COPT DEFENSE PROPERTIES - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)


☒			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarterly period ended			September 30, 2021


☐			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

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Maryland						23-2947217
(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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value	OFC	New York Stock Exchange

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. ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). ☒ Yes ☐ 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.

Large accelerated filer

☒

Accelerated filer

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☐

Emerging growth 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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

As of October 22, 2021, 112,324,851 of Corporate Office Properties Trust’s Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q


		PAGE
PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1:	Financial Statements
Consolidated Financial Statements
	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (unaudited)	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)	4
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)	5
	Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)	6
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (unaudited)	8






Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		10
Item 2:	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	30
Item 3:	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	45
Item 4:	Controls and Procedures	45

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1:	Legal Proceedings	45
Item 1A:	Risk Factors	46
Item 2:	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	46
Item 3:	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	46
Item 4:	Mine Safety Disclosures	46
Item 5:	Other Information	46
Item 6:	Exhibits	47

SIGNATURES		48

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets
Properties, net:
Operating properties, net	$	3,227,797	$	3,115,280
Projects in development or held for future development	379,325		447,269
Total properties, net	3,607,122		3,562,549
Property - operating right-of-use assets	38,854		40,570
Property - finance right-of-use assets	40,077		40,425
Assets held for sale, net	2,821		—
Cash and cash equivalents	14,570		18,369
Investment in unconsolidated real estate joint ventures	40,304		29,303
Accounts receivable, net	33,110		41,637
Deferred rent receivable	103,062		92,876
Intangible assets on real estate acquisitions, net	15,788		19,344
Deferred leasing costs (net of accumulated amortization of $31,975 and $30,375, respectively)	62,269		58,613
Investing receivables (net of allowance for credit losses of $1,415 and $2,851, respectively)	75,947		68,754


Prepaid expenses and other assets, net	117,214		104,583
Total assets	$	4,151,138	$	4,077,023
Liabilities and equity
Liabilities:
Debt, net	$	2,159,732	$	2,086,918
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	176,636		142,717
Rents received in advance and security deposits	32,092		33,425
Dividends and distributions payable	31,306		31,231
Deferred revenue associated with operating leases	8,704		10,832
Property - operating lease liabilities	29,630		30,746

Interest rate derivatives	5,562		9,522
Other liabilities	10,691		12,490
Total liabilities	2,454,353		2,357,881
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	26,006		25,430
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 112,325,411 at September 30, 2021 and 112,181,759 at December 31, 2020)	1,123		1,122
Additional paid-in capital	2,480,412		2,478,906
Cumulative distributions in excess of net income	(839,676)		(809,836)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,347)		(9,157)
Total Corporate Office Properties Trust’s shareholders’ equity	1,636,512		1,661,035
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries:
Common units in Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”)	21,568		20,465

Other consolidated entities	12,699		12,212
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	34,267		32,677
Total equity	1,670,779		1,693,712
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$	4,151,138	$	4,077,023

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Revenues
Lease revenue	$	145,749	$	133,875	$	434,031	$	397,034
Other property revenue	841		568		2,146		2,063
Construction contract and other service revenues	28,046		20,323		64,592		46,240
Total revenues	174,636		154,766		500,769		445,337
Operating expenses
Property operating expenses	57,190		51,552		168,780		151,755
Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations	36,611		35,332		111,487		101,540
Construction contract and other service expenses	27,089		19,220		61,964		44,052
Impairment losses	—		1,530		—		1,530
General, administrative and leasing expenses	9,342		7,467		26,970		23,111
Business development expenses and land carry costs	1,093		1,094		3,559		3,474
Total operating expenses	131,325		116,195		372,760		325,462
Interest expense	(15,720)		(17,152)		(49,181)		(50,789)
Interest and other income	1,818		1,746		5,911		5,233
Credit loss recoveries	326		1,465		1,040		161
Gain on sales of real estate	(32)		—		39,711		5
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,159)		(3,237)		(59,553)		(3,237)
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		(53,196)		—		(53,196)
Income (loss) before equity in income of unconsolidated entities and income taxes	28,544		(31,803)		65,937		18,052
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	297		477		779		1,372
Income tax expense	(47)		(16)		(103)		(95)
Net income (loss)	28,794		(31,342)		66,613		19,329
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Common units in COPLP	(357)		386		(831)		(185)
Preferred units in COPLP	—		(77)		—		(231)
Other consolidated entities	(1,336)		(812)		(2,949)		(3,207)



