Cousins Properties Announces Pricing of Senior Notes Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Cousins Properties (NYSE:CUZ) announced the pricing of $400 million in senior unsecured notes due 2032 at a rate of 5.375%. The offering, expected to close on December 17, 2024, will primarily fund the acquisition of Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot office property in Austin. The remaining proceeds will be used to repay credit facility borrowings and for general corporate purposes. If the Sail Tower acquisition isn't completed, the entire proceeds will be directed toward general corporate purposes, including office property acquisitions, development, and debt repayment. The notes will be fully guaranteed by the Company on a senior unsecured basis.

Positive

• Secured $400 million in long-term financing through senior notes
• Strategic acquisition of 804,000 sq ft trophy office property in Austin market
• Debt refinancing opportunity through credit facility repayment

Negative

• Taking on additional long-term debt at 5.375% interest rate
• Increased debt service obligations may impact future cash flows

Insights

Fixed Income Analyst

The pricing of $400 million in senior notes at 5.375% due 2032 represents a strategic financing move by Cousins Properties. The yield is competitive in the current market environment, though the slight discount to par (pricing at 99.463%) suggests moderate market appetite. The primary purpose - funding the Sail Tower acquisition in Austin - aligns with the company's growth strategy in prime markets. The investment-grade backing from major financial institutions and full guarantee from the parent company provides strong credibility to the offering. This debt issuance demonstrates proactive capital management, securing long-term financing while maintaining financial flexibility through the alternative use clause if the acquisition falls through. The $400 million raise strengthens Cousins' liquidity position and diversifies its funding sources beyond traditional bank credit facilities.

Real Estate Analyst

The planned acquisition of Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy office property in Austin, signals Cousins Properties' strategic expansion in a key growth market. Austin's commercial real estate market remains resilient despite broader office sector challenges, particularly for premium "lifestyle" properties that cater to modern tenant preferences. The property's classification as a trophy asset suggests potential for strong tenant attraction and retention, which could generate stable long-term cash flows. This acquisition would enhance Cousins' portfolio quality and market presence in Austin, a city known for its strong tech sector and population growth. The financing structure through senior notes rather than pure bank debt provides more predictable long-term costs and demonstrates market confidence in the company's expansion strategy.

ATLANTA, Dec. 12, 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 $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on December 17, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in Austin (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt.

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

J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities 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; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: TruistSecurities.prospectus@Truist.com; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. 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 Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 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 and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; 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, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; 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 debt instruments and 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 real estate investment trusts 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 interest rate and amount of CUZ's new senior notes offering?

Cousins Properties' senior notes offering is for $400 million with a 5.375% interest rate, due in 2032.

What is the primary purpose of CUZ's December 2024 notes offering?

The primary purpose is to fund the acquisition of Sail Tower (601 West 2nd Street), an 804,000 square foot office property in Austin, Texas.

When will CUZ's new senior notes offering close?

The senior notes offering is expected to close on December 17, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

What are the alternative uses for CUZ's notes proceeds if the Sail Tower acquisition fails?

If the Sail Tower acquisition is not completed, the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including office property acquisitions, development, and debt repayment.

Who are the joint book-running managers for CUZ's notes offering?

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