Cousins Properties Reports Results for Quarter Ended September 30, 2009

November 4, 2009

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ) today reported its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. All per share amounts are reported on a diluted basis; basic per share data is included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income accompanying this release.

Funds from Operations Available to Common Stockholders ("FFO") was $7.3 million, or $0.12 per share, before certain separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges discussed below for the third quarter of 2009, compared with FFO of $20.9 million, or $0.39 per share, for the third quarter of 2008. FFO was $38.6 million, or $0.70 per share, before such charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared with $50.9 million, or $0.95 per share, for the same period in 2008.

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders ("Net Income (Loss) Available") was ($7.8) million, or ($0.13) per share, before such separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared with Net Income Available of $7.0 million, or $0.13 per share, for the third quarter of 2008. Net Income Available was $160.0 million, or $2.89 per share, before such charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared with $11.7 million, or $0.22 per share, for the same period in 2008. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded $88.3 million of separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges.

The Company recorded $48.5 million of non-cash impairment charges during the third quarter of 2009. These charges consisted of the following:

    --  Impairment charge on investment in Terminus 200, LLC - $38.9 million,
    --  Impairment charge on investment in Glenmore Garden Villas LLC - $4.9
        million,
    --  Impairment charge on airplane - $4.0 million,
    --  Company share of impairment charge on property owned by Temco
        Associates, LLC - $631,000

The impairment charges on Terminus 200, LLC and the airplane were previously disclosed in September 2009.

After such separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges, FFO was a loss of $41.9 million, or $0.70 per share, for the third quarter of 2009 and a loss of $99.3 million, or $1.79 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Net Loss Available, after such separation and non-cash charges, was $57.1 million, or $0.95 per share, for the third quarter of 2009 and Net Income Available was $22.2 million, or $0.40 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

A reconciliation of FFO and Net Income (Loss) Available before certain separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges is as follows:

                                 3rd Quarter 2009        Nine Months 2009

                                 $(000)       Per Share  $(000)        Per Share

FFO Before Certain Charges       $ 7,314      $ 0.12     $ 38,599      $ 0.70

Certain Separation and Non-Cash
Impairment and Valuation
Charges:

Terminus 200 Impairment            (38,947 )    (0.65 )    (38,947  )    (0.70 )

Glenmore Garden Villas             (4,935  )    (0.08 )    (6,065   )    (0.11 )
Impairment

Airplane impairment                (4,012  )    (0.07 )    (4,012   )    (0.07 )

Temco Impairment                   (631    )    (0.01 )    (631     )    (0.01 )

Impairment charge on 10            -            0.00       (34,900  )    (0.63 )
Terminus

Impairment charges on              -            0.00       (27,000  )    (0.49 )
Investments in Joint Ventures

Valuation allowance on deferred    -            0.00       (15,907  )    (0.29 )
tax asset

Write-off of predevelopment        -            0.00       (3,100   )    (0.06 )
expenses

Separation charges                 (724    )    (0.01 )    (3,094   )    (0.06 )

Other reserves and impairments     -            0.00       (4,219   )    (0.07 )

Total                              (49,249 )    (0.82 )    (137,875 )    (2.49 )

FFO                              $ (41,935 )  $ (0.70 )  $ (99,276  )  $ (1.79 )

Net Income (Loss) Available      $ (7,839  )  $ (0.13 )  $ 160,045     $ 2.89
Before Certain Charges

Certain Separation and Non-Cash
Impairment and Valuation           (49,249 )    (0.82 )    (137,875 )    (2.49 )
Charges

Net Income (Loss) Available      $ (57,088 )  $ (0.95 )  $ 22,170      $ 0.40



Third quarter highlights of the Company included the following:

    --  Completed an offering of 46 million shares of common stock. Net proceeds
        from the offering were $318.6 million, which were used to reduce
        indebtedness.
    --  Sold all of the completed units of The Brownstones at Habersham, a
        townhome project it acquired from a bank in the second quarter.
        Recognized gains on the sale of these units of $1.5 million.