Net income (loss) attributable to COPT common shareholders	$	27,101	$	(31,845)	$	62,833	$	15,706

Earnings per common share: (1)
Net income (loss) attributable to COPT common shareholders - basic	$	0.24	$	(0.29)	$	0.56	$	0.14
Net income (loss) attributable to COPT common shareholders - diluted	$	0.24	$	(0.29)	$	0.56	$	0.14

(1) Basic and diluted earnings per common share are calculated based on amounts attributable to common shareholders of Corporate Office Properties Trust.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net income (loss)	$	28,794	$	(31,342)	$	66,613	$	19,329
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized (loss) income on interest rate derivatives	(118)		1,428		426		(39,592)
Reclassification adjustments on interest rate derivatives recognized in interest expense	1,226		1,342		3,604		2,408
Reclassification adjustments on interest rate derivatives recognized in loss on interest rate derivatives	—		51,865		—		51,865

Total other comprehensive income	1,108		54,635		4,030		14,681
Comprehensive income	29,902		23,293		70,643		34,010
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,733)		(1,173)		(4,000)		(3,408)
Comprehensive income attributable to COPT	$	28,169	$	22,120	$	66,643	$	30,602

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Common Shares		Additional Paid-in Capital		Cumulative Distributions in Excess of Net Income		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Noncontrolling Interests		Total
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Balance at June 30, 2020 (112,183,192 common shares outstanding)	$	1,122	$	2,477,977	$	(797,959)	$	(64,513)	$	40,297	$	1,656,924




Share-based compensation (7,504 shares redeemed, net of issuances)	—		1,223		—		—		561		1,784
Redemption of vested equity awards	—		(57)		—		—		—		(57)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP	—		552		—		—		(552)		—
Comprehensive income	—		—		(31,845)		53,965		533		22,653
Dividends	—		—		(30,843)		—		—		(30,843)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP	—		—		—		—		(444)		(444)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities	—		—		—		—		(7)		(7)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		(374)		—		—		—		(374)

Balance at September 30, 2020 (112,175,688 common shares outstanding)	$	1,122	$	2,479,321	$	(860,647)	$	(10,548)	$	40,388	$	1,649,636

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
Balance at June 30, 2021 (112,336,070 common shares outstanding)	$	1,123	$	2,478,416	$	(835,894)	$	(6,415)	$	34,082	$	1,671,312




Redemption of common units	—		—		—		—		(56)		(56)
Share-based compensation (10,659 shares redeemed, net of issuances)	—		1,064		—		—		1,098		2,162
Redemption of vested equity awards	—		(64)		—		—		—		(64)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP	—		1,051		—		—		(1,051)		—
Comprehensive income	—		—		27,101		1,068		600		28,769
Dividends	—		—		(30,883)		—		—		(30,883)
Distributions to owners of common units in COPLP	—		—		—		—		(398)		(398)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities	—		—		—		—		(8)		(8)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		(55)		—		—		—		(55)

Balance at September 30, 2021 (112,325,411 common shares outstanding)	$	1,123	$	2,480,412	$	(839,676)	$	(5,347)	$	34,267	$	1,670,779

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Common Shares		Additional Paid-in Capital		Cumulative Distributions in Excess of Net Income		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Noncontrolling Interests		Total
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Balance at December 31, 2019 (112,068,705 common shares outstanding)	$	1,121	$	2,481,558	$	(778,275)	$	(25,444)	$	40,285	$	1,719,245
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of credit loss guidance	—		—		(5,541)		—		—		(5,541)
Balance at December 31, 2019, as adjusted	1,121		2,481,558		(783,816)		(25,444)		40,285		1,713,704

