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COPT DEFENSE PROPERTIES - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)



 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q 
(Mark one)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2018
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
 
to
 
           
Commission file number 1-14023 (Corporate Office Properties Trust)
Commission file number 333-189188 (Corporate Office Properties, L.P.)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
 
Maryland
 
23-2947217
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(IRS Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
 
Delaware
 
23-2930022
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(IRS Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
6711 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300, Columbia, MD
21046
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (443) 285-5400
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Corporate Office Properties Trust ý Yes   o No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. ý Yes   o No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Corporate Office Properties Trust ý Yes   o No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. ý Yes   o No





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Corporate Office Properties Trust
Large accelerated filer ý
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 

Corporate Office Properties, L.P.
Large accelerated filer ý
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
 
Smaller reporting company o
Emerging growth company o
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Corporate Office Properties Trust o
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Corporate Office Properties Trust o Yes   ý No
Corporate Office Properties, L.P. o Yes   ý No

As of April 20, 2018, 102,144,334 of Corporate Office Properties Trust’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.
 
 
 
 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018 of Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) and Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”). Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer collectively to COPT, COPLP and their subsidiaries.

COPT is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, and the sole general partner of COPLP. As of March 31, 2018, COPT owned approximately 97.0% of the outstanding common units in COPLP; the remaining common units and all of the outstanding COPLP preferred units were owned by third parties. As the sole general partner of COPLP, COPT controls COPLP and can cause it to enter into major transactions including acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings and cause changes in its line of business, capital structure and distribution policies.

There are a few differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership which are reflected in this Form 10-Q. We believe it is important to understand the differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership in the context of how the two operate as an interrelated, consolidated company. COPT is a REIT whose only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of COPLP. As a result, COPT does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of COPLP, issuing public equity and guaranteeing certain debt of COPLP. COPT itself is not directly obligated under any indebtedness but guarantees some of the debt of COPLP. COPLP owns substantially all of the assets of COPT either directly or through its subsidiaries, conducts almost all of the operations of the business and is structured as a limited partnership with no publicly traded equity. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by COPT, which are contributed to COPLP in exchange for partnership units, COPLP generates the capital required by COPT’s business through COPLP’s operations, by COPLP’s direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness or through the issuance of partnership units.

Noncontrolling interests, shareholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated financial statements of COPT and those of COPLP. The common limited partnership interests in COPLP not owned by COPT are accounted for as partners’ capital in COPLP’s consolidated financial statements and as noncontrolling




interests in COPT’s consolidated financial statements. COPLP’s consolidated financial statements also reflect COPT’s noncontrolling interests in certain real estate partnerships and limited liability companies (“LLCs”); the differences between shareholders’ equity, partners’ capital and noncontrolling interests result from the differences in the equity issued at the COPT and COPLP levels and in COPT’s noncontrolling interests in these real estate partnerships and LLCs. The only other significant differences between the consolidated financial statements of COPT and those of COPLP are assets in connection with a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan (comprised primarily of mutual funds and equity securities) and the corresponding liability to the plan’s participants that are held directly by COPT.

We believe combining the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of the Company and the Operating Partnership into this single report results in the following benefits:
combined reports better reflect how management, investors and the analyst community view the business as a single operating unit;
combined reports enhance investors’ understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling them to view the business as a whole and in the same manner as management;
combined reports are more efficient for the Company and the Operating Partnership and result in savings in time, effort and expense; and
combined reports are more efficient for investors by reducing duplicative disclosure and providing a single document for their review.

To help investors understand the significant differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report presents the following separate sections for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership:
consolidated financial statements;
the following notes to the consolidated financial statements:
Note 4, Fair Value Measurements of COPT and subsidiaries and COPLP and subsidiaries; and
Note 15, Earnings per Share of COPT and subsidiaries and Earnings per Unit of COPLP and subsidiaries;
“Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPT” and
“Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPLP.”

This report also includes separate sections under Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures and separate Exhibit 31 and Exhibit 32 certifications for each of COPT and COPLP to establish that the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of each entity have made the requisite certifications and that COPT and COPLP are compliant with Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and 18 U.S.C. §1350.





TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
PAGE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2



PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements


Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Assets
 

 
 

Properties, net:
 

 
 

Operating properties, net
$
2,740,264

 
$
2,737,611

Projects in development or held for future development
418,015

 
403,494

Total properties, net
3,158,279

 
3,141,105

Assets held for sale, net
42,226

 
42,226

Cash and cash equivalents
8,888

 
12,261

Investment in unconsolidated real estate joint venture
41,311

 
41,787

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $742 and $607, respectively)
23,982

 
31,802

Deferred rent receivable (net of allowance of $375 and $364, respectively)
87,985

 
86,710

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net
54,600

 
59,092

Deferred leasing costs (net of accumulated amortization of $29,435 and $29,560, respectively)
47,886

 
48,322

Investing receivables
58,800

 
57,493

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
72,281

 
74,407

Total assets
$
3,596,238

 
$
3,595,205

Liabilities and equity
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Debt, net
$
1,854,886

 
$
1,828,333

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
95,721

 
108,137

Rents received in advance and security deposits
26,569

 
25,648

Dividends and distributions payable
29,146

 
28,921

Deferred revenue associated with operating leases
11,246

 
11,682

Deferred property sale
43,377

 
43,377

Capital lease obligation
11,778

 
15,853

Other liabilities
17,643

 
41,822

Total liabilities
2,090,366

 
2,103,773

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interests
23,848

 
23,125

Equity:
 

 
 

Corporate Office Properties Trust’s shareholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Common Shares of beneficial interest ($0.01 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding of 102,150,358 at March 31, 2018 and 101,292,299 at December 31, 2017)
1,022

 
1,013

Additional paid-in capital
2,221,427

 
2,201,047

Cumulative distributions in excess of net income
(813,302
)
 
(802,085
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
7,204

 
2,167

Total Corporate Office Properties Trust’s shareholders’ equity
1,416,351

 
1,402,142

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries:
 

 
 

Common units in COPLP
44,327

 
45,097

Preferred units in COPLP
8,800

 
8,800

Other consolidated entities
12,546

 
12,268

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
65,673

 
66,165

Total equity
1,482,024

 
1,468,307

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
$
3,596,238

 
$
3,595,205

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenues
 

 
 

Rental revenue
$
100,834

 
$
100,615

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
27,444

 
26,152

Construction contract and other service revenues
27,198

 
13,034

Total revenues
155,476

 
139,801

Expenses
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
50,951

 
48,519

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
33,512

 
33,059

Construction contract and other service expenses
26,216

 
12,486

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,292

 
8,611

Business development expenses and land carry costs
1,614

 
1,693

Total operating expenses
119,585

 
104,368

Operating income
35,891

 
35,433

Interest expense
(18,784
)
 
(18,994
)
Interest and other income
1,359

 
1,726

Income before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes
18,466

 
18,165

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
373

 
377

Income tax expense
(55
)
 
(40
)
Income before gain on sales of real estate
18,784

 
18,502

Gain on sales of real estate
(4
)
 
4,238

Net income
18,780

 
22,740

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
 

 
 

Common units in COPLP
(544
)
 
(622
)
Preferred units in COPLP
(165
)
 
(165
)
Other consolidated entities
(921
)
 
(934
)
Net income attributable to COPT
17,150

 
21,019

Preferred share dividends

 
(3,180
)
Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
17,150

 
$
17,839

Earnings per common share:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders - basic
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders - diluted
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.275

 
$
0.275


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

Other comprehensive income
 

 
 

Unrealized gain on interest rate derivatives
4,676

 
224

Loss on interest rate derivatives recognized in interest expense
245

 
1,184

Other comprehensive income
4,921

 
1,408

Comprehensive income
23,701

 
24,148

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(1,790
)
 
(1,768
)
Comprehensive income attributable to COPT
$
21,911

 
$
22,380

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



5



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Preferred
Shares
 
Common
Shares
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Cumulative
Distributions in
Excess of Net
Income
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 (98,498,651 common shares outstanding)
$
172,500

 
$
985

 
$
2,116,581

 
$
(747,825
)
 
$
(1,731
)
 
$
72,267

 
$
1,612,777

Conversion of common units to common shares (185,000 shares)

 
2

 
2,535

 

 

 
(2,537
)
 

Common shares issued under at-the-market program (546,782 shares)

 
5

 
18,217

 

 

 

 
18,222

Share-based compensation (159,801 shares issued, net of redemptions)

 
2

 
1,580

 

 

 

 
1,582

Redemption of vested equity awards

 

 
(1,753
)
 

 

 

 
(1,753
)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP

 

 
(246
)
 

 

 
246

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 
21,019

 
1,361

 
1,201

 
23,581

Dividends

 

 

 
(30,524
)
 

 

 
(30,524
)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP

 

 

 

 

 
(1,101
)
 
(1,101
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 
(2,606
)
 
(2,606
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 
(545
)
 

 

 

 
(545
)
Balance at March 31, 2017 (99,390,234 common shares outstanding)
$
172,500

 
$
994

 
$
2,136,369

 
$
(757,330
)
 
$
(370
)
 
$
67,470

 
$
1,619,633

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017 (101,292,299 common shares outstanding)
$

 
$
1,013

 
$
2,201,047

 
$
(802,085
)
 
$
2,167

 
$
66,165

 
$
1,468,307

Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of hedge accounting guidance

 

 

 
(276
)
 
276

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017, as adjusted

 
1,013

 
2,201,047

 
(802,361
)
 
2,443

 
66,165

 
1,468,307

Conversion of common units to common shares (53,817 shares)

 
1

 
760

 

 

 
(761
)
 

Common shares issued under forward equity sale agreements (677,000 shares)

 
7

 
19,969

 

 

 

 
19,976

Share-based compensation (127,242 shares issued, net of redemptions)

 
1

 
1,679

 

 

 

 
1,680

Redemption of vested equity awards

 

 
(1,327
)
 

 

 

 
(1,327
)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP

 

 
(164
)
 

 

 
164

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 
17,150

 
4,761

 
1,152

 
23,063

Dividends

 

 

 
(28,091
)
 

 

 
(28,091
)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP

 

 

 

 

 
(1,044
)
 
(1,044
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities

 

 

 

 

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 
(537
)
 

 

 

 
(537
)
Balance at March 31, 2018 (102,150,358 common shares outstanding)
$

 
$
1,022

 
$
2,221,427

 
$
(813,302
)
 
$
7,204

 
$
65,673

 
$
1,482,024


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited) 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations received
$
135,027

 
$
132,985

Construction contract and other service revenues received
9,268

 
23,527

Property operating expenses paid
(43,212
)
 
(40,837
)
Construction contract and other service expenses paid
(41,128
)
 
(14,790
)
General, administrative, leasing, business development and land carry costs paid
(10,900
)
 
(14,275
)
Interest expense paid
(19,092
)
 
(19,549
)
Lease incentives paid
(4,204
)
 
(7,729
)
Other
436

 
750

Net cash provided by operating activities
26,195

 
60,082

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Construction, development and redevelopment
(17,540
)
 
(35,795
)
Tenant improvements on operating properties
(9,077
)
 
(6,916
)
Other capital improvements on operating properties
(5,198
)
 
(5,203
)
Proceeds from dispositions of properties

 
52,596

Leasing costs paid
(2,015
)
 
(2,042
)
Other
(974
)
 
(630
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(34,804
)
 
2,010

Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
82,000

 

Repayments of debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
(55,000
)
 

Scheduled principal amortization
(1,052
)
 
(1,008
)
Payments on capital lease obligation
(4,202
)
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common shares
19,989

 
18,237

Redemption of preferred shares

 
(26,583
)
Common share dividends paid
(27,855
)
 
(27,100
)
Preferred share dividends paid

 
(3,581
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in COPLP
(1,059
)
 
(1,156
)
Redemption of vested equity awards
(1,327
)
 
(1,753
)
Other
(5,183
)
 
(3,009
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
6,311

 
(45,953
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
(2,298
)
 
16,139

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
 

 
 

Beginning of period
14,831

 
212,619

End of period
$
12,533

 
$
228,758


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 


7



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
34,035

 
33,570

Amortization of deferred financing costs and net debt discounts
822

 
1,348

Increase in deferred rent receivable
(1,512
)
 
(191
)
Gain on sales of real estate
4

 
(4,238
)
Share-based compensation
1,545

 
1,488

Other
(907
)
 
(1,447
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 

 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
7,877

 
5,007

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, net
8,533

 
15,479

Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(43,903
)
 
(12,269
)
Increase (decrease) in rents received in advance and security deposits
921

 
(1,405
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
26,195

 
$
60,082

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
$
12,261

 
$
209,863

Restricted cash at beginning of period
2,570

 
2,756

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
$
14,831

 
$
212,619

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
8,888

 
$
226,470

Restricted cash at end of period
3,645

 
2,288

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
12,533

 
$
228,758

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Increase (decrease) in accrued capital improvements, leasing and other investing activity costs
$
12,232

