires that the cumulative impact of a measurement period adjustment (including the impact on prior periods) be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. The prior period impact of the adjustment should be either presented separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclosed in the notes. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  This guidance will be applied prospectively for measurement period adjustments that occur after the effective date.  We expect that the application of this guidance will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

3.     Fair Value Measurements

For a description on how we estimate fair value, see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 

16



Recurring Fair Value Measurements
 
Our partner in a real estate joint venture has the right to require us to acquire its interest at fair value beginning in March 2020; accordingly, we classify the fair value of our partner’s interest as a redeemable noncontrolling interest in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheet. In determining the fair value of our partner’s interest as of September 30, 2015, we used a discount rate of 15.5% which factored in risk appropriate to the level of future property development expected to be undertaken by the joint venture. A significant increase (decrease) in the discount rate used in determining the fair value would result in a significantly (lower) higher fair value. Given our reliance on the unobservable inputs, the valuations are classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Please refer to Note 11 for a rollforward of the activity for redeemable noncontrolling interest.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other assets (excluding investing receivables) and accounts payable and accrued expenses are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturities of these instruments.  As discussed in Note 7, we estimated the fair values of our investing receivables based on the discounted estimated future cash flows of the loans (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated cash payments include scheduled principal and interest payments.  For our disclosure of debt fair values in Note 9, we estimated the fair value of our unsecured senior notes and exchangeable senior notes based on quoted market rates for publicly-traded debt (categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy) and estimated the fair value of our other debt based on the discounted estimated future cash payments to be made on such debt (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans, or groups of loans, with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated future payments include scheduled principal and interest payments.  Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment.  Settlement at such fair value amounts may not be possible and may not be a prudent management decision.
 
For additional fair value information, please refer to Note 7 for investing receivables, Note 9 for debt and Note 10 for interest rate derivatives. 

COPT and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPT and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and the hierarchy level of inputs used in measuring their respective fair values under applicable accounting standards (in thousands):
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs(Level 3)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Marketable securities in deferred compensation plan (1)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mutual funds
 
$
5,395

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,395

Other
 
104

 

 

 
104

Warrants to purchase common stock (2)
 

 
42

 

 
42

Total assets
 
$
5,499

 
$
42

 
$

 
$
5,541

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deferred compensation plan liability (3)
 
$

 
$
5,499

 
$

 
$
5,499

Interest rate derivatives
 

 
5,844

 

 
5,844

Total liabilities
 
$

 
$
11,343

 
$

 
$
11,343

Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$

 
$

 
$
19,608

 
$
19,608


(1) Included in the line entitled “restricted cash and marketable securities” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.
(2) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.
(3) Included in the line entitled “other liabilities” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.


17



COPLP and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPLP and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and the hierarchy level of inputs used in measuring their respective fair values under applicable accounting standards (in thousands):
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs(Level 3)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Warrants to purchase common stock (1)
 
$

 
$
42

 
$

 
$
42

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate derivatives
 
$

 
$
5,844

 
$

 
$
5,844

Redeemable noncontrolling interest
 
$

 
$

 
$
19,608

 
$
19,608


(1) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets” on COPLP’s consolidated balance sheet.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized the following impairment losses resulting from nonrecurring fair value measurements:

$1.3 million primarily in the three months ended June 30, 2015 on a property in Northern Virginia that we sold on July 27, 2015 following receipt of an unsolicited offer. This property’s carrying value exceeded its fair value less costs to sell; and
$2.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 on three properties in the Greater Baltimore, Maryland (“Greater Baltimore”) region that we concluded no longer met our investment criteria during the period and whose carrying amounts exceeded their estimated fair values less costs to sell. These properties were reclassified as held for sale.

The table below sets forth the fair value hierarchy of the valuation technique we used to determine the fair values of these properties (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Fair Values of Properties Held as of September 30, 2015
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in
 
 
 
Significant
 
 
 
 
 
Active Markets for
 
Significant Other
 
Unobservable
 
 
 
 
 
Identical Assets
 
Observable Inputs
 
Inputs
 
 
 
Description
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
 
Total
 
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Assets held for sale, net (1)
 
$

 
$

 
$
7,225

 
$
7,225

 

(1) Represents estimated fair values less costs to sell.

The table below sets forth quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs used for the Level 3 fair value measurements reported above as of September 30, 2015 (dollars in thousands):
Valuation Technique
 
Fair Values on 
Measurement Date
 
 Unobservable Input
 
Range (Weighted Average) (1)
Discounted cash flow
 
$
7,225

 
Discount rate
 
8.25%
 
 
 
 
Terminal capitalization rate
 
7.75%
 
 
 
 
Market rent growth rate
 
2.0%
 
 
 
 
Expense growth rate
 
2.0%

(1) Only one value applied for these unobservable inputs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized impairment losses totaling $1.4 million primarily in connection with certain of our operating properties in the Greater Baltimore region that were disposed of during the period. After shortening our expected holding period for these properties during the period, we determined that the carrying amount of the properties would not likely be recovered from the cash flows from the operations and sales of the properties over the shortened period.


18



4.    Properties, Net
 
Operating properties, net consisted of the following (in thousands): 
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Land
$
466,701

 
$
439,355

Buildings and improvements
3,141,889

 
3,015,216

Less: Accumulated depreciation
(675,747
)
 
(703,083
)
Operating properties, net
$
2,932,843

 
$
2,751,488


During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized $12.9 million in additional depreciation expense resulting from our revision of the useful life of a property in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (“Greater Philadelphia”) that was removed from service for redevelopment.
 
Projects in development or held for future development consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Land
$
207,748

 
$
214,977

Development in progress, excluding land
207,009

 
330,449

Projects in development or held for future development
$
414,757

 
$
545,426


As of September 30, 2015, we had 18 operating properties in Greater Baltimore and one in Northern Virginia classified as held for sale. The table below sets forth the components of assets held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet for these properties (in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2015
Properties, net
$
142,817

Deferred rent receivable
3,998

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net
799

Deferred leasing costs, net
2,053

Lease incentives, net
905

Assets held for sale, net
$
150,572


As of December 31, 2014, we had two land parcels in the Greater Baltimore region classified as held for sale with aggregate carrying amounts of $14.3 million that were sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

2015 Acquisitions

In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we acquired the following operating properties:

250 W. Pratt Street, a 367,000 square foot office property in Baltimore, Maryland that was 96.2% leased, for $61.9 million on March 19, 2015;
2600 Park Tower Drive, a 237,000 square foot office property in Vienna, Virginia (in the Northern Virginia region) that was 100% leased, for $80.5 million on April 15, 2015; and
100 Light Street, a 558,000 square foot office property in Baltimore, Maryland that was 93.5% leased, and its structured parking garage, 30 Light Street, for $121.2 million on August 7, 2015. In connection with that acquisition, we assumed a $55.0 million mortgage loan with a fair value at assumption of $55.5 million.

The table below sets forth the allocation of the aggregate acquisition costs of these properties (in thousands):
Land, operating properties
 
$
55,076

Building and improvements
 
139,520

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions
 
75,846

Total assets
 
270,442

Below-market leases
 
(6,820
)
Total acquisition cost
 
$
263,622


19




Intangible assets recorded in connection with these acquisitions included the following (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 Weighted Average Amortization Period (in Years)
Tenant relationship value
$
31,208

 
12
In-place lease value
35,231

 
7
Above-market leases
6,720

 
4
Below-market cost arrangements
2,687

 
40
 
$
75,846

 
10

These properties contributed revenues of $6.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and contributed net income from continuing operations of $487,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $697,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. We expensed operating property acquisition costs of $2.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $4.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 that are included in business development expenses and land carry costs on our consolidated statements of operations.

We accounted for these acquisitions as business combinations. We included the results of operations for the acquisitions in our consolidated statements of operations from their respective purchase dates through September 30, 2015. The following table presents pro forma information for COPT and subsidiaries as if these acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2014. This pro forma information also includes adjustments to reclassify the operating property acquisition costs disclosed above from the 2015 periods in which they were incurred to the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The pro forma financial information was prepared for comparative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred had these acquisitions been made at that time or of results which may occur in the future (in thousands, except per shares amounts).
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Pro forma total revenues
$
152,736

 
$
162,085

 
$
498,657

 
$
467,224

Pro forma net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
88,836

 
$
19,683

 
$
112,941

 
$
19,266

Pro forma EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.94

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.20

 
$
0.22

Diluted
$
0.94

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.20

 
$
0.22


2015 Dispositions

In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we completed the following dispositions of operating properties:

1550 Westbranch Drive, a 160,000 square foot office property in McLean, Virginia (in the Northern Virginia region) for $27.8 million on July 27, 2015; and
15000 and 15010 Conference Center Drive, two office properties in Chantilly, Virginia (in the Northern Virginia region) totaling 665,000 square feet. On August 28, 2015, ownership in these properties was transferred to the mortgage lender on a $150.0 million nonrecourse mortgage loan that was secured by the properties and we removed the debt obligation and accrued interest from our balance sheet. The properties had an estimated fair value of $99 million on the transfer date. Upon completion of this transfer, we recognized a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $84.8 million, representing the difference between the mortgage loan and accrued interest payable extinguished over the carrying value of the properties transferred as of the transfer date and related closing costs.

We also sold land during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 for $18.1 million and recognized gains of $4.0 million on the sales.


20



2015 Construction Activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we placed into service an aggregate of 897,000 square feet in seven newly constructed office properties located in Northern Virginia, San Antonio, Texas (“San Antonio”), Huntsville, Alabama (“Huntsville”) and the Baltimore/Washington Corridor, and 170,000 square feet in two properties redeveloped in Greater Philadelphia and St. Mary’s County, Maryland. As of September 30, 2015, we had six office properties under construction, or for which we were contractually committed to construct, that we estimate will total 1.0 million square feet upon completion (including one partially operational property), including four in Northern Virginia and two in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor. We also had four office properties under redevelopment that we estimate will total 156,000 square feet upon completion, all of which were located in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor.

5.    Real Estate Joint Ventures

The table below sets forth information pertaining to our material investments in consolidated real estate joint ventures as of September 30, 2015 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Nominal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ownership
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
(1)
 
 
Date
 
% as of
 
 
 
Total
 
Encumbered
 
Total
 
 
Acquired
 
9/30/2015
 
Nature of Activity
 
Assets
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
LW Redstone Company, LLC
 
3/23/2010
 
85%
 
Development and operation of real estate (2)
 
$
144,906

 
$
64,395

 
$
39,093

M Square Associates, LLC
 
6/26/2007
 
50%
 
Development and operation of real estate (3)
 
58,840

 
48,301

 
38,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
203,746

 
$
112,696

 
$
77,210

(1)
Excludes amounts eliminated in consolidation.
(2)
This joint venture’s properties are in Huntsville.
(3)
This joint venture’s properties are in College Park, Maryland (in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor).

