Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
Corporate Profile
Cousins Properties Incorporated (the “Registrant” or “Cousins”) is a Georgia corporation, that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Cousins conducts substantially all of its business through Cousins Properties LP ("CPLP"). Cousins owns in excess of 99% of CPLP and consolidates CPLP. CPLP wholly owns Cousins TRS Services LLC ("CTRS"), a taxable entity that owns and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties. Cousins' common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZ.” Cousins, CPLP, their subsidiaries, and CTRS combined are hereafter referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company.”
Our operations are conducted principally in the office real estate segment which we measure by geographical area.
Company Strategy
Our strategy is to create value for our stockholders through ownership of the premier office portfolio in the Sun Belt markets of the United States, with a particular focus on Atlanta, Austin, Tampa, Charlotte, Phoenix, Dallas, and Nashville. This strategy is based on a disciplined approach to capital allocation that includes opportunistic acquisitions, selective developments, and timely dispositions of non-core assets, with a goal of maintaining a portfolio of newer and more efficient properties with lower capital expenditure requirements. To implement this disciplined approach, we maintain a simple, flexible, and low-leveraged balance sheet, which allows us to pursue compelling growth opportunities at the most advantageous points in the cycle. We utilize our strong local operating platforms within each of our major markets to implement this strategy.
Recent Notable Business Developments
In 2019, we completed a merger with TIER REIT, Inc. resulting in the acquisition of 5.8 million square feet of operating properties. In addition to this transaction, over the past five years, we have acquired 2.6 million square feet of operating properties for $974 million in gross purchase price, completed 2.2 million square feet of development at total project costs of $858 million, and sold 5.5 million square feet of operating properties for $1.3 billion in gross sales price. These transactions are consistent with our strategy and have created value for our stockholders through both growth and repositioning our portfolio.
2023 Activities
During 2023, we continued development of two projects, sold a land parcel, completed several financing transactions, and generated positive operating results in our property portfolio. The following is a summary of our significant 2023 activities:
Development Activity
• Continued development and commenced initial operations of Neuhoff, a mixed-use property in Nashville, TN that consists of 448,000 square feet of office space and 542 apartments. The project is being developed by a 50%-owned joint venture, and our share of the total expected project costs is $282 million.
• Continued development of Domain 9, a 338,000 square foot office property in Austin, TX. The total expected project cost of this wholly-owned property is $147 million.
Disposition Activity
• Sold a 10.4 acre land parcel in Atlanta, GA for a gross price of $4.25 million and recorded a gain of $507,000.
Financing Activity
• Entered into a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap on $200 million of our $400 million Term Loan with an original maturity of March 2025, fixing the underlying daily Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") at 4.298% through the original maturity.
• Refinanced the mortgage loan for our Medical Offices at Emory Hospital property in Atlanta, GA, which is owned in a 50-50 joint venture with Emory University. This $83.0 million interest-only mortgage loan has a fixed interest rate of 4.80% and matures in June 2032.
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Portfolio Activity
• Leased or renewed 1.7 million square feet of office space, including 882,000 square feet of new and expansion space.
• Increased second generation net rent per square foot by 5.8% on a cash-basis.
• Increased same property net operating income by 4.2% on a cash-basis.
Sustainability
Our sustainability strategy is focused on developing and maintaining resilient buildings that are operated in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, thereby encouraging office users to select us for their corporate operations, while enhancing the communities in which our buildings are located. Over the long-term, we believe properties that reflect these priorities will remain attractive to office users and investors and, as a result, we anticipate that this philosophy will continue to create value for our stockholders. We seek these outcomes through creating and maintaining a resilient portfolio of high quality office buildings by prioritizing investments and operational activities that result in an efficient and healthy portfolio, investing in the professional development and wellness of our employees, and seeking ways to support and serve our communities. Our corporate governance is guided by our commitment to conduct our business in accordance with the highest ethical principles, the oversight and direction of an experienced and diverse board of directors, and an integrated approach to risk management.
We have been an advocate and practitioner of energy conservation measures and sustainability initiatives for many years and continue to evaluate the characteristics of existing buildings to determine feasible improvements that maximize operating efficiencies, reduce the consumption of energy, water, and waste, and increase waste diversion through recycling and other efforts. Our 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report ("CR Report"), published in June 2023, included goals to reduce energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and water usage, as well as in respect of LEED and Energy Star ratings, and to attain Healthy Building Certifications.
In the development and operation of our office buildings, we look to relevant industry standards for guidelines on energy performance and other measures. In particular, we are influenced by EnergyStar, LEED, BOMA 360, and Fitwel. As part of our pragmatic approach to sustainability, we consider the guidelines and ratings when designing our new developments and improvements to existing office buildings, and we may seek to include the guidelines or ratings where we believe adoption of the guidelines or receipt of ratings will have a positive effect on our leasing efforts, asset valuation, operational excellence, and/or resource consumption. In addition, we evaluate the proximity to transit options, with a strong preference for nearby bus and rail transit. We also include climate-related physical and transition risk assessments in our review of development opportunities and our evaluation of operating buildings, including the risks of extreme temperatures, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and other impacts of climate change. When planning development projects, we take all of the foregoing into account, and we strive to design highly-sustainable buildings, generally taking advantage of LEED and/or BOMA 360 certification processes and designations.
Our Board-level Sustainability Committee was established in 2022 and advises the Board and provides oversight of management on sustainability objectives and strategy. The Committee, alongside management, monitors and evaluates the Company's progress in achieving its sustainability performance goals and commitments related to climate action and resilience. The Committee also reviews and approves the annual CR Report. This oversight is complementary to that of three other key committees - the Compensation & Human Capital Committee (oversight of human capital matters, including diversity, inclusion, retention, succession planning, and executive compensation), the Nominating & Governance Committee (oversight of our adherence to corporate governance best practices), and the Audit Committee (oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, accounting and financial reporting processes, our system of internal controls, and our risk management, including cyber risk and insurance risks).
