Cousins Properties Reports Results for Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2009

February 8, 2010

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ) today reported its results of operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 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") for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $11.5 million, or $0.11 per share, before separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges discussed below, compared with FFO of $10.2 million, or $0.20 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. FFO was $50.1 million, or $0.77 per share, before such charges for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared with $61.0 million, or $1.18 per share, for the same period in 2008.

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders ("Net Income (Loss) Available") was $(3.6) million, or $(0.04) per share, before such separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with $(4.1) million, or $(0.08) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. Net Income Available was $156.4 million, or $2.39 per share, before such charges for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared with $7.6 million, or $0.15 per share, for the same period in 2008. The Company recorded $137.9 million of separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges during the second and third quarters of 2009 and $4.2 million of such charges during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Including the separation and non-cash impairment and valuation charges, FFO was $7.3 million, or $0.07 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009 and a loss of $(92.0) million, or $(1.40) per share, for the year ended December 31, 2009. Net Loss Available, after such separation and non-cash charges, was $(7.8) million, or $(0.08) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009 and Net Income Available was $14.4 million, or $0.22 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

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

                                     Quarter Ended         Year Ended

                                     December 31, 2009     December 31, 2009

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

FFO Before Certain Charges           $11,496    $0.11      $50,095     $0.77

Separation and Non-Cash Impairment
and Valuation Charges:

 Impairment on Terminus 200          -          -          (38,947  )  (0.60  )

 Impairment on 10 Terminus           -          -          (34,900  )  (0.53  )

 Impairment on Investments at Temco
 and

 CL Realty                           -          -          (30,250  )  (0.46  )

 Valuation Allowance on Deferred     -          -          (15,907  )  (0.24  )
 Tax Asset

 Write-off of Predevelopment         (4,017  )  (0.04  )   (7,117   )  (0.11  )
 Projects

 Impairment on Glenmore Garden       -          -          (6,065   )  (0.09  )
 Villas

 Impairment on Airplane              -          -          (4,012   )  (0.06  )

 Separation Charges                  (163    )  -          (3,257   )  (0.05  )

 Impairment on Note Receivable       -          -          (1,600   )  (0.03  )

  Total                              (4,180  )  (0.04  )   (142,055 )  (2.17  )

FFO                                  $7,316     $0.07      ($91,960 )  ($1.40 )

Net Income (Loss) Available Before   ($3,602 )  ($0.04 )   $156,443    $2.39
Certain Charges

Separation and Non-Cash Impairment   (4,180  )  (0.04  )   (142,055 )  (2.17  )
and Valuation Charges

Net Income (Loss) Available          ($7,782 )  ($0.08 )   $14,388     $0.22



Fourth quarter highlights of the Company included the following:

    --  Closed the sale of 35 units at 10 Terminus and 23 residential units at
        60 North Market and recognized approximately $3.4 million of income and
        FFO from these closings.
    --  Executed or renewed leases covering approximately 190,000 square feet of
        office space and 191,000 square feet of retail space.
    --  Increased the Briggs & Stratton Corporation industrial lease at King
        Mill Distribution Park by 156,000 square feet and extended the term on
        its existing 521,000-square-foot lease to March 2015.

At December 31, 2009, the Company's portfolio of operational office buildings was 87% leased, its portfolio of operational retail centers was 84% leased and its operational industrial buildings were 51% leased.

"2009 was a challenging year for most companies, and Cousins was not immune from the effects of the difficult economic conditions," said Larry Gellerstedt, CEO of Cousins. "In the midst of this environment, Cousins ended the year in a better position. Compared with a year ago, we have a stronger balance sheet and a leaner organization combined with a team that is focused on executing the fundamentals of our business - leasing, sales and generating fees. This focus explains the positive momentum we generated in sales of condominium units in the fourth quarter and our success in maintaining or increasing occupancy at our office, retail and industrial centers. In 2010, we expect to continue to strengthen our existing assets and explore the additional opportunities presented by this economy."

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 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, to discuss the results of the quarter ended December 31, 2009. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (212) 231-2921. A replay of the conference call will be available for 14 days by dialing (402) 977-9140 and entering the passcode 21455300. The replay can be accessed on the Company's website, www.cousinsproperties.com, through the "Q4 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      Years Ended

                               December 31,            December 31,

                               2009        2008        2009          2008

REVENUES:

 Rental property revenues      $ 36,553    $ 38,050    $ 149,789     $ 147,394

 Fee income                      8,080       10,566      33,806        47,662

 Multi-family residential        20,428      2,985       30,841        8,444
 unit sales

 Residential lot and             395         247         7,421         6,993
 outparcel sales

 Interest and other              79          867         3,025         4,158

                                 65,535      52,715      224,882       214,651

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

 Rental property operating       16,691      13,944      66,565        56,607
 expenses

 General and administrative      5,402       8,616       33,948        40,988
 expenses

 Separation expenses             163         825         3,257         1,186

 Reimbursed general and          3,269       4,534       15,506        16,279
 administrative expenses

 Depreciation and                13,528      15,777      55,833        52,925
 amortization

 Multi-family residential        17,072      2,615       25,629        7,330
 unit cost of sales

 Residential lot and             291         81          5,023         3,776
 outparcel cost of sales

 Interest expense                9,610       10,804      41,393        33,151

 Impairment loss                 -           2,100       40,512        2,100

 Other                           5,442       1,770       13,143        6,049

                                 71,468      61,066      300,809       220,391

GAIN (LOSS) ON EXTINGUISHMENT
OF DEBT AND INTEREST RATE        (2,766 )    -           9,732         -
SWAP

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES,
UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES    (8,699 )    (8,351 )    (66,195  )    (5,740  )
AND SALE OF INVESTMENT
PROPERTIES

BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR          3,065       4,293       (4,341   )    8,770
INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS

INCOME (LOSS) FROM
UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT
VENTURES:

 Equity in net income (loss)
 from unconsolidated joint       1,698       1,168       (17,639  )    9,721
 ventures

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

                                 1,698       1,168       (68,697  )    9,721

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS BEFORE GAIN ON        (3,936 )    (2,890 )    (139,233 )    12,751
SALE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

GAIN (LOSS) ON SALE OF           (4     )    408         168,637       10,799
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING    (3,940 )    (2,482 )    29,404        23,550
OPERATIONS

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 Income (loss) from              -           82          (4       )    (1,097  )
 discontinued operations

 Gain (loss) on sale of          (6     )    2,472       147           2,472
 investment properties

                                 (6     )    2,554       143           1,375

NET INCOME (LOSS)                (3,946 )    72          29,547        24,925

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO       (611   )    (690   )    (2,252   )    (2,378  )
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

NET INCOME (LOSS)
ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING      (4,557 )    (618   )    27,295        22,547
INTEREST

DIVIDENDS TO PREFERRED           (3,225 )    (3,520 )    (12,907  )    (14,957 )
STOCKHOLDERS

NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE    $ (7,782 )  $ (4,138 )  $ 14,388      $ 7,590
TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

PER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
- BASIC:

 Income (loss) from            $ (0.08  )  $ (0.13  )  $ 0.22        $ 0.12
 continuing operations

 Income (loss) from              -           0.05        -             0.03
 discontinued operations

 Basic net income (loss)
 available to common           $ (0.08  )  $ (0.08  )  $ 0.22        $ 0.15
 stockholders

PER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION
- DILUTED:

 Income (loss) from            $ (0.08  )  $ (0.13  )  $ 0.22        $ 0.12
 continuing operations

 Income (loss) from              -           0.05        -             0.03
 discontinued operations

 Diluted net income (loss)
 available to common           $ (0.08  )  $ (0.08  )  $ 0.22        $ 0.15
 stockholders

DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON  $ 0.09      $ 0.25      $ 0.74        $ 1.36
SHARE



COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2008

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

                               Three Months Ended      Years Ended

                               December 31,            December 31,

                               2009        2008        2009          2008

Net Income (Loss) Available    $ (7,782 )  $ (4,138 )  $ 14,388      $ 7,590
to Common Stockholders

Depreciation and
amortization:

Consolidated properties          13,528      15,777      55,833        52,925

Discontinued properties          -           -           -             486

Share of unconsolidated joint    2,276       2,010       8,800         6,495
ventures

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

Consolidated properties          (643   )    (1,004 )    (3,382   )    (3,724  )

Discontinued properties          -           -           -             (19     )

Share of unconsolidated joint    (12    )    (1     )    (46      )    (79     )
ventures

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

Consolidated                     4           (408   )    (168,637 )    (10,799 )

Discontinued properties          6           (2,472 )    (147     )    (2,472  )

Share of unconsolidated joint    -           -           (12      )    -
ventures

Gain (loss) on sale of
undepreciated investment         (61    )    388         1,243         10,611
properties

Funds From Operations
Available to Common            $ 7,316     $ 10,152    $ (91,960  )  $ 61,014
Stockholders

Per Common Share - Basic:

Net Income (Loss) Available    $ (.08   )  $ (.08   )  $ .22         $ .15

Funds From Operations          $ .07       $ .20       $ (1.40    )  $ 1.19

Weighted Average Shares-Basic    99,155      51,377      65,495        51,331

Per Common Share - Diluted:

Net Income (Loss) Available    $ (.08   )  $ (.08   )  $ .22         $ .15

Funds From Operations          $ .07       $ .20       $ (1.40    )  $ 1.18

Weighted Average                 99,155      51,377      65,495        51,728
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 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 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)

                                                        December 31,

                                                        2009         2008

ASSETS

PROPERTIES:

 Operating properties, net of accumulated depreciation
 of $233,091 and $182,050 in 2009 and 2008,             $ 1,006,760  $ 853,450
 respectively

 Projects under development                             -            172,582

 Land held for investment or future development         137,233      115,862

 Residential lots                                       62,825       59,197

 Multi-family units held for sale                       28,504       70,658

  Total properties                                      1,235,322    1,271,749

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                               9,464        82,963

RESTRICTED CASH                                         3,585        3,636

NOTES AND OTHER RECEIVABLES,net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $5,734 and $2,764 in 2009 and      49,678       51,267
2008, respectively

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES             146,150      200,850

OTHER ASSETS                                            47,353       83,330

 TOTAL ASSETS                                           $ 1,491,552  $ 1,693,795

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT

NOTES PAYABLE                                           $ 590,208    $ 942,239

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES                56,577       65,026

DEFERRED GAIN                                           4,452        171,838

DEPOSITS AND DEFERRED INCOME                            7,465        6,485

  TOTAL LIABILITIES                                     658,702      1,185,588

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS                     12,591       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 shares   74,827       74,827
  issued and outstanding in 2009 and 2008

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

 Common stock, $1 par value, 150,000,000 shares
 authorized, 103,352,382 and 54,922,173 shares issued   103,352      54,922
 in 2009 and 2008, respectively

 Additional paid-in capital                             662,216      368,829

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

 Accumulated other comprehensive loss on derivative     (9,517)      (16,601)
 instrument

 Distributions in excess of net income                  (51,402)     (23,189)

  TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT                        787,411      466,723

 Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests                 32,848       37,539

  TOTAL EQUITY                                          820,259      504,262

  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                          $ 1,491,552  $ 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