6.    Intangible Assets on Real Estate Acquisitions, Net

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions consisted of the following, excluding amounts for properties held for sale (in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net
 Carrying Amount
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net
Carrying Amount
In-place lease value
 
$
138,410

 
$
87,667

 
$
50,743

 
$
123,759

 
$
101,040

 
$
22,719

Tenant relationship value
 
63,117

 
22,525

 
40,592

 
42,301

 
28,492

 
13,809

Below-market cost arrangements
 
15,102

 
6,505

 
8,597

 
12,415

 
5,984

 
6,431

Above-market leases
 
13,844

 
7,987

 
5,857

 
8,659

 
8,159

 
500

Market concentration premium
 
1,333

 
948

 
385

 
1,333

 
938

 
395

 
 
$
231,806

 
$
125,632

 
$
106,174

 
$
188,467

 
$
144,613

 
$
43,854

Amortization of the intangible asset categories set forth above totaled $11.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and $10.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The approximate weighted average amortization periods of the categories set forth above follow (excluding amounts for properties held for sale): in-place lease value: six years; tenant relationship value: 11 years; below-market cost arrangements: 35 years; above-market leases: four years; and market concentration premium: 27 years. The approximate weighted average amortization period for all of the categories combined is 10 years. Estimated amortization expense associated with the intangible asset categories set forth above through 2020 follows (excluding amounts for properties held for sale): $5.1 million for the three months ending December 31, 2015; $19.7 million for 2016; $17.1 million for 2017; $12.3 million for 2018; $9.3 million for 2019; and $7.3 million for 2020.


21



7.     Investing Receivables
 
Investing receivables, including accrued interest thereon, consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Notes receivable from the City of Huntsville
$
43,821

 
$
49,147

Other investing loans receivable
3,000

 
3,000

 
$
46,821

 
$
52,147

 
Our notes receivable from the City of Huntsville funded infrastructure costs in connection with our LW Redstone Company, LLC joint venture (see Note 5) and carry an interest rate of 9.95%.

We did not have an allowance for credit losses in connection with our investing receivables as of September 30, 2015 or December 31, 2014.  The fair value of these receivables approximated their carrying amounts as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

8.    Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets, Net
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
Prepaid expenses
$
28,655

 
$
20,570

Lease incentives, net
11,589

 
13,344

Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net
5,941

 
6,637

Construction contract costs incurred in excess of billings
4,722

 
6,656

Deferred tax asset, net (1)
4,015

 
4,002

Operating notes receivable
3,744

 
3,797

Equity method investments
1,626

 
2,368

Other assets
6,495

 
2,875

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
$
66,787

 
$
60,249


(1) Includes a valuation allowance of $2.1 million.

Operating notes receivable reported above includes amounts due from tenants with remaining terms exceeding one year totaling $3.7 million as of September 30, 2015 and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2014; we carried allowances for estimated losses for $278,000 of the September 30, 2015 balance and $252,000 of the December 31, 2014 balance.


22



9.    Debt, Net
 
Our debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
Maximum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Availability at
 
Carrying Value at
 
 
 
Scheduled Maturity
 
September 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 
Stated Interest Rates as of
 
as of
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2015
Mortgage and Other Secured Loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Fixed rate mortgage loans (1)
 
 
$
288,217

 
$
387,139

 
3.96% - 7.87% (2)
 
2016-2024
Variable rate secured loan
 
 
36,249

 
36,877

 
LIBOR + 2.25% (3)
 
November 2015
Total mortgage and other secured loans
 

 
324,466

 
424,016

 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
$
800,000

 
87,000

 
83,000

 
LIBOR + 0.875% to 1.60% (4)
 
May 2019
Term Loan Facilities
(5)
 
520,000

 
520,000

 
LIBOR + 0.90% to 2.60% (6)
 
2016-2020
Unsecured Senior Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.600% Senior Notes (7)
 
 
347,691

 
347,496

 
3.60%
 
May 2023
5.250% Senior Notes (8)
 
 
246,074

 
245,797

 
5.25%
 
February 2024
3.700% Senior Notes (9)
 
 
297,830

 
297,569

 
3.70%
 
June 2021
5.000% Senior Note (10)
 
 
296,646

 

 
5.00%
 
July 2025
Unsecured notes payable
 
 
1,533

 
1,607

 
0% (11)
 
2026
4.25% Exchangeable Senior Notes (12)
 
 

 
572

 
N/A
 
(12)
Total debt, net
 

 
$
2,121,240

 
$
1,920,057

 
 
 
 

(1)  
Several of the fixed rate mortgages carry interest rates that were above or below market rates upon assumption and therefore were recorded at their fair value based on applicable effective interest rates.  The carrying values of these loans reflect net unamortized premiums totaling $24,000 as of September 30, 2015 and $42,000 as of December 31, 2014. Please refer to Note 4 for disclosure pertaining to the removal of a $150.0 million nonrecourse mortgage loan from our balance sheet on August 28, 2015.
(2)
The weighted average interest rate on our fixed rate mortgage loans was 6.07% as of September 30, 2015.
(3) 
The interest rate on the loan outstanding was 2.45% as of September 30, 2015.
(4)
The weighted average interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 1.48% as of September 30, 2015.
(5)  
We have the ability to borrow an additional $380.0 million in the aggregate under these term loan facilities, provided that there is no default under the facilities and subject to the approval of the lenders.
(6) 
The weighted average interest rate on these loans was 1.78% as of September 30, 2015.
(7)
The carrying value of these notes included a principal amount of $350.0 million and an unamortized discount totaling $2.3 million as of September 30, 2015 and $2.5 million as of December 31, 2014.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 3.70%
(8)
The carrying value of these notes included a principal amount of $250.0 million and an unamortized discount totaling $3.9 million as of September 30, 2015 and $4.2 million as of December 31, 2014.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.49%
(9)
The carrying value of these notes included a principal amount of $300.0 million and an unamortized discount totaling $2.2 million as of September 30, 2015 and $2.4 million as of December 31, 2014.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 3.85%
(10) Refer to the paragraph below for disclosure pertaining to these notes.
(11) 
These notes carry interest rates that were below market rates upon assumption and therefore were recorded at their fair value based on applicable effective interest rates.  The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $578,000 as of September 30, 2015 and $654,000 as of December 31, 2014.
(12) On April 20, 2015, we redeemed these notes at 100% of their principal amount.
 
All debt is owed by the Operating Partnership. While COPT is not directly obligated by any debt, it has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan Facilities and Unsecured Senior Notes.

On May 6, 2015, we entered into a credit agreement with a group of lenders for which KeyBanc Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners, KeyBank National Association acted as administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acted as syndication agent (the “Consolidated Credit Agreement”) to amend, restate and consolidate the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility and one of our term loan facilities. In addition to consolidating the terms of these loan facilities, the Consolidated Credit Agreement included the following provisions:

For the Revolving Credit Facility:


23



an extension of the maturity date from July 14, 2017 to May 6, 2019, with the ability for us to further extend such maturity by two six-month periods at our option, provided that there is no default under the facility and we pay an extension fee based on the total availability of the facility for each extension;
changes to the interest terms of the facility such that the variable interest rate is based on LIBOR (customarily the 30-day rate) plus 0.875% to 1.600%, as determined by the credit ratings assigned to COPLP by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (collectively, the “Ratings Agencies”);
changes to the quarterly fee carried by the facility. Such fee is based on the average daily amount of the lenders’ aggregate commitment multiplied by a per annum rate of 0.125% to 0.300%, as determined by the credit ratings assigned to COPLP by the Ratings Agencies; and
certain changes to the financial covenants of the facility.

For the term loan facility:

an increase in the loan amount from $250.0 million to $300.0 million, with a right for us to borrow up to an additional $200.0 million during the term for an aggregate maximum loan of $500.0 million, subject to certain conditions. We used the proceeds from the $50.0 million increase in the facility to repay a portion of another existing unsecured term loan;
an extension of the maturity date of the loan from February 14, 2017 to May 6, 2020;
changes to the interest terms of the facility such that the variable interest rate is based on LIBOR (customarily the 30-day rate) plus 0.900% to 1.850%, as determined by the credit ratings assigned to COPLP by the Ratings Agencies; and
certain changes to the financial covenants of the facility.

On June 29, 2015, we issued a $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes at an initial offering price of 99.510% of their face value. The proceeds from this issuance, after deducting underwriting discounts, but before other offering expenses, were $296.6 million. The notes mature on July 1, 2025. We may redeem the notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to its present value, on a semi-annual basis at an adjusted treasury rate plus 45 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption. The notes are unconditionally guaranteed by COPT. However, if this redemption occurs on or after three months prior to the maturity date, the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $3.4 million at September 30, 2015. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.15%.

We capitalized interest costs of $1.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015, $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014, $5.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and $4.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The following table sets forth information pertaining to the fair value of our debt (in thousands): 
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
 
Carrying
 
Estimated
 
Carrying
 
Estimated
 
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Fair Value
Fixed-rate debt
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Unsecured Senior Notes
$
1,188,241

 
$
1,212,120

 
$
890,862

 
$
901,599

Other fixed-rate debt
289,750

 
298,198

 
389,318

 
356,377

Variable-rate debt
643,249

 
644,243

 
639,877

 
642,091

 
$
2,121,240

 
$
2,154,561

 
$
1,920,057

 
$
1,900,067

 


24



10.    Interest Rate Derivatives
 
The following table sets forth the key terms and fair values of our interest rate swap derivatives (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 



 

 

Fair Value at
Notional Amount
 
Fixed Rate

Floating Rate Index

Effective Date

Expiration Date

September 30,
2015

December 31,
2014
$
36,249

(1)
3.8300%

One-Month LIBOR + 2.25%

11/2/2010

11/2/2015

$
(44
)

$
(400
)
100,000


0.8055%

One-Month LIBOR

9/2/2014

9/1/2016

(396
)

(317
)
100,000


0.8100%

One-Month LIBOR

9/2/2014

9/1/2016

(401
)

(324
)
100,000


1.6730%

One-Month LIBOR

9/1/2015

8/1/2019

(2,386
)

239

100,000


1.7300%

One-Month LIBOR

9/1/2015

8/1/2019

(2,617
)

35

100,000

 
0.8320%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
1/3/2012
 
9/1/2015
 

 
(407
)
100,000

 
0.8320%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
1/3/2012
 
9/1/2015
 

 
(407
)
 

 
 

 

 

 

$
(5,844
)

$
(1,581
)

(1)
The notional amount of this instrument is scheduled to amortize to $36.2 million.

Each of the one-month LIBOR interest rate swaps set forth in the table above was designated as a cash flow hedge of interest rate risk.
 
The table below sets forth the fair value of our interest rate derivatives as well as their classification on our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Derivatives
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair Value
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
$

 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
$
274

Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges
 
Interest rate derivatives
 
(5,844
)
 
Interest rate derivatives
 
(1,855
)
 
The table below presents the effect of our interest rate derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (in thousands):
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”) (effective portion)
 
$
(3,638
)
 
$
1,015

 
$
(6,720
)
 
$
(4,738
)
Amount of losses reclassified from AOCL into interest expense (effective portion)
 
915

 
756

 
2,457

 
2,170


Over the next 12 months, we estimate that approximately $3.5 million of losses will be reclassified from AOCL as an increase to interest expense.

We have agreements with each of our interest rate derivative counterparties that contain provisions under which, if we default or are capable of being declared in default on defined levels of our indebtedness, we could also be declared in default on our derivative obligations.  These agreements also incorporate the loan covenant provisions of our indebtedness with a lender affiliate of the derivative counterparties.  Failure to comply with the loan covenant provisions could result in our being declared in default on any derivative instrument obligations covered by the agreements.  As of September 30, 2015, the fair value of interest rate derivatives in a liability position related to these agreements was $5.9 million, excluding the effects of accrued interest and credit valuation adjustments. As of September 30, 2015, we had not posted any collateral related to these agreements.  We are not in default with any of these provisions.  If we breached any of these provisions, we could be required to settle our obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $6.3 million.
 