 
$
(6,661
)
Increase in fair value of derivatives applied to accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests
$
4,887

 
$
1,408

Dividends/distributions payable
$
29,146

 
$
31,131

Decrease in noncontrolling interests and increase in shareholders’ equity in connection with the conversion of common units into common shares
$
761

 
$
2,537

Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in COPLP ownership
$
164

 
$
246

Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests and decrease in equity to carry redeemable noncontrolling interests at fair value
$
537

 
$
545

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


8





Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Assets
 

 
 

Properties, net:
 

 
 

Operating properties, net
$
2,740,264

 
$
2,737,611

Projects in development or held for future development
418,015

 
403,494

Total properties, net
3,158,279

 
3,141,105

Assets held for sale, net
42,226

 
42,226

Cash and cash equivalents
8,888

 
12,261

Investment in unconsolidated real estate joint venture
41,311

 
41,787

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $742 and $607, respectively)
23,982

 
31,802

Deferred rent receivable (net of allowance of $375 and $364, respectively)
87,985

 
86,710

Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net
54,600

 
59,092

Deferred leasing costs (net of accumulated amortization of $29,435 and $29,560, respectively)
47,886

 
48,322

Investing receivables
58,800

 
57,493

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
67,800

 
69,791

Total assets
$
3,591,757

 
$
3,590,589

Liabilities and equity
 

 
 

Liabilities:
 

 
 

Debt, net
$
1,854,886

 
$
1,828,333

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
95,721

 
108,137

Rents received in advance and security deposits
26,569

 
25,648

Distributions payable
29,146

 
28,921

Deferred revenue associated with operating leases
11,246

 
11,682

Deferred property sale
43,377

 
43,377

Capital lease obligation
11,778


15,853

Other liabilities
13,162

 
37,206

Total liabilities
2,085,885

 
2,099,157

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)


 


Redeemable noncontrolling interests
23,848

 
23,125

Equity:
 

 
 

Corporate Office Properties, L.P.’s equity:
 

 
 

Preferred units held by limited partner, 352,000 preferred units outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017
8,800

 
8,800

Common units, 102,150,358 and 101,292,299 held by the general partner and 3,197,061 and 3,250,878 held by limited partners at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
1,453,262

 
1,445,022

Accumulated other comprehensive income
7,370

 
2,173

Total Corporate Office Properties, L.P.’s equity
1,469,432

 
1,455,995

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
12,592

 
12,312

Total equity
1,482,024

 
1,468,307

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
$
3,591,757

 
$
3,590,589


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


9



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenues
 

 
 

Rental revenue
$
100,834

 
$
100,615

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
27,444

 
26,152

Construction contract and other service revenues
27,198

 
13,034

Total revenues
155,476

 
139,801

Expenses
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
50,951

 
48,519

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
33,512

 
33,059

Construction contract and other service expenses
26,216

 
12,486

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,292

 
8,611

Business development expenses and land carry costs
1,614

 
1,693

Total operating expenses
119,585

 
104,368

Operating income
35,891

 
35,433

Interest expense
(18,784
)
 
(18,994
)
Interest and other income
1,359

 
1,726

Income before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes
18,466

 
18,165

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
373

 
377

Income tax expense
(55
)
 
(40
)
Income before gain on sales of real estate
18,784

 
18,502

Gain on sales of real estate
(4
)
 
4,238

Net income
18,780

 
22,740

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities
(921
)
 
(934
)
Net income attributable to COPLP
17,859

 
21,806

Preferred unit distributions
(165
)
 
(3,345
)
Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
17,694

 
$
18,461

Earnings per common unit:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders - basic
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders - diluted
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Distributions declared per common unit
$
0.275

 
$
0.275


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

10



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited) 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

Other comprehensive income
 

 
 

Unrealized gain on interest rate derivatives
4,676

 
224

Loss on interest rate derivatives recognized in interest expense
245

 
1,184

Other comprehensive income
4,921

 
1,408

Comprehensive income
23,701

 
24,148

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(921
)
 
(934
)
Comprehensive income attributable to COPLP
$
22,780

 
$
23,214

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



11



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Limited Partner Preferred Units
 
General Partner
 Preferred Units
 
Common Units
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
 
 
 
Units
 
Amount
 
Units
 
Amount
 
Units
 
Amount
 
 
 
Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
6,900,000

 
$
172,500

 
102,089,042

 
$
1,419,710

 
$
(1,854
)
 
$
13,621

 
$
1,612,777

Issuance of common units resulting from common shares issued under COPT at-the-market program

 

 

 

 
546,782

 
18,222

 

 

 
18,222

Share-based compensation (units net of redemption)

 

 

 

 
159,801

 
1,582

 

 

 
1,582

Redemptions of vested equity awards

 

 

 

 

 
(1,753
)
 

 

 
(1,753
)
Comprehensive income

 
165

 

 
3,180

 

 
18,461

 
1,408

 
367

 
23,581

Distributions to owners of common and preferred units

 
(165
)
 

 
(3,180
)
 

 
(28,280
)
 

 

 
(31,625
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(2,606
)
 
(2,606
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 
(545
)
 

 

 
(545
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
352,000

 
$
8,800

 
6,900,000

 
$
172,500

 
102,795,625

 
$
1,427,397

 
$
(446
)
 
$
11,382

 
$
1,619,633

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
352,000

 
$
8,800

 

 
$

 
104,543,177

 
$
1,445,022

 
$
2,173

 
$
12,312

 
$
1,468,307

Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of hedge accounting guidance

 

 

 

 

 
(276
)
 
276

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017, as adjusted
352,000

 
8,800

 

 

 
104,543,177

 
1,444,746

 
2,449

 
12,312

 
1,468,307

Issuance of common units resulting from common shares issued under COPT forward equity sale agreements

 

 

 

 
677,000

 
19,976

 

 

 
19,976

Share-based compensation (units net of redemption)

 

 

 

 
127,242

 
1,680

 

 

 
1,680

Redemptions of vested equity awards

 

 

 

 

 
(1,327
)
 

 

 
(1,327
)
Comprehensive income

 
165

 

 

 

 
17,694

 
4,921

 
283

 
23,063

Distributions to owners of common and preferred units

 
(165
)
 

 

 

 
(28,970
)
 

 

 
(29,135
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(3
)
 
(3
)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 
(537
)
 

 

 
(537
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
352,000

 
$
8,800

 

 
$

 
105,347,419

 
$
1,453,262

 
$
7,370

 
$
12,592

 
$
1,482,024


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

12



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations received
$
135,027

 
$
132,985

Construction contract and other service revenues received
9,268

 
23,527

Property operating expenses paid
(43,212
)
 
(40,837
)
Construction contract and other service expenses paid
(41,128
)
 
(14,790
)
General, administrative, leasing, business development and land carry costs paid
(10,900
)
 
(14,275
)
Interest expense paid
(19,092
)
 
(19,549
)
Lease incentives paid
(4,204
)
 
(7,729
)
Other
436

 
750

Net cash provided by operating activities
26,195

 
60,082

Cash flows from investing activities
 

 
 

Construction, development and redevelopment
(17,540
)
 
(35,795
)
Tenant improvements on operating properties
(9,077
)
 
(6,916
)
Other capital improvements on operating properties
(5,198
)
 
(5,203
)
Proceeds from dispositions of properties

 
52,596

Leasing costs paid
(2,015
)
 
(2,042
)
Other
(974
)
 
(630
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(34,804
)
 
2,010

Cash flows from financing activities
 

 
 

Proceeds from debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
82,000

 

Repayments of debt
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
(55,000
)
 

Scheduled principal amortization
(1,052
)
 
(1,008
)
Payments on capital lease obligation
(4,202
)
 

Net proceeds from issuance of common units
19,989

 
18,237

Redemption of preferred units

 
(26,583
)
Common unit distributions paid
(28,749
)
 
(28,091
)
Preferred unit distributions paid
(165
)
 
(3,746
)
Redemption of vested equity awards
(1,327
)
 
(1,753
)
Other
(5,183
)
 
(3,009
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
6,311

 
(45,953
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
(2,298
)
 
16,139

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
 

 
 

Beginning of period
14,831

 
212,619

End of period
$
12,533

 
$
228,758


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

13



Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
34,035

 
33,570

Amortization of deferred financing costs and net debt discounts
822

 
1,348

Increase in deferred rent receivable
(1,512
)
 
(191
)
Gain on sales of real estate
4

 
(4,238
)
Share-based compensation
1,545

 
1,488

Other
(907
)
 
(1,447
)
Operating changes in assets and liabilities:
 

 
 
Decrease in accounts receivable
7,877

 
5,007

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, net
8,398

 
14,193

Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(43,768
)
 
(10,983
)
Increase (decrease) in rents received in advance and security deposits
921

 
(1,405
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
26,195

 
$
60,082

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
$
12,261

 
$
209,863

Restricted cash at beginning of period
2,570

 
2,756

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
$
14,831

 
$
212,619

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
8,888

 
$
226,470

Restricted cash at end of period
3,645

 
2,288

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
12,533

 
$
228,758

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 

 
 

Increase (decrease) in accrued capital improvements, leasing and other investing activity costs
$
12,232

 
$
(6,661
)
Increase in fair value of derivatives applied to accumulated other comprehensive income and noncontrolling interests
$
4,887

 
$
1,408

Distributions payable
$
29,146

 
$
31,131

Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests and decrease in equity to carry redeemable noncontrolling interests at fair value
$
537

 
$
545

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



14



Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries and Corporate Office Properties, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
 
1.    Organization
 
Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a fully-integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”) is the entity through which COPT, the sole general partner of COPLP, conducts almost all of its operations and owns almost all of its assets. Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, “we”, “us” and “our” as used herein refer to each of the Company and the Operating Partnership. We own, manage, lease, develop and selectively acquire office and data center properties. The majority of our portfolio is in locations that support the United States Government and its contractors, most of whom are engaged in national security, defense and information technology (“IT”) related activities servicing what we believe are growing, durable, priority missions (“Defense/IT Locations”). We also own a portfolio of office properties located in select urban/urban-like submarkets in the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region
with durable Class-A office fundamentals and characteristics (“Regional Office”). As of March 31, 2018, our properties included the following:

159 properties totaling 17.6 million square feet comprised of 144 office properties and 15 single-tenant data center shell properties (“data center shells”). We owned six of these data center shells through an unconsolidated real estate joint venture;
a wholesale data center with a critical load of 19.25 megawatts;
seven properties under construction or redevelopment (four office properties and three data center shells) that we estimate will total approximately 619,000 square feet upon completion, including one partially-operational property; and
approximately 1,000 acres of land controlled for future development that we believe could be developed into approximately 13.0 million square feet and 150 acres of other land.
 
COPLP owns real estate directly and through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies (“LLCs”).  In addition to owning real estate, COPLP also owns subsidiaries that provide real estate services such as property management and construction and development services primarily for our properties but also for third parties. Some of these services are performed by a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”).

Equity interests in COPLP are in the form of common and preferred units. As of March 31, 2018, COPT owned 97.0% of the outstanding COPLP common units (“common units”); the remaining common units and all of the outstanding COPLP preferred units (“preferred units”) were owned by third parties. Common units not owned by COPT carry certain redemption rights. The number of common units owned by COPT is equivalent to the number of outstanding common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”) of COPT, and the entitlement of all common units to quarterly distributions and payments in liquidation is substantially the same as those of COPT common shareholders. Similarly, in the case of any series of preferred units held by COPT, there is a series of preferred shares of beneficial interest (“preferred shares”) in COPT that is equivalent in number and carries substantially the same terms as such series of COPLP preferred units. COPT’s common shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “OFC”.

Because COPLP is managed by COPT, and COPT conducts substantially all of its operations through COPLP, we refer to COPT’s executive officers as COPLP’s executive officers; similarly, although COPLP does not have a board of trustees, we refer to COPT’s Board of Trustees as COPLP’s Board of Trustees.
  
2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The COPT consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPT, the Operating Partnership, their subsidiaries and other entities in which COPT has a majority voting interest and control.  The COPLP consolidated financial statements include the accounts of COPLP, its subsidiaries and other entities in which COPLP has a majority voting interest and control.  We also consolidate certain entities when control of such entities can be achieved through means other than voting rights (“variable interest entities” or “VIEs”) if we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary of such entities.  We eliminate all intercompany balances and transactions in consolidation.

15




 We use the equity method of accounting when we own an interest in an entity and can exert significant influence over but cannot control the entity’s operations. We discontinue equity method accounting if our investment in an entity (and net advances) is reduced to zero unless we have guaranteed obligations of the entity or are otherwise committed to provide further financial support for the entity.
 
We use the cost method of accounting when we own an interest in an entity and cannot exert significant influence over its operations.