Conversion of common units to common shares (12,009 shares)	—		182		—		—		(182)		—



Share-based compensation (94,974 shares issued, net of redemptions)	1		3,394		—		—		1,335		4,730
Redemption of vested equity awards	—		(1,629)		—		—		—		(1,629)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP	—		527		—		—		(527)		—
Comprehensive income	—		—		15,706		14,896		693		31,295
Dividends	—		—		(92,537)		—		—		(92,537)
Distributions to owners of common and preferred units in COPLP	—		—		—		—		(1,306)		(1,306)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities	—		—		—		—		112		112
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities	—		—		—		—		(22)		(22)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		(4,711)		—		—		—		(4,711)

Balance at September 30, 2020 (112,175,688 common shares outstanding)	$	1,122	$	2,479,321	$	(860,647)	$	(10,548)	$	40,388	$	1,649,636

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
Balance at December 31, 2020 (112,181,759 common shares outstanding)	$	1,122	$	2,478,906	$	(809,836)	$	(9,157)	$	32,677	$	1,693,712


Conversion of common units to common shares (8,054 shares)	—		121		—		—		(121)		—
Redemption of common units	—		—		—		—		(297)		(297)


Share-based compensation (135,598 shares issued, net of redemptions)	1		3,239		—		—		3,082		6,322
Redemption of vested equity awards	—		(2,422)		—		—		—		(2,422)
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in ownership of COPLP	—		1,245		—		—		(1,245)		—
Comprehensive income	—		—		62,833		3,810		1,714		68,357
Dividends	—		—		(92,673)		—		—		(92,673)
Distributions to owners of common units in COPLP	—		—		—		—		(1,196)		(1,196)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities	—		—		—		—		(23)		(23)
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		(677)		—		—		—		(677)
Other	—		—		—		—		(324)		(324)

Balance at September 30, 2021 (112,325,411 common shares outstanding)	$	1,123	$	2,480,412	$	(839,676)	$	(5,347)	$	34,267	$	1,670,779

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Revenues from real estate operations received	$	427,448	$	394,094
Construction contract and other service revenues received	68,780		53,911
Property operating expenses paid	(168,009)		(159,007)
Construction contract and other service expenses paid	(50,275)		(45,686)
General, administrative, leasing, business development and land carry costs paid	(22,367)		(24,408)
Interest expense paid	(46,621)		(49,693)
Lease incentives paid	(8,694)		(12,634)





Other	(359)		2,464
Net cash provided by operating activities	199,903		159,041
Cash flows from investing activities
Development and redevelopment of properties	(176,554)		(284,416)

Tenant improvements on operating properties	(15,149)		(23,377)
Other capital improvements on operating properties	(19,256)		(24,797)


Proceeds from sale of properties	114,050		—
Non-operating distributions from unconsolidated real estate joint venture	872		2,287

Leasing costs paid	(14,929)		(12,455)


Settlement of interest rate derivatives	—		(53,130)
Other	(1,026)		(321)
Net cash used in investing activities	(111,992)		(396,209)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt
Revolving Credit Facility	456,000		409,000
Unsecured senior notes	987,210		395,264
Other debt proceeds	4,630		199,088
Repayments of debt
Revolving Credit Facility	(589,000)		(529,000)
Unsecured senior notes	(600,000)		(122,948)

Scheduled principal amortization	(2,911)		(3,077)
Other debt repayments	(188,960)		—
Deferred financing costs paid	(2,662)		(2,161)



Payments in connection with early extinguishment of debt	(55,720)		(3,037)
Common share dividends paid	(92,632)		(92,512)



Distributions paid to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1,687)		(13,515)
Redemption of vested equity awards	(2,422)		(1,629)
Other	(3,645)		(1,760)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(91,799)		233,713
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	(3,888)		(3,455)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period	22,033		18,130
End of period	$	18,145	$	14,675

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	$	66,613	$	19,329
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and other amortization	113,676		102,864
Impairment losses	—		1,530