25



11.    Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

The table below sets forth the activity for a redeemable noncontrolling interest in a consolidated real estate joint venture (in thousands):
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
 
$
18,417

 
$
17,758

Distributions to noncontrolling interest, net
 
(1,098
)
 
(976
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
1,690

 
1,647

Adjustment to arrive at fair value of interest
 
599

 
7

Ending balance
 
$
19,608

 
$
18,436


12.    Equity
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, COPT issued 890,241 common shares at a weighted average price of $30.29 per share under its at-the-market (“ATM”) stock offering program established in October 2012. Net proceeds from the shares issued totaled $26.6 million, after payment of $0.4 million in commissions to sales agents. These net proceeds were contributed to COPLP in exchange for 890,241 common units. COPT’s remaining capacity under the ATM Plan is an aggregate gross sales price of $84.0 million in common share sales.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, certain COPLP limited partners redeemed 160,160 common units in COPLP for an equal number of common shares in COPT.

See Note 14 for disclosure of COPT common share and COPLP common unit activity pertaining to our share-based compensation plans.

26



13.    Information by Business Segment
 
We have ten reportable operating office property segments (comprised of: the Baltimore/Washington Corridor; Northern Virginia; San Antonio; Huntsville; Washington, DC — Capitol Riverfront; St. Mary’s and King George Counties; Greater Baltimore; Greater Philadelphia; Colorado Springs; and Other). In our 2015 quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our Colorado Springs segment is, and will be, included in our Other segment as it is insignificant in the 2014 and 2015 reporting periods. We also have an operating wholesale data center segment. The table below reports segment financial information for our reportable segments (in thousands).  We measure the performance of our segments through the measure we define as NOI from real estate operations, which is derived by subtracting property operating expenses from revenues from real estate operations.
 
Operating Office Property Segments
 
 
 
 
 
Baltimore/
Washington
Corridor
 
Northern
Virginia
 
San
Antonio
 
Huntsville
 
Washington,
DC - Capitol
Riverfront
 
St. Mary’s & 
King George
Counties
 
Greater
Baltimore
 
Greater
Philadelphia
 
Other
 
Operating
Wholesale
Data Center
 
Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
62,009

 
$
23,332

 
$
9,492

 
$
3,061

 
$
3,336

 
$
3,550

 
$
16,134

 
$
4,126

 
$
2,568

 
$
6,078

 
$
133,686

Property operating expenses
20,169

 
7,785

 
4,808

 
888

 
1,962

 
1,325

 
6,461

 
1,249

 
242

 
4,008

 
48,897

NOI from real estate operations
$
41,840

 
$
15,547

 
$
4,684

 
$
2,173

 
$
1,374

 
$
2,225

 
$
9,673

 
$
2,877

 
$
2,326

 
$
2,070

 
$
84,789

Additions to long-lived assets
$
7,943

 
$
1,749

 
$

 
$
175

 
$
1,098

 
$
986

 
$
128,933

 
$
246

 
$
(93
)
 
$

 
$
141,037

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
25,184

 
$
34,195

 
$
591

 
$
1,207

 
$

 
$
1,408

 
$
315

 
$
5,506

 
$

 
$
73,804

 
$
142,210

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
58,883

 
$
21,369

 
$
9,031

 
$
2,471

 
$
3,524

 
$
4,158

 
$
10,436

 
$
2,951

 
$
2,541

 
$
2,876

 
$
118,240

Property operating expenses
19,457

 
7,500

 
5,100

 
763

 
1,824

 
1,277

 
3,810

 
837

 
260

 
2,053

 
42,881

NOI from real estate operations
$
39,426

 
$
13,869

 
$
3,931

 
$
1,708

 
$
1,700

 
$
2,881

 
$
6,626

 
$
2,114

 
$
2,281

 
$
823

 
$
75,359

Additions to long-lived assets
$
7,248

 
$
5,898

 
$

 
$
455

 
$
458

 
$
5,189

 
$
3,021

 
$
625

 
$
(125
)
 
$
24

 
$
22,793

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
22,680

 
$
15,403

 
$

 
$
1,496

 
$

 
$

 
$
495

 
$
2,506

 
$

 
$
222

 
$
42,802

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
184,412

 
$
69,474

 
$
28,867

 
$
8,165

 
$
10,091

 
$
11,246

 
$
40,508

 
$
11,236

 
$
7,659

 
$
12,933

 
$
384,591

Property operating expenses
63,291

 
25,593

 
15,398

 
2,605

 
5,837

 
4,238

 
16,367

 
3,565

 
655

 
8,441

 
145,990

NOI from real estate operations
$
121,121

 
$
43,881

 
$
13,469

 
$
5,560

 
$
4,254

 
$
7,008

 
$
24,141

 
$
7,671

 
$
7,004

 
$
4,492

 
$
238,601

Additions to long-lived assets
$
16,529

 
$
89,152

 
$
21

 
$
466

 
$
2,297

 
$
3,149

 
$
195,013

 
$
824

 
$
164

 
$
108

 
$
307,723

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
44,212

 
$
101,412

 
$
32,150

 
$
13,184

 
$

 
$
1,408

 
$
327

 
$
22,222

 
$
8

 
$
89,183

 
$
304,106

Segment assets at September 30, 2015
$
1,297,431

 
$
697,406

 
$
148,336

 
$
108,541

 
$
94,120

 
$
101,985

 
$
455,469

 
$
128,409

 
$
76,259

 
$
246,806

 
$
3,354,762

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
177,452

 
$
67,235

 
$
26,268

 
$
7,430

 
$
10,989

 
$
12,676

 
$
32,956

 
$
8,657

 
$
7,668

 
$
7,769

 
$
359,100

Property operating expenses
62,402

 
24,124

 
14,391

 
2,275

 
5,343

 
4,070

 
13,786

 
3,281

 
1,195

 
5,622

 
136,489

NOI from real estate operations
$
115,050

 
$
43,111

 
$
11,877

 
$
5,155

 
$
5,646

 
$
8,606

 
$
19,170

 
$
5,376

 
$
6,473

 
$
2,147

 
$
222,611

Additions to long-lived assets
$
19,278

 
$
14,198

 
$
(6
)
 
$
3,296

 
$
999

 
$
6,971

 
$
5,275

 
$
724

 
$
(163
)
 
$
46

 
$
50,618

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
50,303

 
$
42,674

 
$

 
$
21,821

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,522

 
$
15,880

 
$
30

 
$
897

 
$
135,127

Segment assets at September 30, 2014
$
1,278,713

 
$
648,248

 
$
116,837

 
$
98,334

 
$
96,131

 
$
100,009

 
$
274,931

 
$
107,051

 
$
78,240

 
$
164,192

 
$
2,962,686


27



The following table reconciles our segment revenues to total revenues as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Segment revenues from real estate operations
$
133,686

 
$
118,240

 
$
384,591

 
$
359,100

Construction contract and other service revenues
17,058

 
34,739

 
97,554

 
80,390

Less: Revenues from discontinued operations

 
36

 
(4
)
 
12

Total revenues
$
150,744

 
$
153,015

 
$
482,141

 
$
439,502

 
The following table reconciles our segment property operating expenses to property operating expenses as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Segment property operating expenses
$
48,897

 
$
42,881

 
$
145,990

 
$
136,489

Less: Property operating expenses from discontinued operations

 
175

 
6

 
111

Total property operating expenses
$
48,897

 
$
43,056

 
$
145,996

 
$
136,600

 
As previously discussed, we provide real estate services such as property management and construction and development services primarily for our properties but also for third parties.  The primary manner in which we evaluate the operating performance of our service activities is through a measure we define as net operating income from service operations (“NOI from service operations”), which is based on the net of revenues and expenses from these activities.  Construction contract and other service revenues and expenses consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to us by the customer along with a management fee. The operating margins from these activities are small relative to the revenue.  We believe NOI from service operations is a useful measure in assessing both our level of activity and our profitability in conducting such operations. The table below sets forth the computation of our NOI from service operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Construction contract and other service revenues
$
17,058

 
$
34,739

 
$
97,554

 
$
80,390

Construction contract and other service expenses
(16,132
)
 
(33,593
)
 
(94,923
)
 
(75,353
)
NOI from service operations
$
926

 
$
1,146

 
$
2,631

 
$
5,037



28



The following table reconciles our NOI from real estate operations for reportable segments and NOI from service operations to income from continuing operations as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
NOI from real estate operations
$
84,789

 
$
75,359

 
$
238,601

 
$
222,611

NOI from service operations
926

 
1,146

 
2,631

 
5,037

Interest and other income
692

 
1,191

 
3,217

 
3,775

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
18

 
193

 
52

 
206

Income tax expense
(48
)
 
(101
)
 
(153
)
 
(257
)
Other adjustments:

 
 

 

 
 

Depreciation and other amortization associated with real estate operations
(38,403
)
 
(30,237
)
 
(103,788
)
 
(104,728
)
Impairment losses
(2,307
)
 
(66
)
 
(3,545
)
 
(1,368
)
General, administrative and leasing expenses
(7,439
)
 
(7,211
)
 
(22,864
)
 
(22,882
)
Business development expenses and land carry costs
(5,573
)
 
(1,430
)
 
(10,986
)
 
(4,107
)
Interest expense
(24,121
)
 
(24,802
)
 
(66,727
)
 
(69,107
)
Less: NOI from discontinued operations

 
(139
)
 
(10
)
 
(99
)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt
85,745

 
(176
)
 
85,677

 
(446
)
Income from continuing operations
$
94,279

 
$
13,727

 
$
122,105

 
$
28,635

 
The following table reconciles our segment assets to the consolidated total assets of COPT and subsidiaries (in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2014
Segment assets
$
3,354,762

 
$
2,962,686

Non-operating property assets
416,540

 
518,951

Other assets
147,171

 
198,551

Total COPT consolidated assets
$
3,918,473

 
$
3,680,188

 
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those used to prepare our consolidated financial statements, except that discontinued operations are not presented separately for segment purposes.  In the segment reporting presented above, we did not allocate interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment losses, loss on early extinguishment of debt and gain on sales of real estate to our real estate segments since they are not included in the measure of segment profit reviewed by management.  We also did not allocate general and administrative expenses, business development expenses and land carry costs, interest and other income, equity in income of unconsolidated entities, income taxes and noncontrolling interests because these items represent general corporate or non-operating property items not attributable to segments.

14.    Share-Based Compensation
 
Performance Share Units (“PSUs”)
 
On March 5, 2015, our Board of Trustees granted 45,656 PSUs with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1.7 million to executives.  The PSUs have a performance period beginning on January 1, 2015 and concluding on the earlier of December 31, 2017 or the date of: (1) termination by us without cause, death or disability of the executive or constructive discharge of the executive (collectively, “qualified termination”); or (2) a sale event.  The number of PSUs earned (“earned PSUs”) at the end of the performance period will be determined based on the percentile rank of COPT’s total shareholder return relative to a peer group of companies, as set forth in the following schedule:
Percentile Rank
 
Earned PSUs Payout %
75th or greater
 
200% of PSUs granted
50th or greater
 
100% of PSUs granted
25th
 
50% of PSUs granted
Below 25th
 
0% of PSUs granted

If the percentile rank exceeds the 25th percentile and is between two of the percentile ranks set forth in the table above, then the percentage of the earned PSUs will be interpolated between the ranges set forth in the table above to reflect any performance

29



between the listed percentiles.  At the end of the performance period, we, in settlement of the award, will issue a number of fully-vested COPT common shares equal to the sum of:

the number of earned PSUs in settlement of the award plan; plus
the aggregate dividends that would have been paid with respect to the common shares issued in settlement of the earned PSUs through the date of settlement had such shares been issued on the grant date, divided by the share price on such settlement date, as defined under the terms of the agreement.
 
If a service period ends due to a sale event or qualified termination, the number of earned PSUs is prorated based on the portion of the service period that has elapsed.  If employment is terminated by the employee or by us for cause, all PSUs are forfeited.  PSUs do not carry voting rights.
 
We computed a grant date fair value of $36.76 per PSU using a Monte Carlo model, which included assumptions of, among other things, the following: baseline common share value of $29.28; expected volatility for COPT common shares of 19.9%; and a risk-free interest rate of 0.99%.  We are recognizing the grant date fair value in connection with these PSU awards over the period commencing on March 6, 2015 and ending on December 31, 2017.
 
With regard to the PSUs granted to our executives in prior years that were outstanding as of December 31, 2014 as described in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K:

the performance period for the PSUs granted to executives on March 1, 2012 ended on December 31, 2014. Based on COPT’s total shareholder return during the performance period relative to its peer group of companies, we issued 40,309 common shares in settlement of the PSUs on March 5, 2015; and
we issued 15,289 common shares on March 5, 2015 to Mr. Stephen E. Riffee, our former Chief Financial Officer, upon his departure on February 3, 2015, in settlement of PSUs granted on March 1, 2013 and March 6, 2014.

Restricted Shares
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, certain employees were granted a total of 193,499 restricted common shares with an aggregate grant date fair value of $5.6 million (weighted average of $28.93 per share).  Restricted shares granted to employees vest based on increments and over periods of time set forth under the terms of the respective awards provided that the employees remain employed by us.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, forfeiture restrictions lapsed on 163,145 previously issued common shares; these shares had a weighted average grant date fair value of $26.15 per share, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the shares on the vesting dates was $4.6 million.
 
Deferred Share Awards

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, nonemployee members of our Board of Trustees were granted a total of 24,056 deferred share awards with an aggregate grant date fair value of $642,000 ($26.70 per share). Deferred share awards vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position. We settle deferred share awards by issuing an equivalent number of common shares upon vesting of the awards or a later date elected by the Trustee (generally upon cessation of being a Trustee). During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we issued 15,485 common shares in settlement of deferred share awards granted in 2014; these shares had a grant date fair value of $26.77 per share, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the shares on the settlement date was $413,000.

Options
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, 76,474 options to purchase common shares (“options”) were exercised.  The weighted average exercise price of these options was $26.27 per share, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the options exercised was $300,000.


30



15.    Income Taxes
 
We own a TRS that is subject to Federal and state income taxes.  Our TRS’s provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Deferred
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Federal
$
39

 
$
83

 
$
125

 
$
215

State
9

 
18

 
28

 
42

Total income tax expense
$
48

 
$
101

 
$
153

 
$
257

 
Items in our TRS contributing to temporary differences that lead to deferred taxes include depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, certain accrued compensation, compensation paid in the form of contributions to a deferred nonqualified compensation plan and net operating losses that are not deductible until future periods.
 
Our TRS’s combined Federal and state effective tax rate was 37.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.
 
16.    Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) and Earnings Per Unit (“EPU”)
 
COPT and Subsidiaries EPS

We present both basic and diluted EPS.  We compute basic EPS by dividing net income available to common shareholders allocable to unrestricted common shares under the two-class method by the weighted average number of unrestricted common shares outstanding during the period.  Our computation of diluted EPS is similar except that:
 
the denominator is increased to include: (1) the weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding if securities that are convertible into COPT common shares were converted; and (2) the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period attributable to share-based compensation using the treasury stock or if-converted methods; and
the numerator is adjusted to add back any changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed conversion into common shares that we added to the denominator.


31



Summaries of the numerator and denominator for purposes of basic and diluted EPS calculations are set forth below (in thousands, except per share data):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
94,279

 
$
13,727

 
$
122,105

 
$
28,635

Gain on sales of real estate, net
15

 
10,630

 
4,000

 
10,630

Preferred share dividends
(3,552
)
 
(3,553
)
 
(10,657
)
 
(12,387
)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares

 

 

 
(1,769
)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
(4,494
)
 
(1,820
)
 
(7,322
)
 
(3,923
)
Income from continuing operations attributable to share-based compensation awards
(369
)
 
(103
)
 
(475
)
 
(332
)
Numerator for basic EPS from continuing operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
85,879

 
18,881

 
107,651

 
20,854

Convertible preferred shares
372

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of common units in COPLP on diluted EPS from continuing operations

 

 
4,225

 

Numerator for diluted EPS from continuing operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
86,251

 
$
18,881

 
$
111,876

 
$
20,854

Numerator for basic EPS from continuing operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
85,879

 
$
18,881

 
$
107,651

 
$
20,854

Discontinued operations

 
191

 
156

 
4

Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(8
)
 
(3
)
 
5

Numerator for basic EPS on net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
85,879

 
19,064

 
107,804

 
20,863

Convertible preferred shares
372

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of common units in COPLP

 

 
4,231

 

Numerator for diluted EPS on net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
86,251

 
$
19,064

 
$
112,035

 
$
20,863

Denominator (all weighted averages):
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Denominator for basic EPS (common shares)
94,153

 
87,290

 
93,830

 
87,196

Convertible preferred shares
434

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of common units

 

 
3,697

 

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
21

 
195

 
82

 
169

Denominator for diluted EPS (common shares)
94,608

 
87,485

 
97,609

 
87,365

Basic EPS:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Diluted EPS:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations attributable to COPT common shareholders
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

 

32



Our diluted EPS computations do not include the effects of the following securities since the conversions of such securities would increase diluted EPS for the respective periods (in thousands):
 
Weighted Average Shares Excluded from Denominator
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Conversion of common units
3,679

 
3,876

 

 
3,915

Conversion of Series I Preferred Units
176

 
176

 
176

 
176

Conversion of Series K Preferred Shares

 
434

 
434

 
434

 
The following share-based compensation securities were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because their effects were antidilutive:
 
weighted average restricted shares and deferred share awards for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 411,000 and 401,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 412,000 and 404,000, respectively; and
weighted average options for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 440,000 and 490,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 480,000 and 495,000, respectively.

As discussed in Note 9, we had outstanding senior notes, which we redeemed in April 2015, with an exchange settlement feature, but such notes did not affect our diluted EPS reported above since the weighted average closing price of COPT’s common shares during each of the periods was less than the exchange prices per common share applicable for such periods.

COPLP and Subsidiaries EPU

We present both basic and diluted EPU.  We compute basic EPU by dividing net income available to common unitholders allocable to unrestricted common units under the two-class method by the weighted average number of unrestricted common units outstanding during the period.  Our computation of diluted EPU is similar except that:
 
the denominator is increased to include: (1) the weighted average number of potential additional common units that would have been outstanding if securities that are convertible into our common units were converted; and (2) the effect of dilutive potential common units outstanding during the period attributable to share-based compensation using the treasury stock or if-converted methods; and
the numerator is adjusted to add back any changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed conversion into common units that we added to the denominator.


33



Summaries of the numerator and denominator for purposes of basic and diluted EPU calculations are set forth below (in thousands, except per unit data):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Numerator:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
94,279

 
$
13,727

 
$
122,105

 
$
28,635

Gain on sales of real estate, net
15

 
10,630

 
4,000

 
10,630

Preferred unit distributions
(3,717
)
 
(3,718
)
 
(11,152
)
 
(12,882
)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units

 

 

 
(1,769
)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests
(972
)
 
(897
)
 
(2,605
)
 
(2,476
)
Income from continuing operations attributable to share-based compensation awards
(369
)
 
(103
)
 
(475
)
 
(332
)
Numerator for basic EPU from continuing operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
89,236

 
19,639

 
111,873

 
21,806

Convertible preferred units
372

 

 

 

Numerator for diluted EPU from continuing operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
89,608

 
$
19,639

 
$
111,873

 
$
21,806

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Numerator for basic EPU from continuing operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
89,236

 
$
19,639

 
$
111,873

 
$
21,806

Discontinued operations

 
191

 
156

 
4

Discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 
3

 
5

Numerator for basic EPU on net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
89,236

 
19,830

 
112,032

 
21,815

Convertible preferred units
372

 

 

 

Numerator for diluted EPU on net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
89,608

 
$
19,830

 
$
112,032

 
$
21,815

Denominator (all weighted averages):
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Denominator for basic EPU (common units)
97,832

 
91,166

 
97,527

 
91,111

Convertible preferred shares
434

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
21

 
195

 
82

 
169

Denominator for basic and diluted EPU (common units)
98,287

 
91,361

 
97,609

 
91,280

Basic EPU:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Diluted EPU:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations attributable to COPLP common unitholders
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

 
0.00

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
0.91

 
$
0.22

 
$
1.15

 
$
0.24

 

34



Our diluted EPU computations do not include the effects of the following securities since the conversions of such securities would increase diluted EPU for the respective periods (in thousands):
 
Weighted Average Units Excluded from Denominator
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Conversion of Series I preferred units
176

 
176

 
176

 
176

Conversion of Series K preferred units

 
434

 
434

 
434

 
The following share-based compensation securities were excluded from the computation of diluted EPU because their effects were antidilutive:
 
weighted average restricted units and deferred share awards for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 411,000 and 401,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 412,000 and 404,000, respectively; and
weighted average options for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 440,000 and 490,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of 480,000 and 495,000, respectively.
 
As discussed in Note 9, we had outstanding senior notes, which we redeemed in April 2015, with an exchange settlement feature, but such notes did not affect our diluted EPU reported above since the weighted average closing price of COPT’s common shares during each of the periods was less than the exchange prices per common share applicable for such periods.

17.    Commitments and Contingencies
 
Litigation
 
In the normal course of business, we are involved in legal actions arising from our ownership and administration of properties.  We establish reserves for specific legal proceedings when we determine that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  Management does not anticipate that any liabilities that may result from such proceedings will have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.  Our assessment of the potential outcomes of these matters involves significant judgment and is subject to change based on future developments.
 
Environmental
 
We are subject to various Federal, state and local environmental regulations related to our property ownership and operation.  We have performed environmental assessments of our properties, the results of which have not revealed any environmental liability that we believe would have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.
 
Tax Incremental Financing Obligation
 
In August 2010, Anne Arundel County, Maryland issued $30 million in tax incremental financing bonds to third-party investors in order to finance public improvements needed in connection with our project known as National Business Park North.  The real estate taxes on increases in assessed value of a development district encompassing National Business Park North are to be transferred to a special fund pledged to the repayment of the bonds.  We recognized a $2.2 million liability through September 30, 2015 representing our estimated obligation to fund through a special tax any future shortfalls between debt service on the bonds and real estate taxes available to repay the bonds.