These interim financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, in the opinion of management, to fairly state our financial position and results of operations.  All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accounting policies described in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K as updated for our adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

Reclassification

We reclassified certain amounts from prior periods to conform to the current period presentation of our consolidated financial statements with no effect on previously reported net income or equity, including restricted cash and marketable securities that were reclassified to the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheets after having been reported on a separate line in our previous Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) effective January 1, 2018 regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers (“Topic 606”). Under this guidance, an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This guidance also requires improved disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. We determined that Topic 606 is applicable to our construction contract and other service revenues, which includes predominantly construction and design projects performed primarily for tenants of our properties. We used the modified retrospective method for contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Under this method, the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance is recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the date of initial application. Our adoption of Topic 606 effective January 1, 2018 did not affect our consolidated financial statements other than additional disclosure provided in accordance with the guidance. We did not elect to use any of the practical expedients provided for under the guidance. As discussed further below, once the new guidance setting forth principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases goes into effect on January 1, 2019, Topic 606 may apply to executory costs and other components of revenue due under leases that are deemed to be non-lease components (such as common area maintenance and provision of utilities).

We adopted guidance issued by the FASB effective January 1, 2018 that requires entities to measure equity investments at fair value through net income, except for those that result in consolidation or are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, the guidance permits the application of a measurement alternative using the cost of the investment, less any impairments, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. Our adoption of this guidance had no effect on our consolidated financial statements.
 
We adopted guidance issued by the FASB retrospectively effective January 1, 2018 that clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice related to eight specific cash flow issues. The areas addressed in the new guidance relate to debt prepayment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned and bank-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investments, beneficial interest in securitization transactions and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. Our adoption of this guidance had no effect on our consolidated financial statements.


16



We adopted guidance issued by the FASB retrospectively effective January 1, 2018 that requires the statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.  Under the new guidance, amounts described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.  As a result of our adoption of this guidance, the change in restricted cash is no longer reported as either operating or investing activities on our statements of cash flows. Our restricted cash primarily consists of cash escrowed under mortgage debt for capital improvements and real estate taxes and certain tenant security deposits. Our adoption of this guidance had the following effects on our consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
60,637

 
$
(555
)
 
$
60,082

Net cash provided by investing activities
 
$
1,923

 
$
87

 
$
2,010

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
$
16,607

 
$
(468
)
 
$
16,139

Beginning of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
$
209,863

 
$
2,756

 
$
212,619

End of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
$
226,470

 
$
2,288

 
$
228,758


We adopted guidance issued by the FASB that clarifies the scope of provisions and accounting for nonfinancial asset derecognition, including partial sales of real estate assets, effective January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective method. The new guidance requires recognition of a sale of real estate and resulting gain or loss when control transfers and the buyer has the ability to direct use of, or obtain substantially all of the remaining benefit from, the asset (which generally will occur on the closing date); the factor of continuing involvement is no longer a specific consideration for the timing of recognition. The new guidance eliminates the need to consider adequacy of buyer investment, which was replaced by additional judgments regarding collectability and intent and/or ability to pay. The new guidance also requires an entity to derecognize nonfinancial assets and in-substance nonfinancial assets once it transfers control of such assets. When an entity transfers its controlling interest in a nonfinancial asset but retains a noncontrolling ownership interest, the entity is required to measure any non-controlling interest it receives or retains at fair value and recognize a full gain or loss on the transaction; as a result, sales and partial sales of real estate assets are now subject to the same derecognition model as all other nonfinancial assets. We had a transaction in July 2016 accounted for as a partial sale under the previous guidance that meets the criteria for immediate full gain recognition under the new guidance; as a result, we retrospectively recognized an additional $18 million in income in 2016 that was being amortized into income in subsequent periods under the previous guidance. The recognition pattern for our other sales of real estate were not changed by this new guidance. The full retrospective method requires adjustment of each reporting period presented at the time of adoption.






17



The tables below set forth the impact of the adoption of this guidance for amounts previously reported on the consolidated financial statements of COPT and subsidiaries (in thousands):
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
Investment in unconsolidated real estate joint venture
 
$
25,066

 
$
16,721

 
$
41,787

 
$
25,417

 
$
17,765

 
$
43,182

 
$
25,548

 
$
18,113

 
$
43,661

Cumulative distributions in excess of net income
 
$
(818,190
)
 
$
16,105

 
$
(802,085
)
 
$
(774,445
)
 
$
17,115

 
$
(757,330
)
 
$
(765,276
)
 
$
17,451

 
$
(747,825
)
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
 
$
65,549

 
$
616

 
$
66,165

 
$
66,820

 
$
650

 
$
67,470

 
$
71,605

 
$
662

 
$
72,267

 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
 
$
725

 
$
(348
)
 
$
377

Income before gain on sales of real estate
 
$
18,850

 
$
(348
)
 
$
18,502

Net income
 
$
23,088

 
$
(348
)
 
$
22,740

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - Common units in COPLP
 
$
(634
)
 
$
12

 
$
(622
)
Net income attributable to COPT
 
$
21,355

 
$
(336
)
 
$
21,019

Net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
 
$
18,175

 
$
(336
)
 
$
17,839

Comprehensive income
 
$
24,496

 
$
(348
)
 
$
24,148

Comprehensive income attributable to COPT
 
$
22,716

 
$
(336
)
 
$
22,380

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The tables below set forth the impact of the adoption of this guidance for amounts previously reported on the consolidated financial statements of COPLP and subsidiaries (in thousands):
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
Investment in unconsolid. real estate joint venture
 
$
25,066

 
$
16,721

 
$
41,787

 
$
25,417

 
$
17,765

 
$
43,182

 
$
25,548

 
$
18,113

 
$
43,661

Common units
 
$
1,428,301

 
$
16,721

 
$
1,445,022

 
$
1,409,632

 
$
17,765

 
$
1,427,397

 
$
1,401,597

 
$
18,113

 
$
1,419,710

 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
 
As Previously Reported
 
Impact of Adoption
 
As
Adjusted
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
 
$
725

 
$
(348
)
 
$
377

Income before gain on sales of real estate
 
$
18,850

 
$
(348
)
 
$
18,502

Net income
 
$
23,088

 
$
(348
)
 
$
22,740

Net income attributable to COPLP
 
$
22,154

 
$
(348
)
 
$
21,806

Net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
 
$
18,809

 
$
(348
)
 
$
18,461

Comprehensive income
 
$
24,496

 
$
(348
)
 
$
24,148

Comprehensive income attributable to COPLP
 
$
23,562

 
$
(348
)
 
$
23,214

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adoption of this guidance had no impact to cash provided by or used in operating, financing or investing activities on our consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

18



We early adopted guidance issued by the FASB effective January 1, 2018 that makes targeted improvements to hedge accounting. This new guidance simplifies the application of hedge accounting and better aligns financial reporting for hedging activities with companies’ economic objectives in undertaking those activities. Under the new guidance, all changes in the fair value of highly effective cash flow hedges will be recorded in other comprehensive income instead of income. The new guidance also eases the administrative burden of hedge documentation requirements and assessing hedge effectiveness. We adopted this guidance using the modified retrospective transition method under which we eliminated $276,000 in previously-recorded cumulative hedge ineffectiveness as of January 1, 2018 by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to our beginning balance of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), with a corresponding adjustment to the beginning balance of: cumulative distributions in excess of net income for COPT and subsidiaries; and common units for COPLP and subsidiaries.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that sets forth principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases.  This guidance requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. The resulting classification determines whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The guidance requires lessors of real estate to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales-type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases.  This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach at the time of adoption. Early adoption is also permitted for this guidance. In addition, the guidance permits lessees and lessors to elect to apply a package of practical expedients that allow them not to reassess upon adoption: the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; their deferred recognition of incremental direct costs of leasing for any expired or existing leases; and whether any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases. While we are still completing our assessment of the impact of this guidance, below is a summary of the anticipated primary effects of this guidance on our accounting and reporting.

Real estate leases in which we are the lessor:
Balance sheet reporting: We believe that we will apply an approach under the new guidance that is similar to the current accounting for operating leases, in which we will continue to recognize the underlying leased asset as property on our balance sheet.
Deferral of non-incremental lease costs: Under the new lease guidance, we will no longer be able to defer the recognition of non-incremental costs in connection with new or extended tenant leases (refer to amounts reported in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for amounts deferred in 2017, 2016 and 2015). Upon adoption of the new guidance, we would expense previously deferred non-incremental lease costs for existing leases unless we elect the package of practical expedients, in which case such costs would remain deferred and amortized over the remaining lease terms.
Lease revenue reporting: Under the issued and approved guidance, we believed that the new revenue standard would apply to executory costs and other components of revenue deemed to be non-lease components (such as common area maintenance and provision of utilities), in which case we would need: to separate the lease components of revenue due under leases from the non-lease components; and recognize revenue on the non-lease components as the related services are delivered, which could result in a change to our revenue recognition pattern. However, in March 2018, the FASB tentatively approved a practical expedient to provide lessors with an option to not separate lease components of revenue from non-lease components if: the timing and pattern of transfer of these components is the same as the related lease; and the lease would continue to be classified as an operating lease;
Leases in which we are the lessee:
Our most significant leases as lessee are ground leases; as of March 31, 2018, our future minimum rental payments under these leases totaled $89.7 million, with various expiration dates extending to the year 2100. While we are still in the process of evaluating these leases under the new guidance, we believe that we will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for the present value of these minimum lease payments. We also believe that these types of leases most likely would be classified as finance leases under the new guidance, which would result in the interest component of each lease payment being recorded as interest expense and the right-of-use asset being amortized into expense using the straight-line method over the life of the lease; however, we expect to elect to apply the package of practical expedients under which we would continue to account for our existing ground leases as operating leases upon adoption of the guidance.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes how entities measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. The guidance replaces the current incurred loss model with an expected loss approach, resulting in a more timely recognition of such losses. The guidance will apply to most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, loans,

19



held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases, and off-balance-sheet credit exposures (e.g. loan commitments). Under the new guidance, an entity will recognize its estimate of expected credit losses as an allowance, as the guidance requires that financial assets be measured on an amortized cost basis and to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The guidance is effective for us beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted after December 2018. We are currently assessing the financial impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

3.     Revenue Recognition on Construction Contract and Other Service Revenues

We enter into construction contracts to complete various design and construction services primarily for our United States Government tenants. The revenues and expenses from these services consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to us by our customers along with a fee. These services are an ancillary component of our overall operations, with small operating margins relative to the revenue. We review each contract to determine the performance obligations and allocate the transaction price. We recognize revenue under these contracts as services are performed in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. Our performance obligations are satisfied over time as work progresses. Revenue recognition is determined using the input method based on costs incurred as of point in time relative to the total estimated costs at completion to measure progress toward satisfying our performance obligations. We believe incurred costs of work performed best depicts the transfer of control of the services being transferred to the customer.

In determining whether the performance obligations of each construction contract should be accounted for separately versus together, we consider numerous factors that may require significant judgment, including: whether the components contracted are substantially the same with the same pattern of transfer; whether the customer could contract with another party to perform construction based on our design project; and whether the customer can elect not to move forward after the design phase of the contract. Most of our contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the services is not separately identifiable from other obligations in the contracts and, therefore, are not distinct. Some contracts have multiple performance obligations, most commonly due to having distinct project phases for design and construction for which our customer is making decisions and managing separately. In these cases, we allocate the transaction price between these performance obligations based on the amounts separately set forth in the contracts for such obligations. Contract modifications, such as change orders, are routine for our construction contracts and are generally determined to be additions to the existing performance obligations because they would have been part of the initial performance obligations if they were identified at the initial contract date.

We have three main types of compensation arrangements for our construction contracts: guaranteed maximum price (“GMP”); firm fixed price (“FFP”); and cost-plus fee.

GMP contracts provide for revenue equal to costs incurred plus a fee equal to a percentage of such costs, up to a maximum contract amount. We generally enter into GMP contracts for projects that are significant in nature based on the size of the project and total fees, and for which the full scope of the project has not been determined as of the contract date. GMP contracts are lower risk to us than FFP contracts since the costs and revenue move proportionately to one another;
FFP contracts provide for revenue equal to a fixed fee. These contracts are typically lower in value and scope relative to GMP contracts, and are generally entered into when the scope of the project is well defined. Typically, we assume more risk with FFP contracts than GMP contracts since the revenue is fixed and we could realize losses or less than expected profits if we incur more costs than originally estimated. However, these types of contracts offer the opportunity for additional profits when we complete the work for less than originally estimated. Determining the estimated total costs for contracts under an FFP compensation arrangement may require significant judgment and has a direct effect on our revenue recognition pattern;
Cost-plus fee contracts provide for revenue equal to costs incurred plus a fee equal to a percentage of such costs but, unlike GMP contracts, do not have a maximum contract amount. We do not frequently enter into cost-plus fee contracts. Similar to GMP contracts, cost-plus fee contracts are low risk to us since the costs and revenue move proportionately to one another.

Construction contract cost estimates are based on various assumptions, such as performance of subcontractors and cost and availability of materials, to project the outcome of future events over the course of the project. We review and update these estimates regularly as a significant change could affect the profitability of our construction contracts. We recognize adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method as the modification does not create a new performance obligation. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date on a contract is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods are recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, we recognize the total loss in the quarter it is identified.


20



We disaggregate our construction contract and other service revenues by compensation arrangement and by service type as we believe it best depicts the nature, timing and uncertainty of our revenue. The table below reports construction contract and other service revenues by compensation arrangement (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Construction contract revenues:
 
 
 
GMP
$
20,486

 
$
6,589

FFP
6,435

 
6,198

Cost-plus fee
58

 
17

Other
219

 
230

 
$
27,198

 
$
13,034


The table below reports construction contract and other service revenues by service type (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Construction contract revenues:
 
 
 
Construction
$
25,915

 
$
10,091

Design
1,064

 
2,713

Other
219

 
230

 
$
27,198

 
$
13,034


We recognized revenue from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in previous periods of $309,000 and $146,000 in three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Our timing of revenue recognition for construction contracts generally differs from the timing of invoicing to customers. We recognize such revenue as we satisfy our performance obligations. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type. Under most of our contracts, we bill customers monthly, as work progresses, in accordance with the contract terms, with payment due in 30 days, although customers occasionally pay in advance of services being provided. We have determined that our contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of the timing of our invoicing is for convenience, not to receive financing from our customers or to provide customers with financing. Additionally, the timing of transfer of the services is often at the discretion of the customer. We recognized no impairment losses on construction contracts receivable or unbilled construction revenue in the periods set forth herein.

Accounts receivable related to our construction contract services is included in accounts receivable, net on our consolidated balance sheets. The beginning and ending balances of accounts receivable related to our construction contracts were as follows (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning balance
$
4,577

 
$
4,131

Ending balance
$
4,021

 
$
7,376


Under most of our contracts, we bill customers one month subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in contract assets representing unbilled construction revenue. Contract assets, which we refer to herein as construction costs in excess of billings, are included in prepaid expenses and other assets, net reported on our consolidated balance sheets. The beginning and ending balances of our contract assets were as follows (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning balance
$
4,884

 
$
10,350

Ending balance
$
4,250

 
$
4,451


Our contract liabilities consist of advance payments from our customers or billings in excess of construction contract revenue recognized. Contract liabilities are included in other liabilities reported on our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in contract liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

21



 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning balance
$
27,402

 
$
32,650

Ending balance
$
8,279

 
$
40,485

Revenue recognized included in beginning balance
$
19,297

 
$
4,199


The change in the contract liabilities balance reported above for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was due primarily to our satisfaction of performance obligations during the period on a contract on which we previously received advance payments from a customer.

Revenue allocated to the remaining performance obligations under existing contracts as of March 31, 2018 that will be recognized as revenue in future periods was $23.5 million, all of which we expect to recognize during the remainder of 2018.

We have no deferred incremental costs incurred to obtain or fulfill our construction contracts or other service revenues.

4.     Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

COPT has a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan for Trustees and certain members of our management team that permits participants to defer up to 100% of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and receive a tax-deferred return on such deferrals. The assets held in the plan (comprised primarily of mutual funds and equity securities) and the corresponding liability to the participants are measured at fair value on a recurring basis on COPT’s consolidated balance sheets using quoted market prices, as are other marketable securities that we hold. The balance of the plan, which was fully funded, totaled $4.5 million as of March 31, 2018, and is included in the accompanying COPT consolidated balance sheets in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net”. The offsetting liability associated with the plan is adjusted to fair value at the end of each accounting period based on the fair value of the plan assets and reported in other liabilities on COPT’s consolidated balance sheets. The assets of the plan are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, while the offsetting liability is classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of our interest rate derivatives are determined using widely accepted valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate market data and implied volatilities in such interest rates. While we determined that the majority of the inputs used to value our derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with our interest rate derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default. However, as of March 31, 2018, we assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of our derivatives and determined that these adjustments are not significant. As a result, we determined that our interest rate derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, other assets (excluding investing receivables) and accounts payable and accrued expenses are reasonable estimates of their fair values because of the short maturities of these instruments.  As discussed in Note 7, we estimated the fair values of our investing receivables based on the discounted estimated future cash flows of the loans (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated cash payments include scheduled principal and interest payments.  For our disclosure of debt fair values in Note 9, we estimated the fair value of our unsecured senior notes based on quoted market rates for publicly-traded debt (categorized within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy) and estimated the fair value of our other debt based on the discounted estimated future cash payments to be made on such debt (categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy); the discount rates used approximate current market rates for loans, or groups of loans, with similar maturities and credit quality, and the estimated future payments include scheduled principal and interest payments.  Fair value estimates are made as of a specific point in time, are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment.  Settlement at such fair value amounts may not be possible and may not be a prudent management decision.
 
For additional fair value information, please refer to Note 7 for investing receivables, Note 9 for debt and Note 10 for interest rate derivatives. 


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COPT and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPT and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018 and the hierarchy level of inputs used in measuring their respective fair values under applicable accounting standards (in thousands):
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs(Level 3)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Marketable securities in deferred compensation plan (1)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mutual funds
 
$
4,433

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,433

Other
 
48

 

 

 
48

Interest rate derivatives (1)
 

 
7,960

 

 
7,960

Total assets
 
$
4,481

 
$
7,960

 
$

 
$
12,441

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deferred compensation plan liability (2)
 
$

 
$
4,481

 
$

 
$
4,481


(1) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.
(2) Included in the line entitled “other liabilities” on COPT’s consolidated balance sheet.

COPLP and Subsidiaries

The table below sets forth financial assets and liabilities of COPLP and its subsidiaries that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018 and the hierarchy level of inputs used in measuring their respective fair values under applicable accounting standards (in thousands):
Description
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets (Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs(Level 3)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest rate derivatives (1)
 
$

 
$
7,960

 
$

 
$
7,960


(1) Included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on COPLPs consolidated balance sheet.

5.    Properties, Net
 
Operating properties, net consisted of the following (in thousands): 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Land
$
457,459

 
$
455,680

Buildings and improvements
3,096,262

 
3,068,124

Less: Accumulated depreciation
(813,457
)
 
(786,193
)
Operating properties, net
$
2,740,264

 
$
2,737,611


Projects in development or held for future development consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Land
$
239,141

 
$
240,825

Development in progress, excluding land
178,874

 
162,669

Projects in development or held for future development
$
418,015

 
$
403,494


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Our property held for sale is 11751 Meadowville Lane, a property in our Data Center Shells sub-segment, the sale of which was not recognized for accounting purposes. We provided a financial guaranty to the buyer under which we provide an indemnification for up to $20 million in losses it could incur related to a potential defined capital event occurring on the property by June 30, 2019. We account for this transaction as a financing arrangement. Accordingly, we did not recognize the sale of this property for accounting purposes (and will not until the guaranty expires) and we reported the sales proceeds as a liability on the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 on the line entitled deferred property sale. We do not expect to incur any losses under this financial guaranty. The table below sets forth the components of this property’s assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
Properties, net
$
38,670

Deferred rent receivable
3,237

Deferred leasing costs, net
319

Assets held for sale, net
$
42,226


2018 Construction Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we placed into service 74,000 square feet in one newly-constructed property and 11,000 square feet in one partially-operational property under redevelopment. As of March 31, 2018, we had six properties under construction, or which we were contractually committed to construct, that we estimate will total 597,000 square feet upon completion and one partially-operational property under redevelopment that we estimate will total 22,000 square feet upon completion.

6.    Real Estate Joint Ventures

Consolidated Joint Ventures

The table below sets forth information pertaining to our investments in consolidated real estate joint ventures as of March 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Nominal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ownership
 
 
 
March 31, 2018 (1)
 
 
Date
 
% as of
 
 
 
Total
 
Encumbered
 
Total
 
 
Acquired
 
3/31/2018
 
Nature of Activity
 
Assets
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
LW Redstone Company, LLC
 
3/23/2010
 
85%
 
Development and operation of real estate (2)
 
$
161,290

 
$
74,509

 
$
52,511

M Square Associates, LLC
 
6/26/2007
 
50%
 
Development and operation of real estate (3)
 
71,556

 
44,909

 
45,436

Stevens Investors, LLC
 
8/11/2015
 
95%
 
Development of real estate (4)
 
73,240

 

 
15,469

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
306,086

 
$
119,418

 
$
113,416

(1)
Excludes amounts eliminated in consolidation.
(2) 
This joint venture’s properties are in Huntsville, Alabama.
(3)
This joint venture’s properties are in College Park, Maryland.
(4) 
This joint venture’s property is in Washington, DC.

Unconsolidated Joint Venture

As of March 31, 2018, we owned a 50% interest in GI-COPT DC Partnership LLC (“GI-COPT”), a joint venture owning six triple-net leased, single-tenant data center shell properties in Virginia, that we account for using the equity method of accounting. As of March 31, 2018, we had an investment balance in GI-COPT of $41.3 million.

7.    Investing Receivables
 
Investing receivables, including accrued interest thereon, consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Notes receivable from the City of Huntsville
$
55,779

 
$
54,472

Other investing loans receivable
3,021

 
3,021

 
$
58,800

 
$
57,493

 

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Our notes receivable from the City of Huntsville funded infrastructure costs in connection with our LW Redstone Company, LLC joint venture (see Note 6) and carry an interest rate of 9.95%.

We did not have an allowance for credit losses in connection with our investing receivables as of March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.  The fair value of these receivables approximated their carrying amounts as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

8.    Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets, Net
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of COPT and its subsidiaries consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Lease incentives, net
$
18,838

 
$
19,011

Prepaid expenses
17,093

 
24,670

Interest rate derivatives
7,960

 
3,073

Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net
5,331

 
5,256

Marketable securities in deferred compensation plan
4,481

 
4,616

Construction contract costs incurred in excess of billings
4,250

 
4,884

Restricted cash
3,645

 
2,570

Non-real estate equity method investments
2,410

 
2,412

Deferred tax asset, net (1)
1,837

 
1,892

Other assets
6,436

 
6,023

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
$
72,281

 
$
74,407


(1) Includes a valuation allowance of $1.4 million.


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9.    Debt, Net
 
Our debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Carrying Value (1) as of
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
Stated Interest Rates as of
 
Scheduled Maturity as of
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2018
Mortgage and Other Secured Debt:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Fixed rate mortgage debt (2)
 
$
149,835

 
$
150,723

 
3.82% - 7.87% (3)
 
2019-2026
Variable rate secured debt
 
13,029

 
13,115

 
LIBOR + 1.85% (4)
 
October 2020
Total mortgage and other secured debt
 
162,864

 
163,838

 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
 
153,000

 
126,000

 
LIBOR + 0.875% to 1.60% (5)
 
May 2019 (6)
Term Loan Facilities (7)
 
348,072

 
347,959

 
LIBOR + 0.90% to 1.85% (8)
 
2020-2022
Unsecured Senior Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.600%, $350,000 aggregate principal
 
347,659

 
347,551

 
3.60% (9)
 
May 2023
5.250%, $250,000 aggregate principal
 
246,765

 
246,645

 
5.25% (10)
 
February 2024
3.700%, $300,000 aggregate principal
 
298,444

 
298,322

 
3.70% (11)
 
June 2021
5.000%, $300,000 aggregate principal
 
296,824

 
296,731

 
5.00% (12)
 
July 2025
Unsecured note payable
 
1,258

 
1,287

 
0% (13)
 
May 2026
Total debt, net
 
$
1,854,886

 
$
1,828,333

 
 
 
 

(1)
The carrying values of our debt other than the Revolving Credit Facility reflect net deferred financing costs of $4.8 million as of March 31, 2018 and $5.0 million as of December 31, 2017.
(2)  
Certain of the fixed rate mortgages carry interest rates that, upon assumption, were above or below market rates and therefore were recorded at their fair value based on applicable effective interest rates. The carrying values of these loans reflect net unamortized premiums totaling $332,000 as of March 31, 2018 and $349,000 as of December 31, 2017.
(3)
The weighted average interest rate on our fixed rate mortgage debt was 4.18% as of March 31, 2018.
(4) 
The interest rate on our variable rate secured debt was 3.51% as of March 31, 2018.
(5)
The weighted average interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 2.77% as of March 31, 2018.
(6)
The facility matures in May 2019, with the ability for us to further extend such maturity by two six-month periods at our option, provided that there is no default under the facility and we pay an extension fee of 0.075% of the total availability under the facility for each extension period.
(7)  
As of March 31, 2018, we have the ability to borrow an additional $350.0 million in the aggregate under these term loan facilities, provided that there is no default under the facilities and subject to the approval of the lenders.
(8) 
The weighted average interest rate on these loans was 3.03% as of March 31, 2018.
(9)
The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $1.6 million as of March 31, 2018 and $1.7 million as of December 31, 2017.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 3.70%
(10)
The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $2.9 million as of March 31, 2018 and $3.0 million as of December 31, 2017.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.49%
(11)
The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $1.2 million as of March 31, 2018 and $1.3 million as of December 31, 2017.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 3.85%
(12) The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $2.6 million as of March 31, 2018 and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2017.  The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.15%.
(13) 
This note carries an interest rate that, upon assumption, was below market rates and it therefore was recorded at its fair value based on applicable effective interest rates.  The carrying value of this note reflects an unamortized discount totaling $353,000 as of March 31, 2018 and $373,000 as of December 31, 2017.
 