Amortization of deferred financing costs and net debt discounts	3,969		3,104
Increase in deferred rent receivable	(13,515)		(3,560)
Gain on sales of real estate	(39,711)		(5)

Share-based compensation	5,960		4,753
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	59,553		3,237
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		53,196
Other	(3,708)		(4,184)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	6,269		(744)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, net	(13,120)		(13,164)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	15,250		(3,971)
Decrease in rents received in advance and security deposits	(1,333)		(3,344)

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	199,903	$	159,041
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	$	18,369	$	14,733
Restricted cash at beginning of period	3,664		3,397
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	$	22,033	$	18,130

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	14,570	$	11,458
Restricted cash at end of period	3,575		3,217
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	18,145	$	14,675
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in accrued capital improvements, leasing and other investing activity costs	$	17,590	$	(195)


Recognition of operating right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities	$	328	$	8,955




Investment in unconsolidated real estate joint venture retained in property disposition	$	11,842	$	—






Increase (decrease) in fair value of derivatives applied to accumulated other comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interests	$	4,030	$	(37,183)

Dividends/distributions payable	$	31,306	$	31,307

Decrease in noncontrolling interests and increase in shareholders’ equity in connection with the conversion of common units into common shares	$	121	$	182
Adjustments to noncontrolling interests resulting from changes in COPLP ownership	$	(1,245)	$	(527)
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests and decrease in equity to carry redeemable noncontrolling interests at fair value	$	677	$	4,711

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Corporate Office Properties Trust and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1. Organization

Corporate Office Properties Trust (“COPT”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we” or “us”) is a fully-integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). 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 (“USG”) 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 September 30, 2021, our properties included the following:

•186 properties totaling 21.7 million square feet comprised of 16.9 million square feet in 160 office properties and 4.7 million square feet in 26 single-tenant data center shell properties (“data center shells”). We owned 19 of these data center shells through unconsolidated real estate joint ventures;

•a wholesale data center with a capacity of 19.25 megawatts;

•13 properties under development (10 office properties and three data center shells), including three partially-operational properties, that we estimate will total approximately 1.8 million square feet upon completion; and

•approximately 720 acres of land controlled for future development that we believe could be developed into approximately 8.9 million square feet and 43 acres of other land.

We conduct almost all of our operations and own almost all of our assets through our operating partnership, Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (“COPLP”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Operating Partnership”), of which COPT is the sole general partner. 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, development and construction 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 September 30, 2021, COPT owned 98.3% of the outstanding COPLP common units (“common units”) and there were no preferred units outstanding. 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 common units to quarterly distributions and payments in liquidation is substantially the same as that of COPT common shareholders.

COPT’s common shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “OFC”.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The 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. 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.

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.

When we own an equity investment in an entity and cannot exert significant influence over its operations, we measure the investment at fair value, with changes recognized through net income. For an investment without a readily determinable fair value, we measure the investment at cost, less any impairments, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

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, 2020 included in the Company’s and Operating Partnership’s 2020 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 the Company’s and Operating Partnership’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K as updated for our adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

Reclassifications

We reclassified certain amounts from the prior period to conform to the current period presentation of our consolidated financial statements with no effect on previously reported net income or equity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance containing practical expedients for reference rate reform related activities pertaining to debt, leases, derivatives and other contracts. The guidance is optional and may be elected over time as reference rate reform activities occur. In 2020, we elected to apply an expedient to treat any changes in loans resulting from reference rate reform as debt modifications (as opposed to extinguishments) and hedge accounting expedients related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness for future LIBOR-indexed cash flows to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of the hedge accounting expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. We will continue to evaluate the impact of this guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.

3. Fair Value Measurements

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

We have a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan for Trustees and certain members of our management team that, prior to December 31, 2019, permitted participants to defer up to 100% of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and receive a tax-deferred return on such deferrals. Effective December 31, 2019, no new investments of deferred compensation were eligible for the plan. 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 our consolidated balance sheets using quoted market prices, as are other marketable securities that we hold. The balance of the plan, which was fully funded and totaled $2.6 million as of September 30, 2021, is included in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheets along with an insignificant amount of other marketable securities. 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 our 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 September 30, 2021, 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. The fair values of our investing receivables, as disclosed in Note 7, were 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.