35



Operating Leases

We are obligated as lessee under operating leases (mostly ground leases) with various expiration dates extending to the year 2100. Future minimum rental payments due under the terms of these operating leases as of September 30, 2015 follow (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
2015 (1)
 
$
289

2016
 
1,171

2017
 
1,096

2018
 
1,052

2019
 
1,036

Thereafter
 
86,999

 
 
$
91,643

 
(1) Represents three months ending December 31, 2015.

Contractual Obligations

We had amounts remaining to be incurred under various contractual obligations as of September 30, 2015 that included the following:

new development and redevelopment obligations of $97.9 million (including acquisitions of land);
capital expenditures for operating properties of $41.9 million;
third party construction and development of $8.1 million; and
other purchase obligations of $4.0 million.

Environmental Indemnity Agreement
 
In connection with a lease and subsequent sale in 2008 and 2010 of three properties in Dayton, New Jersey, we agreed to provide certain environmental indemnifications. The prior owner of the properties, a Fortune 100 company that is responsible for groundwater contamination at such properties, previously agreed to indemnify us for (1) direct losses incurred in connection with the contamination and (2) its failure to perform remediation activities required by the State of New Jersey, up to the point that the state declares the remediation to be complete.  Under the environmental indemnification agreement, we agreed to the following:
 
to indemnify the tenant against losses covered under the prior owner’s indemnity agreement if the prior owner fails to indemnify the tenant for such losses.  This indemnification is capped at $5.0 million in perpetuity after the State of New Jersey declares the remediation to be complete;
to indemnify the tenant for consequential damages (e.g., business interruption) at one of the buildings in perpetuity and another of the buildings through 2025.  This indemnification is limited to $12.5 million; and
to pay 50% of additional costs related to construction and environmental regulatory activities incurred by the tenant as a result of the indemnified environmental condition of the properties.  This indemnification is limited to $300,000 annually and $1.5 million in the aggregate.

18.    Subsequent Event

On October 27, 2015, we sold 13200 Woodland Park Road, a 397,000 square foot office property in Herndon, Virginia (in the Northern Virginia region) for $84.0 million, resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $42 million.



36



Item 2.           Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Overview
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015

we finished the period with occupancy of our portfolio of operating office properties at 91.6%;
we leased 11.25 megawatts in our wholesale data center. The center became 100% operational during the period and was 92.5% leased as of period end;
we acquired:
250 W. Pratt Street, a 367,000 square foot property in Greater Baltimore that was 96.2% leased, for $61.9 million on March 19, 2015 primarily using borrowings from our Revolving Credit Facility;
2600 Park Tower Drive, a 237,000 square foot property in Northern Virginia that was 100% leased, for $80.5 million on April 15, 2015 primarily using borrowings from our Revolving Credit Facility; and
100 Light Street, a 558,000 square foot office property in Baltimore, Maryland that was 93.5% leased, and its structured parking garage, 30 Light Street, for $121.2 million on August 7, 2015. In connection with that acquisition, we assumed a $55.0 million mortgage loan, and funded the balance primarily using borrowings from our Revolving Credit Facility;
we placed into service an aggregate of 1.1 million square feet in seven newly constructed properties and two redeveloped properties that were 97.0% leased as of September 30, 2015;
we disposed of:
a 160,000 square foot office property in Northern Virginia for $27.8 million on July 27, 2015. The net proceeds from this sale were used primarily to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility;
two office properties in Northern Virgina totaling 665,000 square feet that secured a $150.0 million nonrecourse mortgage loan on August 28, 2015. Ownership in these properties was transferred to the mortgage lender and we removed the debt obligation and accrued interest from our balance sheet; and
land for $18.1 million, using most of the resulting proceeds for general corporate purposes;
we issued a $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes on June 29, 2015 at an initial offering price of 99.510% of their face value. The proceeds from the issuance, after deducting underwriting discounts but before other offering expenses, were approximately $296.6 million. The net proceeds from this issuance were used primarily to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility; and
COPT issued 890,241 common shares at a weighted average price of $30.29 per share under its at-the-market stock offering program established in October 2012. Net proceeds from the shares issued totaled $26.6 million. The net proceeds from the shares issued were contributed to COPLP in exchange for 890,241 common units, and used by COPLP for general corporate purposes.

Subsequent to September 30, 2015, we sold 13200 Woodland Park Road, a 397,000 square foot office property in Herndon, Virginia (in the Northern Virginia region) for $84.0 million. The net proceeds from this sale were used primarily to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.

We discuss significant factors contributing to changes in our net income in the section below entitled “Results of Operations.” The results of operations discussion is combined for COPT and COPLP because there are no material differences in the results of operations between the two reporting entities.

In addition, the section below entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” includes discussions of, among other things:

how we expect to generate cash for short and long-term capital needs; and
our commitments and contingencies.
 
You should refer to our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto as you read this section.
 
This section contains “forward-looking” statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition and operations of our business. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance

37



that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these expectations, estimates and projections include, but are not limited to:

general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, affect office property and data center demand and rents, tenant creditworthiness, interest rates, financing availability and property values;
adverse changes in the real estate markets, including, among other things, increased competition with other companies;
governmental actions and initiatives, including risks associated with the impact of a prolonged government shutdown or budgetary reductions or impasses, such as a reduction in rental revenues, non-renewal of leases and/or a curtailment of demand for additional space by our strategic customers;
our ability to borrow on favorable terms;
risks of real estate acquisition and development activities, including, among other things, risks that development projects may not be completed on schedule, that tenants may not take occupancy or pay rent or that development or operating costs may be greater than anticipated;
risks of investing through joint venture structures, including risks that our joint venture partners may not fulfill their financial obligations as investors or may take actions that are inconsistent with our objectives;
changes in our plans for properties or views of market economic conditions or failure to obtain development rights, either of which could result in recognition of significant impairment losses;
our ability to satisfy and operate effectively under Federal income tax rules relating to real estate investment trusts and partnerships;
the dilutive effects of issuing additional common shares;
our ability to achieve projected results; and
environmental requirements.

We undertake no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements.
 
Occupancy and Leasing
 
Office Properties
 
The tables below set forth occupancy information pertaining to our portfolio of operating office properties. All of our operating portfolio square footage, occupancy and leasing statistics included below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q exclude the effect of the two properties (totaling 665,000 square feet) serving as collateral for debt that was in default; effective April 1, 2014, all cash flows from such properties belonged to the lender. On August 28, 2015, ownership in these properties was transferred to the mortgage lender and we removed the debt obligation and accrued interest from our balance sheet. These properties were 25.1% occupied as of the date we transferred ownership.
 
September 30, 2015
 
December 31, 2014
Occupancy rates at period end
 

 
 

Total
91.6
%
 
90.9
%
Baltimore/Washington Corridor
94.1
%
 
93.4
%
Northern Virginia
90.0
%
 
86.8
%
San Antonio
97.1
%
 
96.6
%
Huntsville
95.7
%
 
80.8
%
Washington, DC - Capitol Riverfront
67.7
%
 
74.4
%
St. Mary’s and King George Counties
72.8
%
 
90.8
%
Greater Baltimore
89.2
%
 
86.8
%
Greater Philadelphia
100.0
%
 
96.2
%
Other
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Average contractual annual rental rate per square foot at period end (1)
$
29.46

 
$
29.27


(1) 
Includes estimated expense reimbursements.


38



 
Rentable
Square Feet
 
Occupied
Square Feet
 
(in thousands)
December 31, 2014
16,790

 
15,255

Square feet vacated upon lease expiration (1)

 
(488
)
Occupancy of previously vacated space in connection with new leases (2)

 
377

Square feet constructed or redeveloped
1,067

 
1,138

Acquisitions
1,162

 
1,118

Dispositions
(160
)
 
(160
)
Square feet removed from operations for redevelopment
(22
)
 

Other changes
(12
)
 

September 30, 2015
18,825

 
17,240


(1) 
Includes lease terminations and space reductions occurring in connection with lease renewals.
(2)
Excludes occupancy of vacant square feet acquired or developed.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we completed 1.8 million square feet of leasing, including 646,000 of construction and redevelopment space, and renewed 63.9% of the square footage of our lease expirations (including the effect of early renewals). Our changes in regional occupancy rates reflected in the table above included the following:

increased occupancy in Northern Virginia due primarily to 580,000 newly constructed square feet placed in service that were 100% occupied;
increased occupancy in Huntsville due primarily to a previously vacant 62,000 square foot property and a 69,000 square foot newly-constructed property placed in service during the period that were both 100% occupied at period end; and
decreased occupancy in St. Mary’s and King George Counties due to our renewal of 55.5% of the square feet of our lease expirations in the region and a 29,000 square foot redeveloped property placed in service that was vacant at period end.

Occupancy of our Same Office Properties decreased from 90.5% as of December 31, 2014 to 90.3% as of September 30, 2015.

Wholesale Data Center Property
 
In February 2015, we leased 11.25 megawatts in our wholesale data center with occupancy that commenced in stages. The 19.25 megawatts center became 100% operational during the period. As of September 30, 2015, 17.8 of these megawatts were leased to tenants with further expansion rights of up to a combined 18.9 megawatts.

Results of Operations
 
We evaluate the operating performance of our properties using NOI from real estate operations, our segment performance measure derived by subtracting property operating expenses from revenues from real estate operations.  We view our NOI from real estate operations as comprising the following primary categories of operating properties:
 
office properties owned and 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods, excluding properties held for future disposition.  We define these as changes from “Same Office Properties”;
office properties acquired during the current and prior year reporting periods;
constructed or redeveloped office properties placed into service that were not 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods;
our wholesale data center;
properties held for sale as of September 30, 2015; and
property dispositions.

In addition to owning properties, we provide construction management and other services. The primary manner in which we evaluate the operating performance of our construction management and other service activities is through a measure we define as NOI from service operations, which is based on the net of the revenues and expenses from these activities.  The revenues and expenses from these activities consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to us by customers along with a management fee.  The operating margins from these activities are small relative to the revenue.  We believe NOI from service operations is a useful measure in assessing both our level of activity and our profitability in conducting such operations.