At September 30, 2009, the Company's portfolio of operational office buildings was 87% leased, its portfolio of operational retail centers was 83% leased and its operational industrial buildings were 44% leased.

"In the third quarter, our team made significant strides in improving our balance sheet and cost structure to make us more competitive in the current environment," said Larry Gellerstedt, CEO of Cousins. "Raising over $300 million in common equity dramatically reduced our leverage thereby creating more financial flexibility for future opportunities. We also made some difficult but necessary decisions to reduce our expenses in the quarter. We expect that the combination of these actions will make us a leaner but stronger organization focused on maximizing the value of our assets for our shareholders."

The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and a schedule entitled Funds From Operations, which reconciles Net Income (Loss) Available to FFO, are attached to this press release. More detailed information on Net Income (Loss) Available and FFO results is included in the "Net Income (Loss) and Funds From Operations-Supplemental Detail" schedule which is included along with other supplemental information in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is furnishing to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and which can be viewed through the "Quarterly Disclosures" and "SEC Filings" links on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website at www.cousinsproperties.com. This information may also be obtained by calling the Company's Investor Relations Department at (404) 407-1984.

The Company will conduct a conference call at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, November 5, 2009, to discuss the results of the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (212) 231-2900. A replay of the conference call will be available for 14 days by dialing (402) 977-9140 and entering the passcode 21439816. The replay can be accessed on the Company's website, www.cousinsproperties.com, through the "Q3 2009 Cousins Properties Incorporated Earnings Conference Call" link on the Investor Relations page, as well as at www.streetevents.com and www.earnings.com. The rebroadcast will be available on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website for 14 days.

Cousins Properties Incorporated is a leading diversified real estate company with extensive experience in development, acquisition, financing, management and leasing. Based in Atlanta, the Company actively invests in office, multi-family, retail, and land development projects. Since its founding in 1958, Cousins has developed 20 million square feet of office space, 20 million square feet of retail space, more than 3,500 multi-family units and more than 60 single-family neighborhoods. The Company is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust (REIT) and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CUZ. For more, please visit www.cousinsproperties.com.

Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risk. These include, but are not limited to, general and local economic conditions (including the current general recession and state of the credit markets), local real estate conditions (including the overall condition of the residential and condominium markets), the activity of others developing competitive projects, the risks associated with development projects (such as delay, cost overruns and leasing/sales risk of new properties), the cyclical nature of the real estate industry, the financial condition of existing tenants, interest rates, the Company's ability to obtain favorable financing or zoning, environmental matters, the effects of terrorism, the ability of the Company to close properties under contract and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 14, 2009. The words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in any forward-looking statement are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and speak as of the date of such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

                              Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                              September 30,            September 30,

                              2009         2008        2009          2008

REVENUES:

 Rental property revenues     $ 38,632     $ 38,337    $ 113,236     $ 109,344

 Fee income                     9,510        21,736      25,726        37,096

 Multi-family residential       9,228        5,459       10,413        5,459
 unit sales

 Residential lot and            1,150        3,747       7,026         6,746
 outparcel sales

 Interest and other             675          991         2,946         3,291

                                59,195       70,270      159,347       161,936

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

 Rental property operating      17,402       14,641      49,874        42,663
 expenses

 General and administrative     9,180        12,975      28,546        32,382
 expenses

 Separation expenses            724          45          3,094         351

 Reimbursed general and         3,979        4,006       12,237        11,745
 administrative expenses

 Depreciation and               13,868       13,272      42,305        37,148
 amortization

 Multi-family residential       7,372        4,715       8,557         4,715
 unit cost of sales

 Residential lot and            979          1,917       4,732         3,695
 outparcel cost of sales

 Interest expense               10,793       8,705       31,783        22,347

 Impairment loss                4,012        -           40,512        -

 Other                          1,723        1,975       7,701         4,279

                                70,032       62,251      229,341       159,325

GAIN ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF       -            -           12,498        -
DEBT