All debt is owed by the Operating Partnership. While COPT is not directly obligated by any debt, it has guaranteed the Operating Partnership’s Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan Facilities and Unsecured Senior Notes.

Certain of our debt instruments require that we comply with a number of restrictive financial covenants.  As of March 31, 2018, we were within the compliance requirements of these financial covenants.

We capitalized interest costs of $1.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and $1.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017.


26



The following table sets forth information pertaining to the fair value of our debt (in thousands): 
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Amount
 
Value
 
Amount
 
Value
Fixed-rate debt
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Unsecured Senior Notes
$
1,189,692

 
$
1,222,102

 
$
1,189,249

 
$
1,229,398

Other fixed-rate debt
151,093

 
151,271

 
152,010

 
152,485

Variable-rate debt
514,101

 
512,371

 
487,074

 
485,694

 
$
1,854,886

 
$
1,885,744

 
$
1,828,333

 
$
1,867,577

 

10.    Interest Rate Derivatives
 
The following table sets forth the key terms and fair values of our interest rate swap derivatives, each of which was designated as a cash flow hedge of interest rate risk (dollars in thousands):
 
 
 



 

 

Fair Value at
Notional Amount
 
Fixed Rate

Floating Rate Index

Effective Date

Expiration Date

March 31,
2018

December 31,
2017
$
100,000


1.7300%

One-Month LIBOR

9/1/2015

8/1/2019

$
662


$
252

13,121

(1)
1.3900%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
10/13/2015
 
10/1/2020
 
312

 
213

100,000

 
1.9013%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/1/2016
 
12/1/2022
 
2,794

 
1,046

100,000

 
1.9050%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/1/2016
 
12/1/2022
 
2,808

 
1,051

50,000

 
1.9079%
 
One-Month LIBOR
 
9/1/2016
 
12/1/2022
 
1,384

 
511

 

 
 

 

 

 

$
7,960


$
3,073


(1)     The notional amount of this instrument is scheduled to amortize to $12.1 million.
 
The table below sets forth the fair value of our interest rate derivatives as well as their classification on our consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Fair Value at
Derivatives
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
March 31,
2018
 
December 31, 2017
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net
 
$
7,960

 
$
3,073

 
The table below presents the effect of our interest rate derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (in thousands):
 
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI on Derivatives
 
 
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
Derivatives in Hedging Relationships
 
2018
 
2017
 
Statement of Operations Location
 
2018
 
2017
Interest rate derivatives
 
$
4,676

 
$
224

 
Interest expense
 
$
(245
)
 
$
(1,184
)

Over the next 12 months, we estimate that approximately $942,000 of gains will be reclassified from AOCI as a decrease to interest expense.

We have agreements with each of our interest rate derivative counterparties that contain provisions under which, if we default or are capable of being declared in default on defined levels of our indebtedness, we could also be declared in default on our derivative obligations. Failure to comply with the loan covenant provisions could result in our being declared in default on any derivative instrument obligations covered by the agreements. We are not in default with any of these provisions. As of March 31, 2018, we did not have any derivatives in liability positions. As of March 31, 2018, we had not posted any collateral related to these agreements.


27



11.    Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Our partners in two real estate joint ventures, LW Redstone Company, LLC and Stevens Investors, LLC (discussed further in Note 6), have the right to require us to acquire their respective interests at fair value; accordingly, we classify the fair value of our partners’ interests as redeemable noncontrolling interests in the mezzanine section of our consolidated balance sheets. We determine the fair value of the interests based on unobservable inputs after considering the assumptions that market participants would make in pricing the interest. We apply a discount rate to the estimated future cash flows allocable to our partners from the properties underlying the respective joint ventures. Estimated cash flows used in such analyses are based on our plans for the properties and our views of market and economic conditions, and consider items such as current and future rental rates, occupancies for the properties and comparable properties and estimated operating and capital expenditures. The table below sets forth the activity for these redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning balance
 
$
23,125

 
$
22,979

Distributions to noncontrolling interests
 
(452
)
 
(415
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
638

 
567

Adjustment to arrive at fair value of interests
 
537

 
545

Ending balance
 
$
23,848

 
$
23,676


12.    Equity
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, COPT issued 677,000 common shares under its forward equity sale agreements for net proceeds of $20.0 million. COPT contributed the net proceeds from these issuances to COPLP in exchange for an equal number of units in COPLP. COPT’s remaining capacity under the forward equity sale agreements was 6.8 million common shares as of March 31, 2018.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, certain COPLP limited partners converted 53,817 common units in COPLP for an equal number of common shares in COPT.

As of March 31, 2018, COPT had remaining capacity under its at-the-market stock offering program equal to an aggregate gross sales price of $70.0 million in common share sales.

See Note 14 for disclosure of COPT common share and COPLP common unit activity pertaining to our share-based compensation plans.


28



13.    Information by Business Segment

We have the following reportable segments: Defense/IT Locations; Regional Office; Wholesale Data Center; and Other. We also report on Defense/IT Locations sub-segments, which include the following: Fort George G. Meade and the Baltimore/Washington Corridor (referred to herein as “Fort Meade/BW Corridor”); Northern Virginia Defense/IT Locations; Lackland Air Force Base (in San Antonio); locations serving the U.S. Navy (“Navy Support Locations”), which included properties proximate to the Washington Navy Yard, the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Virginia; Redstone Arsenal (in Huntsville); and data center shells (properties leased to tenants to be operated as data centers in which the tenants generally fund the costs for the power, fiber connectivity and data center infrastructure). As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our Regional Office segment included properties located in select urban/urban-like submarkets in the Greater Washington, DC/Baltimore region with durable Class-A office fundamentals and characteristics; during 2017, this segment also included suburban properties that did not meet these characteristics (that were since disposed).

We measure the performance of our segments through the measure we define as net operating income from real estate operations (“NOI from real estate operations”), which includes: real estate revenues and property operating expenses; and the net of revenues and property operating expenses of real estate operations owned through unconsolidated real estate joint ventures (“UJVs”) that is allocable to COPT’s ownership interest (“UJV NOI allocable to COPT”). Amounts reported for segment assets represent long-lived assets associated with consolidated operating properties (including the carrying value of properties, intangible assets, deferred leasing costs, deferred rents receivable and lease incentives) and the carrying value of investments in UJVs owning operating properties. Amounts reported as additions to long-lived assets represent additions to existing consolidated operating properties, excluding transfers from non-operating properties, which we report separately.

The table below reports segment financial information for our reportable segments (in thousands): 
 
Operating Property Segments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defense/Information Technology Locations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fort Meade/BW Corridor
 
Northern Virginia Defense/IT
 
Lackland Air Force Base
 
Navy Support Locations
 
Redstone Arsenal
 
Data Center Shells
 
Total Defense/IT Locations
 
Regional Office
 
Wholesale
Data Center
 
Other
 
Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
62,782

 
$
12,561

 
$
11,443

 
$
7,870

 
$
3,633

 
$
5,831

 
$
104,120

 
$
15,284

 
$
8,077

 
$
797

 
$
128,278

Property operating expenses
(21,604
)
 
(4,723
)
 
(6,598
)
 
(3,304
)
 
(1,440
)
 
(794
)
 
(38,463
)
 
(7,878
)
 
(4,258
)
 
(352
)
 
(50,951
)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT

 

 

 

 

 
1,199

 
1,199

 

 

 

 
1,199

NOI from real estate operations
$
41,178

 
$
7,838

 
$
4,845

 
$
4,566

 
$
2,193

 
$
6,236

 
$
66,856

 
$
7,406

 
$
3,819

 
$
445

 
$
78,526

Additions to long-lived assets
$
7,121

 
$
1,940

 
$

 
$
1,108

 
$
79

 
$

 
$
10,248

 
$
3,884

 
$
36

 
$
127

 
$
14,295

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
17,186

 
$
341

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$
444

 
$
1,114

 
$
19,082

 
$

 
$
1,012

 
$

 
$
20,094

Segment assets at March 31, 2018
$
1,273,359

 
$
399,202

 
$
127,855

 
$
192,116

 
$
107,096

 
$
302,120

 
$
2,401,748

 
$
397,355

 
$
222,738

 
$
4,125

 
$
3,025,966

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
60,855

 
$
11,707

 
$
11,634

 
$
7,010

 
$
3,460

 
$
5,522

 
$
100,188

 
$
18,276

 
$
6,770

 
$
1,533

 
$
126,767

Property operating expenses
(20,520
)
 
(4,452
)
 
(6,802
)
 
(3,209
)
 
(1,371
)
 
(659
)
 
(37,013
)
 
(7,486
)
 
(3,365
)
 
(655
)
 
(48,519
)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT

 

 

 

 

 
1,202

 
1,202

 

 

 

 
1,202

NOI from real estate operations
$
40,335

 
$
7,255

 
$
4,832

 
$
3,801

 
$
2,089

 
$
6,065

 
$
64,377

 
$
10,790

 
$
3,405

 
$
878

 
$
79,450

Additions to long-lived assets
$
3,422

 
$
2,468

 
$

 
$
2,168

 
$
132

 
$

 
$
8,190

 
$
7,120

 
$
1,574

 
$
156

 
$
17,040

Transfers from non-operating properties
$
13,416

 
$
222

 
$

 
$

 
$
(4
)
 
$
(1,015
)
 
$
12,619

 
$

 
$
8

 
$
18

 
$
12,645

Segment assets at March 31, 2017
$
1,258,437

 
$
361,449

 
$
131,194

 
$
195,892

 
$
109,171

 
$
224,254

 
$
2,280,397

 
$
439,079

 
$
229,630

 
$
21,011

 
$
2,970,117


29



The following table reconciles our segment revenues to total revenues as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Segment revenues from real estate operations
$
128,278

 
$
126,767

Construction contract and other service revenues
27,198

 
13,034

Total revenues
$
155,476

 
$
139,801

 
The following table reconciles UJV NOI allocable to COPT to equity in income of unconsolidated entities as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
UJV NOI allocable to COPT
$
1,199

 
$
1,202

Less: Income from UJV allocable to COPT attributable to depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense
(824
)
 
(824
)
Add: Equity in loss of unconsolidated non-real estate entities
(2
)
 
(1
)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
$
373

 
$
377

 
As previously discussed, we provide real estate services such as property management and construction and development services primarily for our properties but also for third parties.  The primary manner in which we evaluate the operating performance of our service activities is through a measure we define as net operating income from service operations (“NOI from service operations”), which is based on the net of revenues and expenses from these activities.  Construction contract and other service revenues and expenses consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to us by the customer along with a management fee. The operating margins from these activities are small relative to the revenue.  We believe NOI from service operations is a useful measure in assessing both our level of activity and our profitability in conducting such operations. The table below sets forth the computation of our NOI from service operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Construction contract and other service revenues
$
27,198

 
$
13,034

Construction contract and other service expenses
(26,216
)
 
(12,486
)
NOI from service operations
$
982

 
$
548



30



The following table reconciles our NOI from real estate operations for reportable segments and NOI from service operations to income before gain on sales of real estate as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
NOI from real estate operations
$
78,526

 
$
79,450

NOI from service operations
982

 
548

Interest and other income
1,359

 
1,726

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
373

 
377

Income tax expense
(55
)
 
(40
)
Depreciation and other amortization associated with real estate operations
(33,512
)
 
(33,059
)
General, administrative and leasing expenses
(7,292
)
 
(8,611
)
Business development expenses and land carry costs
(1,614
)
 
(1,693
)
Interest expense
(18,784
)
 
(18,994
)
Less: UJV NOI allocable to COPT included in equity in income of unconsolidated entities
(1,199
)
 
(1,202
)
Income before gain on sales of real estate
$
18,784

 
$
18,502

 
The following table reconciles our segment assets to the consolidated total assets of COPT and subsidiaries (in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2018
 
March 31,
2017
Segment assets
$
3,025,966

 
$
2,970,117

Non-operating property assets
425,951

 
429,690

Other assets
144,321

 
357,324

Total COPT consolidated assets
$
3,596,238

 
$
3,757,131

 
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those used to prepare our consolidated financial statements, except that UJV NOI allocable to COPT are not presented separately for segment purposes.  In the segment reporting presented above, we did not allocate interest expense, depreciation and amortization, gain on sales of real estate and equity in income of unconsolidated entities not included in NOI to our real estate segments since they are not included in the measure of segment profit reviewed by management.  We also did not allocate general, administrative and leasing expenses, business development expenses and land carry costs, interest and other income, income taxes and noncontrolling interests because these items represent general corporate or non-operating property items not attributable to segments.

