Cousins Properties Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ) has announced that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, has priced an offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2034 at 99.708% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on August 16, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

The company intends to use the net proceeds to repay revolving loans outstanding under its credit facility, with any remaining amount being used for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes, including potential repayment of other outstanding indebtedness. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Cousins Properties Incorporated.

Positive

• Successful pricing of $500 million senior unsecured notes offering
• Notes priced at 5.875% interest rate, due 2034
• Proceeds to be used for debt repayment and general corporate purposes
• Strong backing from major financial institutions as joint book-running managers

Negative

• Increase in long-term debt obligations
• Potential increase in interest expenses due to new notes issuance

Insights

Financial Analyst

Cousins Properties' $500 million senior notes offering at 5.875% is a strategic move to refinance existing debt and bolster liquidity. The 99.708% pricing suggests moderate demand, reflecting current market conditions. This 10-year maturity aligns with long-term property investment horizons, potentially reducing refinancing risk.

The planned use of proceeds to repay revolving credit facility loans indicates a shift from short-term to long-term debt, which could improve the company's debt maturity profile. However, investors should note that this doesn't reduce overall leverage, but rather reshuffles the debt structure. The additional working capital could provide flexibility for future investments or property improvements, potentially enhancing the REIT's competitive position in the office market.

Real Estate Market Analyst

This debt offering by Cousins Properties, a major office REIT, comes at a important time for the commercial real estate sector. The 5.875% coupon rate is relatively high, reflecting both the current interest rate environment and potential concerns about the office market's future. The successful placement of $500 million in notes suggests investor confidence in Cousins' portfolio and management, despite broader industry headwinds.

The move to refinance revolving credit with longer-term debt could be seen as a defensive strategy, providing more stability in an uncertain market. However, it's essential to consider how this fits into Cousins' broader strategy for navigating the evolving landscape of office demand, particularly in their key markets like Atlanta, Austin and Charlotte. Investors should monitor how this capital is deployed to adapt to changing tenant needs and potential market shifts.

ATLANTA, Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE:CUZ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2034 at 99.708% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on August 16, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay revolving loans outstanding under its credit facility, with any remaining amount being used for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of other outstanding indebtedness.

The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company.

J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, BofA Securities, TD Securities, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers.

A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, toll-free at 1-866-718-1649; or PNC Capital Markets LLC, 300 Fifth Ave, 10th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 toll-free at 1-855-881-0697 or by email pnccmprospectus@pnc.com. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.

This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Cousins Properties

Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in Atlanta, Austin, Tampa, Charlotte, Phoenix, Dallas, and Nashville, including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting REITs and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts
Roni Imbeaux
Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations
404-407-1104
rimbeaux@cousins.com

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SOURCE Cousins Properties

FAQ

What is the size and interest rate of Cousins Properties' (CUZ) new senior notes offering?

Cousins Properties (CUZ) has priced an offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2034.

When is the expected closing date for Cousins Properties' (CUZ) senior notes offering?

The senior notes offering by Cousins Properties (CUZ) is expected to close on August 16, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

How does Cousins Properties (CUZ) plan to use the proceeds from the senior notes offering?

Cousins Properties (CUZ) intends to use the net proceeds to repay revolving loans outstanding under its credit facility, with any remaining amount being used for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes, including potential repayment of other outstanding indebtedness.

Which financial institutions are acting as joint book-running managers for Cousins Properties' (CUZ) senior notes offering?

J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets , BofA Securities, TD Securities, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for Cousins Properties' (CUZ) senior notes offering.