INCOME (LOSS) FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE
TAXES, INCOME (LOSS) FROM       (10,837 )    8,019       (57,496  )    2,611
UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT
VENTURES AND GAIN ON SALE OF
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

(PROVISION) BENEFIT FOR         (54     )    (916   )    (7,406   )    4,477
INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS

INCOME (LOSS) FROM
UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT
VENTURES:

 Equity in net income (loss)
 from unconsolidated joint      (19,926 )    3,497       (19,337  )    8,553
 ventures

 Impairment loss on
 investment in                  (22,928 )    -           (51,058  )    -
 unconsolidated joint
 ventures

                                (42,854 )    3,497       (70,395  )    8,553

INCOME (LOSS) FROM
CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE    (53,745 )    10,600      (135,297 )    15,641
GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT
PROPERTIES

GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT
PROPERTIES, NET OF              406          1,387       168,641       10,391
APPLICABLE INCOME TAX
PROVISION

INCOME (LOSS) FROM              (53,339 )    11,987      33,344        26,032
CONTINUING OPERATIONS

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
OF APPLICABLE INCOME TAX
PROVISION:

 Income (loss) from             3            (431   )    (4       )    (1,179  )
 discontinued operations

 Gain on sale of investment     7            -           153           -
 properties

                                10           (431   )    149           (1,179  )

NET INCOME (LOSS)               (53,329 )    11,556      33,493        24,853

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO      (531    )    (766   )    (1,641   )    (1,688  )
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

NET INCOME (LOSS)
ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING     (53,860 )    10,790      31,852        23,165
INTEREST

DIVIDENDS TO PREFERRED          (3,228  )    (3,812 )    (9,682   )    (11,437 )
STOCKHOLDERS

NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE   $ (57,088 )  $ 6,978     $ 22,170      $ 11,728
TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

PER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
- BASIC:

 Income (loss) from           $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.24
 continuing operations

 Loss from discontinued         -            -           -             (0.02   )
 operations

 Basic net income (loss)
 available to common          $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.22
 stockholders

PER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
- DILUTED:

 Income (loss) from           $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.24
 continuing operations

 Loss from discontinued         -            -           -             (0.02   )
 operations

 Diluted net income (loss)
 available to common          $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.22
 stockholders

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER        $ 0.15       $ 0.37      $ 0.65        $ 1.11
COMMON SHARE



COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 AND 2008

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

                              Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended

                              September 30,            September 30,

                              2009         2008        2009          2008

Net Income (Loss) Available   $ (57,088 )  $ 6,978     $ 22,170      $ 11,728
to Common Stockholders

Depreciation and
amortization:

Consolidated properties         13,868       13,272      42,305        37,148

Discontinued properties         -            138         -             486

Share of unconsolidated         2,192        1,621       6,524         4,485
joint ventures

Depreciation of furniture,
fixtures and equipment and
amortization of specifically
identifiable intangible
assets:

Consolidated properties         (833    )    (989   )    (2,739   )    (2,720  )

Discontinued properties         -            (6     )  -               (19     )

Share of unconsolidated         (10     )    (27    )    (34      )    (78     )
joint ventures

Gain on sale of investment
properties, net of
applicable
income tax provision:

Consolidated                    (406    )    (1,387 )    (168,641 )    (10,391 )

Discontinued properties         (7      )    -           (153     )    -

Share of unconsolidated         -            -           (12      )    -
joint ventures

Gain on sale of
undepreciated investment        349          1,331       1,304         10,223
properties

Funds From Operations
Available to Common           $ (41,935 )  $ 20,931    $ (99,276  )  $ 50,862
Stockholders

Per Common Share - Basic:

Net Income (Loss) Available   $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.22

Funds From Operations         $ (0.70   )  $ 0.40      $ (1.79    )  $ 0.96

Weighted Average                59,969       52,945      55,318        52,919
Shares-Basic

Per Common Share - Diluted:

Net Income (Loss) Available   $ (0.95   )  $ 0.13      $ 0.40        $ 0.22

Funds From Operations         $ (0.70   )  $ 0.39      $ (1.79    )  $ 0.95

Weighted Average                59,969       53,365      55,318        53,532
Shares-Diluted

The table above shows Funds From Operations Available to Common Stockholders
("FFO") and the related reconciliation to Net Income (Loss) Available to Common
Stockholders ("Net Income (Loss) Available") for Cousins Properties Incorporated
and Subsidiaries. The Company calculated FFO in accordance with the National
Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' ("NAREIT") definition, which is
net income (loss) available to common stockholders (computed in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP")),
excluding extraordinary items, cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle and gains or losses from sales of depreciable property, plus
depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, and after adjustments for
unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures to reflect FFO on the same basis.

FFO is used by industry analysts and investors as a supplemental measure of an
equity REIT's operating performance. Historical cost accounting for real estate
assets implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes
predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen
or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have
considered presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use
historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves. Thus, NAREIT
created FFO as a supplemental measure of REIT operating performance that
excludes historical cost depreciation, among other items, from GAAP net income.
Management believes that the use of FFO, combined with the required primary GAAP
presentations, has been fundamentally beneficial, improving the understanding of
operating results of REITs among the investing public and making comparisons of
REIT operating results more meaningful. Company management evaluates operating
performance in part based on FFO. Additionally, the Company uses FFO and FFO per
share, along with other measures, to assess performance in connection with
evaluating and granting incentive compensation to its officers and key
employees.



COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

                                                    September 30,  December 31,

                                                    2009           2008

ASSETS

PROPERTIES:

 Operating properties, net of accumulated
 depreciation of $223,692 and $182,050 in 2009 and  $ 1,006,735    $ 853,450
 2008, respectively

 Projects under development                           -              172,582

 Land held for investment or future development       137,619        115,862

 Residential lots under development                   62,136         59,197

 Multi-family units held for sale                     43,818         70,658

  Total properties                                    1,250,308      1,271,749

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                             119,596        82,963

RESTRICTED CASH                                       4,861          3,636

NOTES AND OTHER RECEIVABLES,net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $4,012 and $2,764 in 2009 and    48,123         51,267
2008, respectively

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES           145,835        200,850

OTHER ASSETS                                          60,701         83,330

 TOTAL ASSETS                                       $ 1,629,424    $ 1,693,795

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT

NOTES PAYABLE                                       $ 700,700      $ 942,239

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES              77,328         65,026

DEFERRED GAIN                                         4,508          171,838

DEPOSITS AND DEFERRED INCOME                          7,163          6,485

  TOTAL LIABILITIES                                   789,699        1,185,588

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS                   12,583         3,945

STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT:

 Preferred stock, 20,000,000 shares authorized, $1
 par value:

  7.75% Series A cumulative redeemable preferred
  stock, $25 liquidation preference; 2,993,090        74,827         74,827
  shares issued and outstanding in 2009 and 2008

  7.50% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred
  stock, $25 liquidation preference; 3,791,000        94,775         94,775
  shares issued and outstanding in 2009 and 2008

 Common stock, $1 par value, 150,000,000 shares
 authorized, 102,539,783 and 54,922,173 shares        102,540        54,922
 issued in 2009 and 2008, respectively

 Additional paid-in capital                           656,963        368,829

 Treasury stock at cost, 3,570,082 shares in 2009     (86,840   )    (86,840   )
 and 2008

 Accumulated other comprehensive loss on              (13,233   )    (16,601   )
 derivative instrument

 Distributions in excess of net income                (34,713   )    (23,189   )

  TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT                      794,319        466,723

 Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests               32,823         37,539

  TOTAL EQUITY                                        827,142        504,262

  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                      $ 1,629,424    $ 1,693,795



 

 

    Source: Cousins Properties Incorporated
Contact: Cousins Properties Incorporated James A. Fleming Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 404-407-1150 jimfleming@cousinsproperties.com or Cameron Golden Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications 404-407-1984 camerongolden@cousinsproperties.com Web site address:www.cousinsproperties.com