14.    Share-Based Compensation
 
Performance Share Awards (“PSUs”)
 
On January 1, 2018, our Board of Trustees granted 59,110 PSUs with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1.9 million to our three executives.  The PSUs have a performance period beginning on January 1, 2018 and concluding on the earlier of December 31, 2020 or the date of: (1) termination by us without cause, death or disability of the executive or constructive discharge of the executive (collectively, “qualified termination”); or (2) a sale event.  The number of PSUs earned (“earned PSUs”) at the end of the performance period will be determined based on the percentile rank of COPT’s total shareholder return relative to a peer group of companies, as set forth in the following schedule:
Percentile Rank
 
Earned PSUs Payout %
75th or greater
 
200% of PSUs granted
50th
 
100% of PSUs granted
25th
 
50% of PSUs granted
Below 25th
 
0% of PSUs granted

If the percentile rank exceeds the 25th percentile and is between two of the percentile ranks set forth in the table above, then the percentage of the earned PSUs will be interpolated between the ranges set forth in the table above to reflect any performance between the listed percentiles.  At the end of the performance period, we, in settlement of the award will:

issue a number of fully-vested COPT common shares equal to the number of earned PSUs in settlement of the award plan; and

31



pay cash equal to the aggregate dividends that would have been paid with respect to the common shares issued in settlement of the earned PSUs through the date of settlement had such shares been issued on the grant date.
 
If a performance period ends due to a sale event or qualified termination, the number of earned PSUs is prorated based on the portion of the three-year performance period that has elapsed.  If employment is terminated by the employee or by us for cause, all PSUs are forfeited. PSUs do not carry voting rights.

We computed a grant date fair value of $31.97 per PSU using a Monte Carlo model. Significant assumptions for that model included the following: baseline common share value of $29.20; expected volatility for COPT common shares of 17.0%; and a risk-free interest rate of 2.04%.  

We issued 13,328 common shares on February 22, 2018 to executives in settlement of PSUs issued in 2015, representing 75% of the target award for those PSUs.

Restricted Shares
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, certain employees were granted a total of 181,617 restricted common shares with an aggregate grant date fair value of $4.6 million (weighted average of $25.18 per share).  Restricted shares granted to employees vest based on increments and over periods of time set forth under the terms of the respective awards provided that the employees remain employed by us.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, forfeiture restrictions lapsed on 134,460 previously issued common shares; these shares had a weighted average grant date fair value of $29.49 per share, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the shares on the vesting dates was $3.4 million.

15.    Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) and Earnings Per Unit (“EPU”)
 
COPT and Subsidiaries EPS

We present both basic and diluted EPS.  We compute basic EPS by dividing net income available to common shareholders allocable to unrestricted common shares under the two-class method by the weighted average number of unrestricted common shares outstanding during the period.  Our computation of diluted EPS is similar except that:
 
the denominator is increased to include: (1) the weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding if securities that are convertible into COPT common shares were converted; and (2) the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period attributable to COPT’s forward equity sale agreements and our share-based compensation using the treasury stock or if-converted methods; and
the numerator is adjusted to add back any changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed conversion into common shares that we added to the denominator.

Summaries of the numerator and denominator for purposes of basic and diluted EPS calculations are set forth below (in thousands, except per share data):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to COPT
$
17,150

 
$
21,019

Preferred share dividends

 
(3,180
)
Income attributable to share-based compensation awards
(117
)
 
(125
)
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS on net income attributable to COPT common shareholders
$
17,033

 
$
17,714

Denominator (all weighted averages):
 

 
 

Denominator for basic EPS (common shares)
100,999

 
98,411

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
144

 
155

Denominator for diluted EPS (common shares)
101,143

 
98,566

Basic EPS
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Diluted EPS
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

 

32



Our diluted EPS computations do not include the effects of the following securities since the conversions of such securities would increase diluted EPS for the respective periods (in thousands):
 
Weighted Average Shares Excluded from Denominator
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Conversion of common units
3,221

 
3,446

Conversion of Series I preferred units
176

 
176

 
The following securities were also excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because their effects were not dilutive:
 
weighted average shares related to COPT’s forward equity sale agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of 7.5 million;
weighted average restricted shares and deferred share awards for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of 444,000 and 392,000, respectively; and
weighted average options for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of 60,000 and 140,000, respectively.

COPLP and Subsidiaries EPU

We present both basic and diluted EPU.  We compute basic EPU by dividing net income available to common unitholders allocable to unrestricted common units under the two-class method by the weighted average number of unrestricted common units outstanding during the period.  Our computation of diluted EPU is similar except that:
 
the denominator is increased to include: (1) the weighted average number of potential additional common units that would have been outstanding if securities that are convertible into our common units were converted; and (2) the effect of dilutive potential common units outstanding during the period attributable to COPT’s forward equity sale agreements and our share-based compensation using the treasury stock or if-converted methods; and
the numerator is adjusted to add back any changes in income or loss that would result from the assumed conversion into common units that we added to the denominator.

Summaries of the numerator and denominator for purposes of basic and diluted EPU calculations are set forth below (in thousands, except per unit data):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 

 
 

Net income attributable to COPLP
$
17,859

 
$
21,806

Preferred unit distributions
(165
)
 
(3,345
)
Income attributable to share-based compensation awards
(117
)
 
(125
)
Numerator for basic and diluted EPU on net income attributable to COPLP common unitholders
$
17,577

 
$
18,336

Denominator (all weighted averages):
 

 
 

Denominator for basic EPU (common units)
104,220

 
101,857

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
144

 
155

Denominator for diluted EPU (common units)
104,364

 
102,012

Basic EPU
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

Diluted EPU
$
0.17

 
$
0.18

 

33



Our diluted EPU computations do not include the effect of 176,000 common units resulting from an assumed conversion of the Series I preferred units since such a conversion would increase diluted EPU for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The following securities were also excluded from the computation of diluted EPU because their effects were not dilutive:
 
weighted average shares related to COPT’s forward equity sale agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of 7.5 million;
weighted average restricted units and deferred share awards for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of 444,000 and 392,000, respectively; and
weighted average options for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of 60,000 and 140,000, respectively.

16.    Commitments and Contingencies
 
Litigation and Claims
 
In the normal course of business, we are subject to legal actions and other claims.  We record losses for specific legal proceedings and claims when we determine that a loss is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  Management believes that it is reasonably possible that we could incur losses pursuant to such claims but do not believe such losses would materially affect our financial position, liquidity or our results of operations. Our assessment of the potential outcomes of these matters involves significant judgment and is subject to change based on future developments.
 
Environmental
 
We are subject to various Federal, state and local environmental regulations related to our property ownership and operation.  We have performed environmental assessments of our properties, the results of which have not revealed any environmental liability that we believe would have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.

In connection with a lease and subsequent sale in 2008 and 2010 of three properties in Dayton, New Jersey, we agreed to provide certain environmental indemnifications limited to $19 million in the aggregate. We have insurance coverage in place to mitigate much of any potential future losses that may result from these indemnification agreements.
 
Tax Incremental Financing Obligation
 
In August 2010, Anne Arundel County, Maryland issued $30 million in tax incremental financing bonds to third-party investors in order to finance public improvements needed in connection with our project known as National Business Park North.  The real estate taxes on increases in assessed value of a development district encompassing National Business Park North are to be transferred to a special fund pledged to the repayment of the bonds.  We recognized a $995,000 liability through March 31, 2018 representing our estimated obligation to fund through a special tax any future shortfalls between debt service on the bonds and real estate taxes available to repay the bonds.

Operating Leases

We are obligated as lessee under operating leases (mostly ground leases) with various expiration dates extending to the year 2100. Future minimum rental payments due under the terms of these operating leases as of March 31, 2018 follow (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
2018 (1)
 
$
961

2019
 
1,267

2020
 
1,260

2021
 
1,264

2022
 
1,151

Thereafter
 
84,611

 
 
$
90,514

 
(1) Represents the nine months ending December 31, 2018.


34



Capital Lease

On May 25, 2017, we entered into a ground lease on land under development in Washington, DC for our Stevens Investors, LLC joint venture. The lease has a 99-year term, and we possess an option to purchase the property for one dollar (estimated to occur between 2019 and 2020). Upon inception of the lease, we recorded a $16.1 million capital lease liability on our consolidated balance sheets based on the present value of the future minimum rental payments. Future minimum rental payments due under the term of this lease as of March 31, 2018 follow (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
 
 
2018 (1)
 
$
11,628

2020
 
135

2022
 
75

Total minimum rental payments
 
11,838

Less: Amount representing interest
 
(60
)
Capital lease obligation
 
$
11,778


(1) Represents the nine months ending December 31, 2018.

Contractual Obligations

We had amounts remaining to be incurred under various contractual obligations as of March 31, 2018 that included the following (excluding amounts incurred and therefore reflected as liabilities reported on our consolidated balance sheets):

new development and redevelopment obligations of $64.8 million;
capital expenditures for operating properties of $45.9 million;
third party construction and development of $14.3 million; and
other obligations of $2.5 million.


35



Item 2.           Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Overview
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2018

we finished the period with our office and data center shell portfolio 91.0% occupied;
we placed into service an aggregate of 85,000 square feet in two newly-constructed or redeveloped properties that were 52.6% leased as of March 31, 2018; and
COPT issued 677,000 common shares under its forward equity sale agreements for net proceeds of $20.0 million, which it contributed to COPLP in exchange for an equal number of units in COPLP. COPLP used the proceeds to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility that funded development costs.

With regard to our operating portfolio square footage, occupancy and leasing statistics included below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, amounts disclosed:

include total information pertaining to six properties owned through an unconsolidated real estate joint venture except for amounts reported for Annualized Rental Revenue, which represent the portion attributable to our ownership interest; and
exclude, for purposes of amounts reported as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, a property reported as held for sale that we sold in 2017 subject to our providing a financial guaranty to the buyer under which we indemnify it for up to $20 million in losses it could incur related to a potential defined capital event occurring on the property by June 30, 2019.  Accordingly, we did not recognize the sale of this property for accounting purposes, and we reported the sales proceeds as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet.

We discuss significant factors contributing to changes in our net income in the section below entitled “Results of Operations.” The results of operations discussion is combined for COPT and COPLP because there are no material differences in the results of operations between the two reporting entities.

In addition, the section below entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” includes discussions of, among other things:

how we expect to generate cash for short and long-term capital needs; and
our commitments and contingencies.
 
You should refer to our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto as you read this section.
 
This section contains “forward-looking” statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition and operations of our business. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan” or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which we cannot predict with accuracy and some of which we might not even anticipate. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that these expectations, estimates and projections will be achieved. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these expectations, estimates and projections include, but are not limited to:

general economic and business conditions, which will, among other things, affect office property and data center demand and rents, tenant creditworthiness, interest rates, financing availability and property values;
adverse changes in the real estate markets, including, among other things, increased competition with other companies;
governmental actions and initiatives, including risks associated with the impact of a prolonged government shutdown or budgetary reductions or impasses, such as a reduction in rental revenues, non-renewal of leases and/or a curtailment of demand for additional space by our strategic customers;
our ability to borrow on favorable terms;
risks of real estate acquisition and development activities, including, among other things, risks that development projects may not be completed on schedule, that tenants may not take occupancy or pay rent or that development or operating costs may be greater than anticipated;
risks of investing through joint venture structures, including risks that our joint venture partners may not fulfill their financial obligations as investors or may take actions that are inconsistent with our objectives;

36



changes in our plans for properties or views of market economic conditions or failure to obtain development rights, either of which could result in recognition of significant impairment losses;
our ability to satisfy and operate effectively under Federal income tax rules relating to real estate investment trusts and partnerships;
possible adverse changes in tax laws;
the dilutive effects of issuing additional common shares;
our ability to achieve projected results; and
environmental requirements.

We undertake no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements.
 
Occupancy and Leasing
 
Office and Data Center Shell Portfolio
 
The tables below set forth occupancy information pertaining to our portfolio of office and data center shell properties:
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Occupancy rates at period end
 

 
 

Total
91.0
%
 
93.6
%
Defense/IT Locations:
 
 
 
Fort Meade/BW Corridor
90.5
%
 
95.6
%
Northern Virginia Defense/IT
82.6
%
 
89.1
%
Lackland Air Force Base
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Navy Support Locations
88.0
%
 
87.7
%
Redstone Arsenal
98.2
%
 
98.2
%
Data Center Shells
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Total Defense/IT Locations
91.7
%
 
95.2
%
Regional Office
86.8
%
 
89.5
%
Other
80.0
%
 
34.4
%
Average contractual annual rental rate per square foot at period end (1)
$
29.93

 
$
29.84


(1) 
Includes estimated expense reimbursements. Amounts reported include the portion of six properties owned through an unconsolidated real estate joint venture that was allocable to our ownership interest.
 
Rentable
Square Feet
 
Occupied
Square Feet
 
(in thousands)
December 31, 2017
17,345

 
16,227

Square feet vacated upon lease expiration (1)

 
(317
)
Occupancy of previously vacated space in connection with new leases (2)

 
93

Square feet constructed or redeveloped (3)
415

 
33

Square feet removed from operations
(128
)
 

Other changes
(19
)
 
(3
)
March 31, 2018
17,613

 
16,033


(1)
Includes lease terminations and space reductions occurring in connection with lease renewals.
(2)
Excludes occupancy of vacant square feet acquired or developed.
(3)
Includes 330,000 unoccupied square feet that were completed in 2016 but reported as construction projects through December 31, 2017 since they were held for future lease to the United States Government.

Total occupancy decreased from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018 due primarily to the addition of 404,000 unoccupied, newly-constructed square feet during the period, including 243,000 in the Fort Meade/BW Corridor sub-segment and 161,000 in the Northern Virginia Defense/IT sub-segment.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we completed 854,000 square feet of leasing, including: renewed leases on 712,000 square feet, representing 72.6% of the square footage of our lease expirations (including the effect of early renewals); 71,000 of construction and redevelopment space; and 71,000 in other leasing.

37




Wholesale Data Center
 
Our 19.25 megawatt wholesale data center had 16.86 megawatts leased as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Results of Operations
 
We evaluate the operating performance of our properties using NOI from real estate operations, our segment performance measure, which includes: real estate revenues and property operating expenses; and the net of revenues and property operating expenses of real estate operations owned through unconsolidated real estate joint ventures (“UJVs”) that is allocable to COPT’s ownership interest (“UJV NOI allocable to COPT”).  We view our NOI from real estate operations as comprising the following primary categories:

office and data center shell properties:
continually owned and 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods, excluding properties held for sale.  We define these as changes from “Same Properties”
constructed or redeveloped and placed into service that were not 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods; and
disposed (including a property reported as held for sale as of December 31, 2017, the sale of which in 2017 was not recognized for accounting purposes); and
our wholesale data center.

In addition to owning properties, we provide construction management and other services. The primary manner in which we evaluate the operating performance of our construction management and other service activities is through a measure we define as NOI from service operations, which is based on the net of the revenues and expenses from these activities.  The revenues and expenses from these activities consist primarily of subcontracted costs that are reimbursed to us by customers along with a management fee.  The operating margins from these activities are small relative to the revenue.  We believe NOI from service operations is a useful measure in assessing both our level of activity and our profitability in conducting such operations.
 
Since both of the measures discussed above exclude certain items includable in operating income, reliance on these measures has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measures simply as supplemental measures that are considered alongside other GAAP and non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of NOI from real estate operations and NOI from service operations to income before gain on sales of real estate reported on the consolidated statements of operations of COPT and subsidiaries is provided in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

38




Comparison of Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Variance
 
(in thousands)
Revenues
 

 
 

 
 

Revenues from real estate operations
$
128,278

 
$
126,767

 
$
1,511

Construction contract and other service revenues
27,198

 
13,034

 
14,164

Total revenues
155,476

 
139,801

 
15,675

Expenses
 

 
 

 
 

Property operating expenses
50,951

 
48,519

 
2,432

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations
33,512

 
33,059

 
453

Construction contract and other service expenses
26,216

 
12,486

 
13,730

General, administrative and leasing expenses
7,292

 
8,611

 
(1,319
)
Business development expenses and land carry costs
1,614

 
1,693

 
(79
)
Total operating expenses
119,585

 
104,368

 
15,217

Operating income
35,891

 
35,433

 
458

Interest expense
(18,784
)
 
(18,994
)
 
210

Interest and other income
1,359

 
1,726

 
(367
)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities
373

 
377

 
(4
)
Income tax expense
(55
)
 
(40
)
 
(15
)
Income before gain on sales of real estate
18,784

 
18,502

 
282

Gain on sales of real estate
(4
)
 
4,238

 
(4,242
)
Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

 
$
(3,960
)


39



NOI from Real Estate Operations
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Variance
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per square foot data)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Same Properties revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Rental revenue, excluding lease termination revenue
$
88,861

 
$
89,067

 
$
(206
)
Lease termination revenue
1,008

 
706

 
302

Tenant recoveries and other real estate operations revenue
24,185

 
24,063

 
122

Same Properties total revenues
114,054

 
113,836

 
218

Constructed and redeveloped properties placed in service
5,893

 
494

 
5,399

Wholesale data center
8,077

 
6,770

 
1,307

Dispositions
135

 
5,545

 
(5,410
)
Other
119

 
122

 
(3
)
 
128,278

 
126,767

 
1,511

Property operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Same Properties
(45,012
)
 
(43,039
)
 
(1,973
)
Constructed and redeveloped properties placed in service
(1,610
)
 
(652
)
 
(958
)
Wholesale data center
(4,258
)
 
(3,365
)
 
(893
)
Dispositions
(21
)
 
(1,250
)
 
1,229

Other
(50
)
 
(213
)
 
163

 
(50,951
)
 
(48,519
)
 
(2,432
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same Properties UJV NOI allocable to COPT
1,199

 
1,202

 
(3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOI from real estate operations
 
 
 
 
 
Same Properties
70,241

 
71,999

 
(1,758
)
Constructed and redeveloped properties placed in service
4,283

 
(158
)
 
4,441

Wholesale data center
3,819

 
3,405

 
414

Dispositions
114

 
4,295

 
(4,181
)
Other
69

 
(91
)
 
160

 
$
78,526

 
$
79,450

 
$
(924
)
Same Properties rent statistics
 
 
 
 
 
Average occupancy rate
91.1
%
 
91.2
%
 
-0.1
 %
Average straight-line rent per occupied square foot (1)
$
6.38

 
$
6.38

 
$

 
(1) 
Includes minimum base rents, net of abatements, and lease incentives on a straight-line basis for the periods set forth above.

Our Same Properties pool consisted of 148 properties, comprising 92.8% of our office and data center shell portfolio’s square footage as of March 31, 2018. This pool of properties included the following changes from the pool used for purposes of comparing 2017 and 2016 in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K: the addition of fourteen properties placed in service and 100% operational on or before January 1, 2017 (including six unconsolidated real estate joint venture properties and two properties added to our rentable square feet in 2018 that were previously reported as construction projects since they were held for future lease to the United States Government); and the removal of one property in 2018 for which we have no leasing plan or intention to allocate future capital. The decrease in our Same Properties NOI from real estate operations was due primarily to higher snow and utilities expenses in the current period, as well as higher real estate taxes at certain properties resulting from increased property assessments.


40



Our NOI from constructed and redeveloped properties placed in service included 11 properties placed in service in 2017 and 2018.

NOI from Service Operations
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Variance
 
 
(in thousands)
Construction contract and other service revenues
 
$
27,198

 
$
13,034

 
$
14,164

Construction contract and other service expenses
 
26,216

 
12,486

 
13,730

NOI from service operations
 
$
982

 
$
548

 
$
434


Construction contract and other service revenue and expenses increased due primarily to a greater volume of construction activity in connection with several of our tenants. Construction contract activity is inherently subject to significant variability depending on the volume and nature of projects undertaken by us (primarily on behalf of tenants). Service operations are an ancillary component of our overall operations that typically contribute an insignificant amount of operating income relative to our real estate operations.

Gain on Sales of Real Estate

We recognized a gain on sales of real estate of $4.2 million in the prior period in connection with a land sale.

Funds from Operations
 
Funds from operations (“FFO”) is defined as net income computed using GAAP, excluding gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, previously depreciated operating properties, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization. When multiple properties consisting of both operating and non-operating properties exist on a single tax parcel, we classify all of the gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, the tax parcel as all being for previously depreciated operating properties when most of the value of the parcel is associated with operating properties on the parcel. FFO also includes adjustments to net income for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to UJVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the UJVs. We believe that we use the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) definition of FFO, although others may interpret the definition differently and, accordingly, our presentation of FFO may differ from those of other REITs.  We believe that FFO is useful to management and investors as a supplemental measure of operating performance because, by excluding gains related to sales of, and impairment losses on, previously depreciated operating properties, net of related tax benefit, and excluding real estate-related depreciation and amortization, FFO can help one compare our operating performance between periods.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide FFO information to the investment community, we believe that FFO is useful to investors as a supplemental measure for comparing our results to those of other equity REITs.  We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to FFO.
 
Since FFO excludes certain items includable in net income, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures. FFO is not necessarily an indication of our cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating our financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating our liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.
 
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Basic FFO”) is FFO adjusted to subtract (1) preferred share dividends, (2) issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares, (3) income attributable to noncontrolling interests through ownership of preferred units in the Operating Partnership or interests in other consolidated entities not owned by us, (4) depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities and (5) Basic FFO allocable to restricted shares.  With these adjustments, Basic FFO represents FFO available to common shareholders and common unitholders.  Common units in the Operating Partnership are substantially similar to our common shares and are exchangeable into common shares, subject to certain conditions.  We believe that Basic FFO is useful to investors due to the close correlation of common units to common shares.  We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Basic FFO.  Basic FFO has essentially the same limitations as FFO; management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for FFO.
 
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders (“Diluted FFO”) is Basic FFO adjusted to add back any changes in Basic FFO that would result from the assumed conversion of securities that are convertible or exchangeable into

41



common shares.  We believe that Diluted FFO is useful to investors because it is the numerator used to compute Diluted FFO per share, discussed below.  We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO.  Since Diluted FFO excludes certain items includable in the numerator to diluted EPS, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  Diluted FFO is not necessarily an indication of our cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating our financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating our liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.
 
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability is defined as Diluted FFO adjusted to exclude operating property acquisition costs; gains on sales of, and impairment losses on, properties other than previously depreciated operating properties, net of associated income tax; gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt; FFO associated with properties securing non-recourse debt on which we have defaulted and which we have extinguished, or expect to extinguish, via conveyance of such properties, including property NOI, interest expense and gains on debt extinguishment; loss on interest rate derivatives; demolition costs on redevelopment properties; executive transition costs; and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares.  This measure also includes adjustments for the effects of the items noted above pertaining to UJVs that were allocable to our ownership interest in the UJVs. We believe this to be a useful supplemental measure alongside Diluted FFO as it excludes gains and losses from certain investing and financing activities and certain other items that we believe are not closely correlated to (or associated with) our operating performance. We believe that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to this non-GAAP measure.  This measure has essentially the same limitations as Diluted FFO, as well as the further limitation of not reflecting the effects of the excluded items; we compensate for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
Diluted FFO per share is (1) Diluted FFO divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged.  We believe that Diluted FFO per share is useful to investors because it provides investors with a further context for evaluating our FFO results in the same manner that investors use earnings per share (“EPS”) in evaluating net income available to common shareholders.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Diluted FFO per share information to the investment community, we believe that Diluted FFO per share is a useful supplemental measure for comparing us to other equity REITs. We believe that diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO per share. Diluted FFO per share has most of the same limitations as Diluted FFO (described above); management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability is (1) Diluted FFO, as adjusted for comparability divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged.  We believe that this measure is useful to investors because it provides investors with a further context for evaluating our FFO results.  We believe this to be a useful supplemental measure alongside Diluted FFO per share as it excludes gains and losses from certain investing and financing activities and certain other items that we believe are not closely correlated to (or associated with) our operating performance. We believe that diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to this per share measure.  This measure has most of the same limitations as Diluted FFO (described above) as well as the further limitation of not reflecting the effects of the excluded items; we compensate for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.
 
The computations for all of the above measures on a diluted basis assume the conversion of common units in COPLP but do not assume the conversion of other securities that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase per share measures in a given period.