We publish reports reflecting our corporate social responsibility practices (including sustainability), which are available on the Sustainability page of our website at www.cousins.com . Since 2016, we have participated in the annual Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark ("GRESB") assessment, which validates Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance ("ESG") performance data of property portfolios around the world and creates peer benchmarks for use by investors. In each of these GRESB assessments, we received a rating of "Green Star," with a total score each year above the GRESB overall participant average. Since 2017, we have scored at or above our peer group average in the GRESB Public Disclosure assessment, which GRESB has indicated is intended to represent an overall measure of disclosure by listed real estate companies on matters related to the environment, social, and governance practices, based on a selection of indicators aligned with the GRESB Annual Sustainability Benchmark assessment. Our 2023 scores (based on 2022 data), along with additional information on our sustainability and other corporate social responsibility initiatives, will be included under the caption "Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility" in the Proxy Statement relating to our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Except for the documents specifically incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, information
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contained in our CR Reports or on our website or that can be accessed through our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Competition
We compete against other real estate owners with similar properties located in our markets and distinguish ourselves to tenants and buyers primarily on the basis of location; rental rates and sales prices; services provided; proximity to public transit; reputation; design, condition, and resiliency of our facilities; operational efficiencies; and availability of amenities. We also compete against other real estate companies, financial institutions, pension funds, partnerships, individual investors, and others when attempting to acquire, develop, or sell properties.
Human Capital
Our executive offices are located at 3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, Georgia 30326-4802, and we maintain regional offices in each of our additional key operating markets of Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Tampa, and Dallas.
We recognize that our achievements and progress on our corporate strategy are made possible by the attraction, development, and retention of our dedicated employees. From time to time, we evaluate, modify, and enhance our internal processes and technologies to increase employee engagement, productivity, and efficiency, which we believe benefits our operations and performance. We also invest in training and development opportunities to enhance our employees’ engagement, effectiveness, and well-being.
All of our employees are responsible for upholding our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) and our Core Values, which includes the embrace of diversity in the backgrounds, cultures, interests, and experiences within our Company, and we strive to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of qualified talent that is available in the markets we serve. Our Code and Core Values are available on our website at www.cousins.com . As of December 31, 2023, we had 305 full-time employees, which includes the seven executive officers listed on page 22, with women representing 39% of our workforce and with 44% of the workforce self-identifying as a minority. In addition, as of December 31, 2023, 44% of our supervisors and 33% of our Board of Directors, including the Chair of our Audit Committee, were women; and 25% of our supervisors self-identify as a minority. We also recognize the importance of experienced leadership; as of December 31, 2023, the average tenure at Cousins for the executive team was thirteen years.
We are committed to maintaining a healthy environment for our employees that enables them to be productive members of our team. Our priorities include professional development, health and wellness, and community engagement by our employees. Some of our engagement efforts include “townhall” events for all employees, where we provide updates on recent accomplishments and key initiatives; employee engagement surveys; and sponsorship of community engagement opportunities and various health challenges.
We also strive to provide competitive pay, benefits, and services that help meet the varying needs of our employees. Our general total rewards packages include market-competitive pay, performance-conditioned annual incentive compensation, stock- and performance-based long-term incentive compensation for key employees, healthcare and retirement benefits, paid time off, paid new parent leave, and other unpaid family leave. Through a combination of Company giving and direct voluntary participation by our employees, we donate funds to support meaningful organizations in communities across our geographical footprint.
Environmental Matters
Our business operations are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations governing land, water, and wetlands resources. Among these are certain laws and regulations under which an owner or operator of real estate could become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances present on or in such property. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of such substances, or the failure to properly remediate such substances, may subject the owner to substantial liability and may adversely affect the owner’s ability to develop the property or to borrow using such real estate as collateral.
We typically manage this potential liability through performance of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and, as necessary, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, which may include environmental sampling on properties we acquire or develop. Even with these assessments and testings, no assurance can be given that environmental liabilities do not exist, that the reports revealed all environmental liabilities, or that no prior owner created or permitted any material environmental condition not known to us. Additionally, new laws may be enacted or existing laws may be amended to be more stringent, which may increase the potential liability or negatively impact the owner's ability to develop the property or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In certain situations, we have sought to avail ourselves of legal and regulatory protections offered by federal and state authorities to prospective purchasers of property. Where applicable studies have resulted in the
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determination that remediation was required by applicable law, the necessary remediation is typically incorporated into the operational or development activity of the relevant property. We are not presently aware of any environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, assets, results of operations, or ability to borrow using the real estate as collateral.
Certain environmental laws impose liability on a previous owner of a property to the extent that hazardous or toxic substances were present during the prior ownership period. A transfer of the property does not necessarily relieve an owner of such liability. Thus, although we are not aware of any such situation, we may have such liabilities on properties previously sold by us or our predecessors. We believe that we and our properties are in compliance in all material respects with applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations governing the environment. For additional information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors - "Environmental issues."
Available Information
We make available free of charge on the “Investor Relations” page of our website, www.cousins.com , our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and any amendments thereto, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Director Independence Standards, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (including our Vendor Code of Conduct), Bylaws, and the Charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee, the Nominating & Governance Committee, and the Sustainability Committee of the Board of Directors are also available on the “Investor Relations” page of our website. The information contained on our website is not incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents (without exhibits, when applicable) are also available free of charge upon request to us at 3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, Georgia 30326-4802, Attention: Investor Relations or by telephone at (404) 407-1104 or by facsimile at (404) 407-1105. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov .