Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) announced today several
transactions which continue to drive significant progress with its
strategic portfolio repositioning plan. Over the last ten days, the
Company has signed definitive agreements to acquire two trophy office
assets in targeted submarkets within Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA.
Fifth Third Center, a 698,000 square foot office tower in the Uptown
submarket of Charlotte is under contract to purchase for a gross price
of $215 million. Northpark Town Center, a 1.5 million-square-foot office
complex in the Central Perimeter submarket of Atlanta is under contract
to purchase for a gross price of $348 million. These acquisitions will
be funded with proceeds from the Company’s recently completed common
equity offering, and the anticipated sale or joint venture of certain
assets.
A detailed update of the Company’s Strategic Portfolio Repositioning, as
well as an overview on the acquisitions, can be found on Cousins’
website: www.cousinsproperties.com.
“When these transactions are complete, our property portfolio will be
located exclusively in our five targeted Sunbelt markets,” said Larry
Gellerstedt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins. “We will
have a portfolio of unsurpassed quality in our markets, supported by an
exceptionally strong balance sheet that we believe is ready for whatever
lies ahead.”
Highlights of Fifth Third Center (Charlotte):
-
Class-A office tower comprising 698,000 square feet
-
Tryon Street address, across from Bank of America Corporate Center
-
82 percent occupancy with in-place rents below market
-
High-floor vacancy available, one of few large blocks available in the
Uptown submarket
-
Acquisition anticipated to close August 8, 2014
Highlights of Northpark Town Center (Atlanta):
-
Class-A office complex comprising 1.5 million square feet
-
Centrally located in the heart of the Central Perimeter submarket
-
87 percent occupancy with in-place rents below market
-
Cousins’ leasing team has already secured an executed letter of intent
for 68,000 square feet
-
Acquisition anticipated to close October 1, 2014
About Cousins Properties
Cousins Properties Incorporated is a fully integrated, self-administered
and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company, based
in Atlanta, GA, primarily invests in Class-A office assets located in
high growth Sunbelt markets, with a focus on Georgia, Texas and North
Carolina. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a
simple platform, trophy assets and opportunistic investments.
Certain matters discussed in this press release, such as the
anticipated closing of the acquisitions, potential funding sources of
the acquisitions, including expected asset sales, as well as expected
future liquidity and leverage of the Company, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are
subject to uncertainties and risk and actual results may differ
materially from projections. Readers should carefully review the risk
factors described in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and other documents
Cousins files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Such forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and speak as of the date of such statements. Cousins
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new
information or otherwise.
Copyright Business Wire 2014