39



 
We believe that operating income, as reported on our consolidated statements of operations, is the most directly comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measure for both NOI from real estate operations and NOI from service operations.  Since both of these measures exclude certain items includable in operating income, reliance on these measures has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measures simply as supplemental measures that are considered alongside other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

The table below reconciles NOI from real estate operations and NOI from service operations to operating income reported on the consolidated statements of operations of COPT and subsidiaries:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
NOI from real estate operations
$
84,789

 
$
75,359

 
$
238,601

 
$
222,611

NOI from service operations
926

 
1,146

 
2,631

 
5,037

Less: NOI from discontinued operations

 
(139
)
 
(10
)
 
(99
)
Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
(38,403
)
 
(30,237
)
 
(103,788
)
 
(104,728
)
Impairment losses
(2,307
)
 
(66
)
 
(3,545
)
 
(1,368
)
General, administrative and leasing expenses
(7,439
)
 
(7,211
)
 
(22,864
)
 
(22,882
)
Business development expenses and land carry costs
(5,573
)
 
(1,430
)
 
(10,986
)
 
(4,107
)
Operating income
$
31,993

 
$
37,422

 
$
100,039

 
$
94,464


Comparison of Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
133,686

 
$
118,276

 
$
15,410

Construction contract and other service revenues
17,058

 
34,739

 
(17,681
)
Total revenues
150,744

 
153,015

 
(2,271
)
Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
48,897

 
43,056

 
5,841

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
38,403

 
30,237

 
8,166

Construction contract and other service expenses
16,132

 
33,593

 
(17,461
)
Impairment losses
2,307

 
66

 
2,241

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,439

 
7,211

 
228

Business development expenses and land carry costs
5,573

 
1,430

 
4,143

Total operating expenses
118,751

 
115,593

 
3,158

Operating income
31,993

 
37,422

 
(5,429
)
Interest expense
(24,121
)
 
(24,802
)
 
681

Interest and other income
692

 
1,191

 
(499
)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt
85,745

 
(176
)
 
85,921

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
18

 
193

 
(175
)
Income tax expense
(48
)
 
(101
)
 
53

Income from continuing operations
94,279

 
13,727

 
80,552

Discontinued operations

 
191

 
(191
)
Gain on sales of real estate
15

 
10,630

 
(10,615
)
Net income
$
94,294

 
$
24,548

 
$
69,746



40



NOI from Real Estate Operations
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per square foot data)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Rental revenue, excluding lease termination revenue
$
81,156

 
$
80,992

 
$
164

Lease termination revenue
154

 
208

 
(54
)
Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
20,888

 
20,158

 
730

Same Office Properties total revenues
102,198

 
101,358

 
840

Constructed office properties placed in service
9,202

 
2,888

 
6,314

Acquired office properties
6,921

 

 
6,921

Wholesale data center
6,078

 
2,876

 
3,202

Properties held for sale
7,817

 
7,398

 
419

Dispositions
1,290

 
3,491

 
(2,201
)
Other
180

 
229

 
(49
)
 
133,686

 
118,240

 
15,446

Property operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties
36,323

 
36,293

 
30

Constructed office properties placed in service
2,280

 
483

 
1,797

Acquired office properties
2,750

 

 
2,750

Wholesale data center
4,008

 
2,053

 
1,955

Properties held for sale
2,529

 
2,270

 
259

Dispositions
1,004

 
1,481

 
(477
)
Other
3

 
301

 
(298
)
 
48,897

 
42,881

 
6,016

NOI from real estate operations
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties
65,875

 
65,065

 
810

Constructed office properties placed in service
6,922

 
2,405

 
4,517

Acquired office properties
4,171

 

 
4,171

Wholesale data center
2,070

 
823

 
1,247

Properties held for sale
5,288

 
5,128

 
160

Dispositions
286

 
2,010

 
(1,724
)
Other
177

 
(72
)
 
249

 
$
84,789

 
$
75,359

 
$
9,430

Same Office Properties rent statistics
 
 
 
 
 
Average occupancy rate
90.2
%
 
91.4
%
 
-1.2
 %
Average straight-line rent per occupied square foot (1)
$
6.15

 
$
6.06

 
$
0.09

 
(1) 
Includes minimum base rents, net of abatements, and lease incentives on a straight-line basis for the three-month periods set forth above.

Our Same Office Properties pool consisted of 147 office properties, comprising 77.6% of our total operating office square footage as of September 30, 2015 (83.4% excluding the effect of properties held for sale). This pool of properties changed from the pool used for purposes of comparing 2014 and 2013 in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K due to the addition of eight properties placed in service and 100% operational by January 1, 2014 and the removal of 19 properties reclassified to held for sale in 2015, one property disposed of and one property reclassified as redevelopment in 2015.

Our NOI from constructed office properties placed in service included 14 properties placed in service in 2014 and 2015, and our NOI from acquired office properties included our acquisitions of 250 W. Pratt Street, 2600 Park Tower Drive and 100 and 30 Light Street.
 
The increase in NOI from our wholesale data center was attributable primarily to higher occupancy in the current period.


41



NOI from Service Operations
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
 
(in thousands)
Construction contract and other service revenues
 
$
17,058

 
$
34,739

 
$
(17,681
)
Construction contract and other service expenses
 
16,132

 
33,593

 
(17,461
)
NOI from service operations
 
$
926

 
$
1,146

 
$
(220
)

Construction contract and other service revenue and expenses increased due primarily to a higher volume of construction activity in connection with several of our tenants. Construction contract activity is inherently subject to significant variability depending on the volume and nature of projects undertaken by us (primarily on behalf of tenants). Service operations are an ancillary component of our overall operations that should contribute little operating income relative to our real estate operations.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was attributable primarily to additional expense in the current period of $3.7 million from our office property acquisitions and $3.1 million from our revision of the useful lives of properties that were removed from service for redevelopment.

Business Development Expenses and Land Carry Costs

The increase in business development expenses and land carry costs was due primarily to additional expense in the current period of $2.7 million in acquisition costs expensed in connection with operating property acquisitions and $930,000 in demolition costs on a property undergoing redevelopment.

Gain on Early Extinguishment of Debt

We recognized a gain on early extinguishment of $85.7 million in the current period primarily in connection with our transfer of ownership in two properties serving as collateral for a $150.0 million nonrecourse mortgage loan to the mortgage lender and the removal of the debt obligation and accrued interest from our balance sheet.

Gain on Sales of Real Estate

We recognized gain on sales of real estate in the prior period of $5.5 million on a non-operating property and $5.1 million on operating properties in the Greater Baltimore region.



42



Comparison of Statements of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
384,587

 
$
359,112

 
$
25,475

Construction contract and other service revenues
97,554

 
80,390

 
17,164

Total revenues
482,141

 
439,502

 
42,639

Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
145,996

 
136,600

 
9,396

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
103,788

 
104,728

 
(940
)
Construction contract and other service expenses
94,923

 
75,353

 
19,570

Impairment losses
3,545

 
1,368

 
2,177

General, administrative and leasing expenses
22,864

 
22,882

 
(18
)
Business development expenses and land carry costs
10,986

 
4,107

 
6,879

Total operating expenses
382,102

 
345,038

 
37,064

Operating income
100,039

 
94,464

 
5,575

Interest expense
(66,727
)
 
(69,107
)
 
2,380

Interest and other income
3,217

 
3,775

 
(558
)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt
85,677

 
(446
)
 
86,123

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
52

 
206

 
(154
)
Income tax expense
(153
)
 
(257
)
 
104

Income from continuing operations
122,105

 
28,635

 
93,470

Discontinued operations
156

 
4

 
152

Gain on sales of real estate
4,000

 
10,630

 
(6,630
)
Net income
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

 
$
86,992



43



NOI from Real Estate Operations
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per square foot data)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Rental revenue, excluding lease termination revenue
$
242,872

 
$
241,820

 
$
1,052

Lease termination revenue
1,418

 
763

 
655

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
62,765

 
63,657

 
(892
)
Same Office Properties total revenues
307,055

 
306,240

 
815

Constructed office properties placed in service
21,354

 
5,969

 
15,385

Acquired office properties
11,204

 

 
11,204

Wholesale data center
12,933

 
7,769

 
5,164

Properties held for sale
23,625

 
23,267

 
358

Dispositions
7,906

 
14,777

 
(6,871
)
Other
514

 
1,078

 
(564
)
 
384,591

 
359,100

 
25,491

Property operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties
114,798

 
113,596

 
1,202

Constructed office properties placed in service
5,331

 
1,498

 
3,833

Acquired office properties
4,296

 

 
4,296

Wholesale data center
8,441

 
5,622

 
2,819

Properties held for sale
8,241

 
8,158

 
83

Dispositions
4,845

 
6,140

 
(1,295
)
Other
38

 
1,475

 
(1,437
)
 
145,990

 
136,489

 
9,501

NOI from real estate operations
 
 
 
 
 
Same Office Properties
192,257

 
192,644

 
(387
)
Constructed office properties placed in service
16,023

 
4,471

 
11,552

Acquired office properties
6,908

 

 
6,908

Wholesale data center
4,492

 
2,147

 
2,345

Properties held for sale
15,384

 
15,109

 
275

Dispositions
3,061

 
8,637

 
(5,576
)
Other
476

 
(397
)
 
873

 
$
238,601

 
$
222,611

 
$
15,990

Same Office Properties rent statistics
 
 
 
 
 
Average occupancy rate
90.4
%
 
90.8
%
 
-0.4
 %
Average straight-line rent per occupied square foot (1)
$
18.35

 
$
18.20

 
$
0.15

 
(1) 
Includes minimum base rents, net of abatements, and lease incentives on a straight-line basis for the nine-month periods set forth above.

Our NOI from constructed office properties placed in service included 14 properties placed in service in 2014 and 2015, and our NOI from acquired office properties included our acquisitions of 250 W. Pratt Street, 2600 Park Tower Drive and 100 and 30 Light Street.

The increase in NOI from our wholesale data center was attributable primarily to higher occupancy in the current period.


 


44



NOI from Service Operations
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
 
 
(in thousands)
Construction contract and other service revenues
 
$
97,554

 
$
80,390

 
$
17,164

Construction contract and other service expenses
 
94,923

 
75,353

 
19,570

NOI from service operations
 
$
2,631

 
$
5,037

 
$
(2,406
)

Construction contract and other service revenue and expenses increased due primarily to a higher volume of construction activity in connection with several of our tenants.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The change in depreciation and amortization expense included:

additional expense in the current period of $6.2 million from our office property acquisitions and $4.4 million from our revision of the useful lives of properties that were removed from service for redevelopment; and
additional expense in the prior period of $12.9 million from our revision of the useful life of a property that was removed from service for redevelopment.

Business Development Expenses and Land Carry Costs

The increase in business development expenses and land carry costs was due primarily to additional expense in the current period of $4.1 million in acquisition costs expensed in connection with operating property acquisitions and $1.2 million in demolition costs on properties undergoing redevelopment.

Gain on Early Extinguishment of Debt

We recognized a gain on early extinguishment of $85.7 million in the current period as described above for the three-month period.

Gain on Sales of Real Estate

We recognized gain on sales of real estate in the current period of $4.0 million pertaining to sales of land in the Greater Baltimore region and in the prior period due to the dispositions discussed above for the three-month period.

Funds from Operations
 
Funds from operations (“FFO”) is defined as net income computed using GAAP, excluding gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, previously depreciated operating properties, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization. When multiple properties consisting of both operating and non-operating properties exist on a single tax parcel, we classify all of the gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, the tax parcel as all being for previously depreciated operating properties when most of the value of the parcel is associated with operating properties on the parcel. We believe that we use the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) definition of FFO, although others may interpret the definition differently and, accordingly, our presentation of FFO may differ from those of other REITs.  We believe that FFO is useful to management and investors as a supplemental measure of operating performance because, by excluding gains related to sales of, and impairment losses on, previously depreciated operating properties, net of related tax benefit, and excluding real estate-related depreciation and amortization, FFO can help one compare our operating performance between periods.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide FFO information to the investment community, we believe that FFO is useful to investors as a supplemental measure for comparing our results to those of other equity REITs.  We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to FFO.
 
Since FFO excludes certain items includable in net income, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures. FFO is not necessarily an indication of our cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating our financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating our liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.

45



 
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic FFO”) is FFO adjusted to subtract (1) preferred share dividends, (2) issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares, (3) income attributable to noncontrolling interests through ownership of preferred units in the Operating Partnership or interests in other consolidated entities not owned by us, (4) depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities and (5) Basic FFO allocable to restricted shares.  With these adjustments, Basic FFO represents FFO available to common shareholders and common unitholders.  Common units in the Operating Partnership are substantially similar to our common shares and are exchangeable into common shares, subject to certain conditions.  We believe that Basic FFO is useful to investors due to the close correlation of common units to common shares.  We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Basic FFO.  Basic FFO has essentially the same limitations as FFO; management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for FFO.
 
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted FFO”) is Basic FFO adjusted to add back any changes in Basic FFO that would result from the assumed conversion of securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares.  We believe that Diluted FFO is useful to investors because it is the numerator used to compute Diluted FFO per share, discussed below.  We believe that the numerator for diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO.  Since Diluted FFO excludes certain items includable in the numerator to diluted EPS, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  Diluted FFO is not necessarily an indication of our cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating our financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating our liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.
 
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability is defined as Diluted FFO adjusted to exclude operating property acquisition costs; gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, properties other than previously depreciated operating properties, net of associated income tax; gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; FFO associated with properties securing non-recourse debt on which we have defaulted and which we have extinguished, or expect to extinguish, via conveyance of such properties, including property NOI and interest expense (discussed further below); loss on interest rate derivatives; demolition costs on redevelopment properties; executive transition costs; and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares.  We believe that the excluded items are not reflective of normal operations and, as a result, we believe that a measure that excludes these items is a useful supplemental measure in evaluating our operating performance.  The adjustment for FFO associated with properties securing non-recourse debt on which we have defaulted pertains to the periods subsequent to our default on one loan’s payment terms, which was the result of our decision to not support payments on the loan since the estimated fair value of the properties was less than the loan balance. While we continued as the legal owner of the properties during this period up until the transfer of ownership, all cash flows produced by them went directly to the lender and we did not fund any debt service shortfalls, which included incremental additional interest under the default rate of: $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015; $5.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015; $1.9 million in the three months September 30, 2014; and $3.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. We believe that the numerator to diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to this non-GAAP measure.  This measure has essentially the same limitations as Diluted FFO, as well as the further limitation of not reflecting the effects of the excluded items; we compensate for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
Diluted FFO per share is (1) Diluted FFO divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged.  We believe that Diluted FFO per share is useful to investors because it provides investors with a further context for evaluating our FFO results in the same manner that investors use earnings per share (“EPS”) in evaluating net income available to common shareholders.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Diluted FFO per share information to the investment community, we believe that Diluted FFO per share is a useful supplemental measure for comparing us to other equity REITs. We believe that diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO per share. Diluted FFO per share has most of the same limitations as Diluted FFO (described above); management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability is (1) Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged.  We believe that this measure is useful to investors because it provides investors with a further context for evaluating our FFO

46



results.  We believe that diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to this per share measure.  This measure has most of the same limitations as Diluted FFO (described above) as well as the further limitation of not reflecting the effects of the excluded items; we compensate for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
The computations for all of the above measures on a diluted basis assume the conversion of common units in COPLP but do not assume the conversion of other securities that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase per share measures in a given period.

We use measures called payout ratios as supplemental measures of our ability to make distributions to investors based on each of the following: FFO; Diluted FFO; and Diluted FFO, adjusted for comparability. These measures are defined as (1) the sum of (a) dividends on common shares and (b) distributions to holders of interests in COPLP and dividends on convertible preferred shares when such distributions and dividends are included in Diluted FFO divided by either (2) FFO, Diluted FFO or Diluted FFO, adjusted for comparability.

The table appearing on the following page sets forth the computation of the above stated measures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and provides reconciliations to the GAAP measures of COPT and subsidiaries associated with such measures: 

47



 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
(Dollars and shares in thousands, 
except per share data)
Net income
$
94,294

 
$
24,548

 
$
126,261

 
$
39,269

Add Real estate-related depreciation and amortization
38,403

 
30,237

 
103,788

 
104,728

Add: Impairment losses (recoveries) on previously depreciated operating properties
2,307

 
(7
)
 
3,779

 
1,322

Add: Gain on sales of previously depreciated operating properties
(15
)
 
(5,123
)
 
(15
)
 
(5,119
)
FFO
134,989

 
49,655

 
233,813

 
140,200

Less: Noncontrolling interests-preferred units in the Operating Partnership
(165
)
 
(165
)
 
(495
)
 
(495
)
Less: FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests
(1,027
)
 
(830
)
 
(2,769
)
 
(2,349
)
Less: Preferred share dividends
(3,552
)
 
(3,553
)
 
(10,657
)
 
(12,387
)
Less: Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares

 

 

 
(1,769
)
Basic and diluted FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards
(541
)
 
(191
)
 
(926
)
 
(542
)
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders
$
129,704

 
$
44,916

 
$
218,966

 
$
122,658

Dividends on dilutive convertible preferred shares
372

 

 

 

Distributions on dilutive preferred units in the Operating Partnership
165

 

 

 

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders
$
130,241

 
$
44,916

 
$
218,966

 
$
122,658

Add: Operating property acquisition costs
2,695

 

 
4,102

 

Less: Gain on sales of non-operating properties

 
(5,535
)
 
(3,985
)
 
(5,535
)
Impairment losses on other properties

 
49

 

 
49

Add: (Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt
(85,745
)
 
176

 
(86,057
)
 
562

Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares

 

 

 
1,769

Add: Negative FFO of properties conveyed to extinguish debt in default
2,766

 
3,806

 
10,456

 
7,435

Add: Demolition costs on redevelopment properties
930

 

 
1,171

 

Less: Diluted FFO comparability adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards
334

 
7

 
313

 
(19
)
Dividends and distributions on antidilutive preferred securities
(537
)
 

 

 

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability
$
50,684

 
$
43,419

 
$
144,966

 
$
126,919

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares
94,153

 
87,290

 
93,830

 
87,196

Conversion of weighted average common units
3,679

 
3,876

 
3,697

 
3,915

Weighted average common shares/units - Basic FFO
97,832

 
91,166

 
97,527

 
91,111

Dilutive convertible preferred shares
434

 

 

 

Dilutive convertible preferred units in the Operating Partnership
176

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
21

 
195

 
82

 
169

Weighted average common shares/units - Diluted FFO
98,463

 
91,361

 
97,609

 
91,280

Antidilutive preferred securities for diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability
(610
)
 

 

 

Weighted average common shares/units - Diluted FFO, as adj. for comparability
97,853

 
91,361

 
97,609

 
91,280

Diluted FFO per share
$
1.32

 
$
0.49

 
$
2.24

 
$
1.34

Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability
$
0.52

 
$
0.48

 
$
1.49

 
$
1.39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Numerator for diluted EPS
$
86,251

 
$
19,064

 
$
112,035

 
$
20,863

Dilutive convertible preferred shares
(372
)
 

 

 

Add: Income allocable to noncontrolling interests-common units in the Operating Partnership
3,357

 
768

 

 
942

Add: Real estate-related depreciation and amortization
38,403

 
30,237

 
103,788

 
104,728

Add: Impairment losses on previously depreciated operating properties
2,307

 
(7
)
 
3,779

 
1,322

Add: Numerator for diluted EPS allocable to share-based compensation awards
369

 
103

 
475

 
332

Less: Depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities
(187
)
 
(180
)
 
(560
)
 
(540
)
Add: Increase in noncontrolling interests unrelated to earnings
132

 
245

 
390

 
672

Less: Basic and diluted FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards
(541
)
 
(191
)
 
(926
)
 
(542
)
Less: Gain on sales of previously depreciated operating properties
(15
)
 
(5,123
)
 
(15
)
 
(5,119
)
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders
$
129,704

 
$
44,916

 
$
218,966

 
$
122,658

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator for diluted EPS
94,608

 
87,485

 
97,609

 
87,365

Weighted average common units
3,679

 
3,876

 

 
3,915

Convertible preferred units
176

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted FFO per share
98,463

 
91,361

 
97,609

 
91,280



48



Property Additions
 
The table below sets forth the major components of our additions to properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands):
Construction, development and redevelopment
$
164,798

 
 
Acquisition of operating properties
194,596

 
 
Tenant improvements on operating properties
17,819

 
(1)
Capital improvements on operating properties
12,568

 
 
 
$
389,781

 
 
(1) Tenant improvement costs incurred on newly-constructed properties are classified in this table as construction, development and redevelopment.
 
Cash Flows
 
Net cash flow provided by operating activities increased $3.5 million when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 due primarily to:

a $10.6 million increase in cash flow from real estate operations due primarily to properties acquired and placed in service since the prior period; and
an $8.4 million decrease in interest expense paid from the prior to the current period due in large part to: a $3.9 million decrease in interest paid on the $150.0 million nonrecourse loan that was in default (as discussed above) since we did not support payments on the loan in the current period; and a $1.5 million decrease due to a change in the timing of interest payments resulting from new debt requiring interest payments semi-annually rather than monthly; offset in part by
a $11.7 million decrease in cash flow from construction contract and other services from the prior to the current period due in large part to the timing of cash payments and collections on third party construction projects.
 
Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $234.2 million when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 due primarily to cash paid for operating property acquisitions in the current period.
 
Net cash flow provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $221.3 million, and included the following:

net proceeds from debt borrowings of $294.9 million; and
net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (or units) of $28.6 million; offset in part by
dividends and/or distributions to equity holders of $91.9 million.

Net cash flow provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $21.6 million, and included the following:

net proceeds from debt borrowings of $120.2 million; offset in part by
dividends and/or distributions to equity holders of $89.2 million; and
redemptions of preferred shares (or units) of $50.0 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPT

COPLP is the entity through which COPT, the sole general partner of COPLP, conducts almost all of its operations and owns almost all of its assets. COPT issues public equity from time to time, but does not otherwise generate any capital itself or conduct any business itself, other than incurring certain expenses in operating as a public company which are fully reimbursed by COPLP. COPT itself does not hold any indebtedness, and its only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of COPLP. COPT’s principal funding requirement is the payment of dividends on its common and preferred shares. COPT’s principal source of funding for its dividend payments is distributions it receives from COPLP.

As of September 30, 2015, COPT owned 96.3% of the outstanding common units and 95.5% of the outstanding preferred units in COPLP; the remaining common and preferred units in COPLP were owned by third parties. As the sole general partner of COPLP, COPT has the full, exclusive and complete responsibility for COPLP’s day-to-day management and control.

The liquidity of COPT is dependent on COPLP’s ability to make sufficient distributions to COPT. The primary cash requirement of COPT is its payment of dividends to its shareholders. COPT also guarantees some of the Operating

49



Partnership’s debt, as discussed further in Note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. If the Operating Partnership fails to fulfill certain of its debt requirements, which trigger COPT’s guarantee obligations, then COPT will be required to fulfill its cash payment commitments under such guarantees. However, COPT’s only significant asset is its investment in COPLP.

As discussed further below, we believe the Operating Partnership’s sources of working capital, specifically its cash flow from operations, and borrowings available under its unsecured line of credit, are adequate for it to make its distribution payments to COPT and, in turn, for COPT to make its dividend payments to its shareholders.

COPT’s short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds to pay for future dividends expected to be paid to its shareholders. COPT periodically accesses the public equity markets to raise capital by issuing common and/or preferred shares.

For COPT to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must pay dividends to its shareholders aggregating annually at least 90% of its ordinary taxable income. As a result of this distribution requirement, it cannot rely on retained earnings to fund its ongoing operations to the same extent that some other companies can. COPT may need to continue to raise capital in the equity markets to fund COPLP’s working capital needs, acquisitions and developments.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPLP
 
Our primary cash requirements are for operating expenses, debt service, development of new properties, improvements to existing properties and acquisitions.  We expect to continue to use cash flow provided by operations as the primary source to meet our short-term capital needs, including property operating expenses, general and administrative expenses, interest expense, scheduled principal amortization of debt, distributions to our security holders and improvements to existing properties.  As of September 30, 2015, we had $3.8 million in cash and cash equivalents.
 
Our senior unsecured debt is currently rated investment grade by the three major rating agencies. We aim to maintain an investment grade rating to enable us to use debt comprised of unsecured, primarily fixed-rate debt (including the effect of interest rate swaps) from public markets and banks. We also use secured nonrecourse debt from institutional lenders and banks, when appropriate. In addition, we periodically access the public equity markets to raise capital by issuing common and/or preferred shares.
 
We use our Revolving Credit Facility to initially finance much of our investing activities.  We subsequently pay down the facility using proceeds from long-term borrowings, equity issuances and property sales.  The lenders’ aggregate commitment under the facility is $800.0 million, with the ability for us to increase the lenders’ aggregate commitment to $1.3 billion, provided that there is no default under the facility and subject to the approval of the lenders. Amounts available under the facility are computed based on 60% of our unencumbered asset value, as defined in the loan agreement.  The Revolving Credit Facility matures in May 2019, and may be extended by two six-month periods at our option, provided that there is no default under the facility and we pay an extension fee of 0.075% of the total availability of the facility. As of September 30, 2015, the maximum borrowing capacity under this facility totaled $800.0 million, of which $698.2 million was available.

We believe that our liquidity and capital resources are adequate for our near-term and longer-term requirements without necessitating property sales.  We do, however, expect to sell properties and use the proceeds to repay borrowings and fund development costs.


50



The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2015 (in thousands):
 
For the Periods Ending December 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Contractual obligations (1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt (2)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balloon payments due upon maturity
$
36,175

 
$
266,062

 
$
4,110

 
$

 
$
207,000

 
$
1,591,227

 
$
2,104,574

Scheduled principal payments
1,633

 
5,866

 
3,077

 
3,017

 
3,117

 
11,789

 
28,499

Interest on debt (3)
20,070

 
74,936

 
65,684

 
65,527

 
63,185

 
188,324

 
477,726

New development and redevelopment obligations (4)(5)
40,201

 
39,840

 
17,857

 

 

 

 
97,898

Third-party construction and development obligations (5)(6)
4,037

 
4,047

 

 

 

 

 
8,084

Capital expenditures for operating properties (5)(7)
11,144

 
27,261

 
3,463

 

 

 

 
41,868

Operating leases (8)
289

 
1,171

 
1,096

 
1,052

 
1,036

 
86,999

 
91,643

Other purchase obligations
579

 
1,726

 
866

 
446

 
332

 
92

 
4,041

Total contractual cash obligations
$
114,128

 
$
420,909

 
$
96,153

 
$
70,042

 
$
274,670

 
$
1,878,431

 
$
2,854,333


(1)
The contractual obligations set forth in this table exclude property operations contracts that may be terminated with notice of one month or less.
(2)
Represents scheduled principal amortization payments and maturities only and therefore excludes a net discount of $11.8 million. As of September 30, 2015, maturities include $36.2 million in 2015 that was extended to 2016 in October 2015 and $100.0 million in 2016 that may be extended to 2017 and $87.0 million in 2019 that may be extended to 2020, both subject to certain conditions.
(3)
Represents interest costs for our outstanding debt as of September 30, 2015 for the terms of such debt.  For variable rate debt, the amounts reflected above used September 30, 2015 interest rates on variable rate debt in computing interest costs for the terms of such debt.
(4)
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to new development and redevelopment activities, including land acquisitions.
(5)
Due to the long-term nature of certain construction and development contracts and leases included in these lines, the amounts reported in the table represent our estimate of the timing for the related obligations being payable.
(6)  
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to projects for which we are acting as construction manager on behalf of unrelated parties who are our clients.  We expect to be reimbursed in full for these costs by our clients.
(7)
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to recurring and nonrecurring capital expenditures for our operating properties.  We expect to finance these costs primarily using cash flow from operations.
(8) 
We expect to pay these items using cash flow from operations.
 
We expect to spend more than $60 million on construction and development costs and approximately $25 million on improvements to operating properties (including the commitments set forth in the table above) during the remainder of 2015.  We expect to fund the construction and development costs using cash on hand and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.  We expect to use proceeds from the disposition of properties held for sale to repay future borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. We expect to fund improvements to existing operating properties using cash flow from operations.

Certain of our debt instruments require that we comply with a number of restrictive financial covenants, including maximum leverage ratio, unencumbered leverage ratio, minimum net worth, minimum fixed charge coverage, minimum unencumbered interest coverage ratio, minimum debt service and maximum secured indebtedness ratio.  As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
 

51



Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
 
Inflation
 
Most of our tenants are obligated to pay their share of a building’s operating expenses to the extent such expenses exceed amounts established in their leases, which are based on historical expense levels.  Some of our tenants are obligated to pay their full share of a building’s operating expenses.  These arrangements somewhat reduce our exposure to increases in such costs resulting from inflation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, this guidance requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We are required to adopt this guidance for our annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018, using one of two methods: retrospective restatement for each reporting period presented at the time of adoption, or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this guidance recognized at the date of initial application. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of extraordinary and unusual items in statements of operations. This guidance eliminates the concept of extraordinary items. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements for items that are either unusual or in nature or infrequent in occurrence remain and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequent in occurrence. This guidance is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015. We expect that the application of this guidance will have no effect on our reported consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued guidance regarding amendments to the consolidation analysis. This guidance amends the criteria for determining which entities are considered variable interest entities (“VIE”), amends the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model. This guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2015. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance that changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. This guidance requires an entity to present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. This guidance was further updated in August 2015 with respect to debt issuance costs of line-of-credit arrangements to note that it will be permissible for an entity to defer and present debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortize the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of a line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance will be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented. We expect that the application of this guidance will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued guidance that eliminates the requirement to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments following a business combination.  The guidance requires that the cumulative impact of a measurement period adjustment (including the impact on prior periods) be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment is identified. The prior period impact of the adjustment should be either presented separately on the face of the statement of operations or disclosed in the notes. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  This guidance will be applied prospectively for measurement period adjustments that occur after the effective date.  We expect that the application of this guidance will not materially affect our consolidated financial statements.

Item 3.           Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 

52



We are exposed to certain market risks, one of the most predominant of which is a change in interest rates.  Increases in interest rates can result in increased interest expense under our Revolving Credit Facility and other variable rate debt.  Increases in interest rates can also result in increased interest expense when our fixed rate debt matures and needs to be refinanced.
 
The following table sets forth as of September 30, 2015 our debt obligations and weighted average interest rates for fixed rate debt by expected maturity date (dollars in thousands):
 
For the Periods Ending December 31,
 
 
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Debt:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed rate debt (1)
$
1,560

 
$
171,929

 
$
7,186

 
$
3,017

 
$
3,117

 
$
1,303,015

 
$
1,489,824

Weighted average interest rate
6.37
%
 
7.18
%
 
5.06
%
 
4.52
%
 
4.51
%
 
4.31
%
 
4.65
%
Variable rate debt (2)
$
36,249

 
$
100,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
207,000

 
$
300,000

 
$
643,249

Weighted average interest rate (3)
2.43
%
 
1.69
%
 
%
 
%
 
1.95
%
 
1.59
%
 
1.77
%

(1)  
Represents principal maturities only and therefore excludes net discounts of $11.8 million.
(2) 
As of September 30, 2015, maturities include $36.2 million in 2015 that was extended to 2016 in October 2015 and $100.0 million in 2016 that may be extended to 2017 and $87.0 million in 2019 that may be extended to 2020, both subject to certain conditions.
(3) 
The amounts reflected above used September 30, 2015 interest rates on variable rate debt.

The fair value of our debt was $2.2 billion as of September 30, 2015.  If interest rates had been 1% lower, the fair value of our fixed-rate debt would have increased by approximately $111 million as of September 30, 2015.
 
The following table sets forth information pertaining to interest rate swap contracts in place as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and their respective fair values (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
Notional Amount
 
Fixed Rate
 
Floating Rate Index
 
Effective Date
 
Expiration Date
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
$
36,249

(1)
3.8300%
 
One-Month LIBOR + 2.25%
 
11/2/2010
 
11/2/2015
 
$
(44
)
 
$
(400
)
100,000

 
0.8055%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/2/2014
 
9/1/2016
 
(396
)
 
(317
)
100,000

 
0.8100%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/2/2014
 
9/1/2016
 
(401
)
 
(324
)
100,000

 
1.6730%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/1/2015
 
8/1/2019
 
(2,386
)
 
239

100,000

 
1.7300%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/1/2015
 
8/1/2019
 
(2,617
)
 
35

100,000

 
0.8320%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
1/3/2012
 
9/1/2015
 

 
(407
)
100,000

 
0.8320%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
1/3/2012
 
9/1/2015
 

 
(407
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(5,844
)
 
$
(1,581
)

(1)
The notional amount of this instrument is scheduled to amortize to $36.2 million.

Based on our variable-rate debt balances, including the effect of interest rate swap contracts, our interest expense would have increased by $2.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 if the one-month LIBOR rate was 1% higher.
 
Item 4.           Controls and Procedures
 
COPT
(a)                                  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Company’s management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2015.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2015 were functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 

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(b)                                 Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
 
COPLP
(a)                                  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
The Operating Partnership’s management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2015.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2015 were functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Operating Partnership’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
(b)                                 Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
No change in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

PART II
 
Item 1.           Legal Proceedings
 
We are not currently involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation currently threatened against the Company or the Operating Partnership (other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, substantially all of which is expected to be covered by liability insurance).
 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Item 2.           Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
(a) 
During the three months ended September 30, 2015, 2,160 of COPLP’s common units were exchanged for 2,160 COPT common shares in accordance with COPLP’s Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended.  The issuance of these common shares was effected in reliance upon the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
(b)         Not applicable
 
(c)          Not applicable
 
Item 3.           Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
(a)          Not applicable
 
(b)         Not applicable
 
Item 4.           Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5.           Other Information
 
None

54




Item 6.           Exhibits
 
(a)          Exhibits:
 
EXHIBIT
NO.
 
DESCRIPTION
12.1
 
COPT’s Statement regarding Computation of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Share Dividends (filed herewith).
 
 
 
12.2
 
COPLP’s Statement regarding Computation of Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed herewith).
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
 
 
31.3
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties, L.P. required by Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
 
 
31.4
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties, L.P. required by Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).
 
 
 
32.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.) (Furnished herewith).
 
 
 
32.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). (Furnished herewith).
 
 
 
32.3
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties, L.P. required by Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.) (Furnished herewith).
 
 
 
32.4
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties, L.P. required by Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). (Furnished herewith).
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith).

55



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the undersigned Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
 
CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES, L.P.
 
 
 
By: Corporate Office Properties Trust,
 
 
 
its General Partner
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Roger A. Waesche, Jr.
 
/s/ Roger A. Waesche, Jr.
 
Roger A. Waesche, Jr.
 
Roger A. Waesche, Jr.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Anthony Mifsud
 
/s/ Anthony Mifsud
 
Anthony Mifsud
 
Anthony Mifsud
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 4, 2015
Dated:
November 4, 2015

56