42



The table below sets forth the computation of the above stated measures for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and provides reconciliations to the GAAP measures of COPT and subsidiaries associated with such measures:
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Dollars and shares in thousands, 
except per share data)
Net income
$
18,780

 
$
22,740

Add: Real estate-related depreciation and amortization
33,512

 
33,059

Add: Depreciation and amortization on UJV allocable to COPT
563

 
563

Less: Gain on sales of previously depreciated operating properties
4

 
(19
)
FFO
52,859

 
56,343

Less: Noncontrolling interests-preferred units in the Operating Partnership
(165
)
 
(165
)
Less: FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests
(944
)
 
(978
)
Less: Preferred share dividends

 
(3,180
)
Basic and diluted FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards
(213
)
 
(216
)
Basic and diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders
51,537

 
51,804

Gain on sales of non-operating properties

 
(4,219
)
Gain on interest rate derivatives

 
(453
)
Executive transition costs
163

 
699

Demolition costs on redevelopment properties
39

 
222

Diluted FFO comparability adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards
(1
)
 
14

Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability
$
51,738

 
$
48,067

 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares
100,999

 
98,411

Conversion of weighted average common units
3,221

 
3,446

Weighted average common shares/units - Basic FFO
104,220

 
101,857

Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards
144

 
155

Weighted average common shares/units - Diluted FFO
104,364

 
102,012

 
 
 
 
Diluted FFO per share
$
0.49

 
$
0.51

Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability
$
0.50

 
$
0.47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator for diluted EPS
101,143

 
98,566

Weighted average common units
3,221

 
3,446

Denominator for diluted FFO per share measures
104,364

 
102,012


Property Additions
 
The table below sets forth the major components of our additions to properties for the three months ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands):
Construction, development and redevelopment
$
34,725

Tenant improvements on operating properties (1)
7,796

Capital improvements on operating properties
1,921

 
$
44,442

(1) Tenant improvement costs incurred on newly-constructed properties are classified in this table as construction, development and redevelopment.
 
Cash Flows
 
Net cash flow provided by operating activities decreased by $33.9 million when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 due primarily to lower net cash flows from construction contract and other services.
 

43



Net cash flow from investing activities decreased $36.8 million when comparing the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 due primarily to a decrease in property sales in 2018 relative to 2017, which was offset in part by lower cash outlays for development in 2018 relative to 2017.
 
Net cash flow provided by financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $6.3 million, and included the following:

dividends and/or distributions to equity holders of $28.9 million; offset in part by
net debt borrowings of $25.9 million; and
net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (or units) of $20.0 million.

Net cash flow used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $46.0 million, and included the following:

dividends and/or distributions to equity holders of $31.8 million; and
redemption of preferred shares (or units) of $26.6 million; offset in part by
net proceeds from the issuance of common shares (or units) of $18.2 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPT

COPLP is the entity through which COPT, the sole general partner of COPLP, conducts almost all of its operations and owns almost all of its assets. COPT occasionally issues public equity but does not otherwise generate any capital itself or conduct any business itself, other than incurring certain expenses in operating as a public company which are fully reimbursed by COPLP. COPT itself does not hold any indebtedness, and its only material asset is its ownership of partnership interests of COPLP. COPT’s principal funding requirement is the payment of dividends on its common and preferred shares. COPT’s principal source of funding for its dividend payments is distributions it receives from COPLP.

As of March 31, 2018, COPT owned 97.0% of the outstanding common units in COPLP; the remaining common units and all of the outstanding preferred units were owned by third parties. As the sole general partner of COPLP, COPT has the full, exclusive and complete responsibility for COPLP’s day-to-day management and control.

The liquidity of COPT is dependent on COPLP’s ability to make sufficient distributions to COPT. The primary cash requirement of COPT is its payment of dividends to its shareholders. COPT also guarantees some of the Operating Partnership’s debt, as discussed further in Note 9 of the notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. If the Operating Partnership fails to fulfill certain of its debt requirements, which trigger COPT’s guarantee obligations, then COPT will be required to fulfill its cash payment commitments under such guarantees. However, COPT’s only significant asset is its investment in COPLP.

As discussed further below, we believe the Operating Partnership’s sources of working capital, specifically its cash flow from operations, and borrowings available under its Revolving Credit Facility, are adequate for it to make its distribution payments to COPT and, in turn, for COPT to make its dividend payments to its shareholders.

COPT’s short-term liquidity requirements consist primarily of funds to pay for future dividends expected to be paid to its shareholders. COPT periodically accesses the public equity markets to raise capital by issuing common and/or preferred shares.

For COPT to maintain its qualification as a REIT, it must pay dividends to its shareholders aggregating annually at least 90% of its ordinary taxable income. As a result of this distribution requirement, it cannot rely on retained earnings to fund its ongoing operations to the same extent that some other companies can. COPT may need to continue to raise capital in the equity markets to fund COPLP’s working capital needs, acquisitions and developments.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources of COPLP
 
COPLP’s primary cash requirements are for operating expenses, debt service, development of new properties, improvements to existing properties and acquisitions, to the extent they are pursued in the future.  We expect COPLP to continue to use cash flow provided by operations as the primary source to meet its short-term capital needs, including property operating expenses, general and administrative expenses, interest expense, scheduled principal amortization of debt, distributions to its security holders and improvements to existing properties.  As of March 31, 2018, COPLP had $8.9 million in cash and cash equivalents.

44



 
COPLP’s senior unsecured debt is currently rated investment grade by the three major rating agencies. We aim to maintain an investment grade rating to enable COPLP to use debt comprised of unsecured, primarily fixed-rate debt (including the effect of interest rate swaps) from public markets and banks. COPLP also uses secured nonrecourse debt from institutional lenders and banks, when appropriate. In addition, COPLP periodically raises equity from COPT when COPT accesses the public equity markets by issuing common and/or preferred shares.
 
COPLP uses its Revolving Credit Facility to initially finance much of its investing activities.  COPLP subsequently pays down the facility using cash available from operations and proceeds from long-term borrowings, equity issuances and property sales.  The lenders’ aggregate commitment under the facility is $800.0 million, with the ability for COPLP to increase the lenders’ aggregate commitment to $1.3 billion, provided that there is no default under the facility and subject to the approval of the lenders. The Revolving Credit Facility matures in May 2019, and may be extended by two six-month periods at COPLP’s option, provided that there is no default under the facility and it pays an extension fee of 0.075% of the total availability of the facility. As of March 31, 2018, the maximum borrowing capacity under this facility totaled $800.0 million, of which $647.0 million was available.

As of March 31, 2018, COPT had forward equity sale agreements in place with 6.8 million shares available for future issuance with a settlement value of $200.4 million that we expect to use to fund development costs.

We believe that COPLP’s liquidity and capital resources are adequate for its near-term and longer-term requirements without necessitating property sales.

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2018 (in thousands):
 
For the Periods Ending December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Contractual obligations (1)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Debt (2)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Balloon payments due upon maturity
$

 
$
153,000

 
$
112,132

 
$
300,000

 
$
250,000

 
$
1,026,830

 
$
1,841,962

Scheduled principal payments (3)
3,189

 
4,387

 
4,024

 
3,875

 
4,033

 
6,645

 
26,153

Interest on debt (3)(4)
55,457

 
70,698

 
66,847

 
58,795

 
53,697

 
63,592

 
369,086

New construction and redevelopment obligations (5)(6)
64,283

 
521

 

 

 

 

 
64,804

Third-party construction and development obligations (6)(7)
14,254

 

 

 

 

 

 
14,254

Capital expenditures for operating properties (3)(6)(8)
24,147

 
15,426

 
6,283

 

 

 

 
45,856

Capital lease obligation (principal and interest)
11,628

 

 
135

 

 
75

 

 
11,838

Operating leases (3)
961

 
1,267

 
1,260

 
1,264

 
1,151

 
84,611

 
90,514

Other obligations (3)
446

 
468

 
259

 
182

 
178

 
933

 
2,466

Total contractual cash obligations
$
174,365

 
$
245,767

 
$
190,940

 
$
364,116

 
$
309,134

 
$
1,182,611

 
$
2,466,933


(1)
The contractual obligations set forth in this table exclude property operations contracts that may be terminated with notice of one month or less and also exclude accruals and payables incurred (with the exclusion of debt) and therefore reflected in our reported liabilities.
(2)
Represents scheduled principal amortization payments and maturities only and therefore excludes net debt discounts and deferred financing costs of $13.2 million. As of March 31, 2018, maturities included $153.0 million in 2019 that may be extended to 2020, subject to certain conditions.
(3)
We expect to pay these items using cash flow from operations.
(4)
Represents interest costs for our outstanding debt as of March 31, 2018 for the terms of such debt.  For variable rate debt, the amounts reflected above used March 31, 2018 interest rates on variable rate debt in computing interest costs for the terms of such debt. We expect to pay these items using cash flow from operations.
(5)
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to new development and redevelopment activities.
(6)
Due to the long-term nature of certain construction and development contracts and leases included in these lines, the amounts reported in the table represent our estimate of the timing for the related obligations being payable.
(7)  
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to projects for which we are acting as construction manager on behalf of unrelated parties who are our clients.  We expect to be reimbursed in full for these costs by our clients.
(8)
Represents contractual obligations pertaining to capital expenditures for our operating properties.  We expect to pay these costs primarily using cash flow from operations.
 
We expect to spend approximately $240 million on construction and development costs and approximately $50 million on improvements to operating properties (including the commitments set forth in the table above) during the remainder of 2018

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We expect to fund the construction and development costs initially using primarily borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and proceeds from common shares issued under COPT’s forward equity sale agreements.  We expect to fund improvements to existing operating properties using cash flow from operations.

Certain of our debt instruments require that we comply with a number of restrictive financial covenants, including maximum leverage ratio, unencumbered leverage ratio, minimum net worth, minimum fixed charge coverage, minimum unencumbered interest coverage ratio, minimum debt service and maximum secured indebtedness ratio.  As of March 31, 2018, we were compliant with these covenants.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
 We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Inflation
 
Most of our tenants are obligated to pay their share of a property’s operating expenses to the extent such expenses exceed amounts established in their leases, which are based on historical expense levels.  Some of our tenants are obligated to pay their full share of a building’s operating expenses.  These arrangements somewhat reduce our exposure to increases in such costs resulting from inflation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

Item 3.           Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
We are exposed to certain market risks, one of the most predominant of which is a change in interest rates.  Increases in interest rates can result in increased interest expense under our Revolving Credit Facility and other variable rate debt.  Increases in interest rates can also result in increased interest expense when our fixed rate debt matures and needs to be refinanced.
 
The following table sets forth as of March 31, 2018 our debt obligations and weighted average interest rates on debt maturing each year (dollars in thousands):
 
For the Periods Ending December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Debt:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed rate debt (1)
$
2,902

 
$
3,991

 
$
3,718

 
$
303,875

 
$
4,033

 
$
1,033,475

 
$
1,351,994

Weighted average interest rate
4.37
%
 
4.36
%
 
3.96
%
 
3.70
%
 
3.98
%
 
4.48
%
 
4.30
%
Variable rate debt (2)
$
287

 
$
153,396

 
$
112,438

 
$

 
$
250,000

 
$

 
$
516,121

Weighted average interest rate (3)
3.51
%
 
2.94
%
 
3.12
%
 
%
 
3.02
%
 
%
 
3.02
%

(1)
Represents principal maturities only and therefore excludes net discounts and deferred financing costs of $13.2 million.
(2)
As of March 31, 2018, maturities included $153.0 million in 2019 that may be extended to 2020, subject to certain conditions.
(3)
The amounts reflected above used interest rates as of March 31, 2018 for variable rate debt.

The fair value of our debt was $1.9 billion as of March 31, 2018.  If interest rates had been 1% lower, the fair value of our fixed-rate debt would have increased by approximately $64 million as of March 31, 2018.
 
See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to interest rate swap contracts in place as of March 31, 2018 and their respective fair values.

Based on our variable-rate debt balances, including the effect of interest rate swap contracts, our interest expense would have increased by $434,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2018 if the applicable LIBOR rate was 1% higher.
 

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Item 4.           Controls and Procedures
 
COPT

(a)                                  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of COPT’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2018.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that COPT’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2018 were functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
(b)                                 Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
No change in the COPT’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
 
COPLP

(a)                                  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of COPLP’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2018.  Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that COPLP’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2018 were functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
(b)                                 Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
No change in the COPLP’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.           Legal Proceedings
 
We are not currently involved in any material litigation nor, to our knowledge, is any material litigation currently threatened against the Company or the Operating Partnership (other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, substantially all of which is expected to be covered by liability insurance).
 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Item 2.           Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
(a) 
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, 53,817 of COPLP’s common units were exchanged for 53,817 COPT common shares in accordance with COPLP’s Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended.  The issuance of these common shares was effected in reliance upon the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
(b)
 Not applicable
 

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(c) 
Not applicable
 
Item 3.           Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
(a)          Not applicable
 
(b)         Not applicable
 
Item 4.           Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5.           Other Information
 
None

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Item 6.           Exhibits
 
(a)          Exhibits:
 
EXHIBIT
NO.
 
DESCRIPTION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith).

49



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the undersigned Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
 
CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES, L.P.
 
 
 
By: Corporate Office Properties Trust,
 
 
 
its General Partner
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Stephen E. Budorick
 
/s/ Stephen E. Budorick
 
Stephen E. Budorick
 
Stephen E. Budorick
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Anthony Mifsud
 
/s/ Anthony Mifsud
 
Anthony Mifsud
 
Anthony Mifsud
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
Dated:
May 1, 2018
Dated:
May 1, 2018

50