For additional fair value information, refer to Note 7 for investing receivables, Note 9 for debt and Note 10 for interest rate derivatives.

The table below sets forth our financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2021 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	$	2,545	$	—	$	—	$	2,545
Other	71		—		—		71
Other marketable securities (1)	33		—		—		33
Interest rate derivatives (1)	—		70		—		70
Total assets	$	2,649	$	70	$	—	$	2,719
Liabilities:
Deferred compensation plan liability (2)	$	—	$	2,616	$	—	$	2,616
Interest rate derivatives	—		5,562		—		5,562
Total liabilities	$	—	$	8,178	$	—	$	8,178

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

(2)Included in the line entitled “other liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheet.

4. Properties, Net

Operating properties, net consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Land	$	539,899	$	528,269
Buildings and improvements	3,890,678		3,711,264
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(1,202,780)		(1,124,253)
Operating properties, net	$	3,227,797	$	3,115,280

As of September 30, 2021, we had one property in our data center shells sub-segment previously removed from service that was classified as assets held for sale, net on our consolidated balance sheet, the sole component of which was properties, net.

2021 Dispositions

On June 2, 2021, we sold a 90% interest in two data center shell properties in Northern Virginia based on an aggregate property value of $118.8 million and retained a 10% interest in the properties through B RE COPT DC JV III LLC, a newly-formed joint venture. Our partner in the joint venture acquired the 90% interest from us for $106.9 million. We account for our interest in the joint venture using the equity method of accounting as described further in Note 6. We recognized a gain on sale of $40.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

2021 Development Activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we placed into service 709,000 square feet in six newly-developed properties. As of September 30, 2021, we had 13 properties under development, including three partially-operational properties, that we estimate will total 1.8 million square feet upon completion.

5. Leases

Lessor Arrangements

We lease real estate properties, comprised primarily of office properties and data center shells, to third parties. These leases encompass all, or a portion, of properties, with various expiration dates. Our lease revenue is comprised of: fixed lease revenue, including contractual rent billings under leases recognized on a straight-line basis over lease terms and amortization of lease incentives and above- and below- market lease intangibles; and variable lease revenue, including tenant expense recoveries, lease termination revenue and other revenue from tenants that is not fixed under the lease. The table below sets forth our composition of lease revenue recognized between fixed and variable lease revenue (in thousands):


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Lease revenue	2021		2020		2021		2020
Fixed	$	114,309	$	106,743	$	340,157	$	314,845
Variable	31,440		27,132		93,874		82,189
	$	145,749	$	133,875	$	434,031	$	397,034

Fixed contractual payments due under our property leases were as follows (in thousands):


	As of September 30, 2021
Year Ending December 31,	Operating leases		Sales-type leases

2021 (1)	$	109,800	$	221
2022	418,746		960
2023	370,652		960
2024	323,198		960
2025	241,090		960
Thereafter	1,020,675		4,516
Total contractual payments	$	2,484,161	8,577
Less: Amount representing interest			(2,277)
Net investment in sales-type leases			$	6,300

(1)Represents the three months ending December 31, 2021.

Lessee Arrangements

As of September 30, 2021, our balance sheet included $78.9 million in right-of-use assets associated primarily with land leased from third parties underlying certain properties that we are operating with various expiration dates. Our property right-of-use assets consisted of the following (in thousands):


Leases	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Right-of-use assets
Operating leases - Property	Property - operating right-of-use assets	$	38,854	$	40,570
Finance leases - Property (1)	Property - finance right-of-use assets	40,077		40,425
Total right-of-use assets		$	78,931	$	80,995

(1)On October 22, 2021, we acquired land leased in Washington, D.C., for which we had a $37.8 million right-of-use asset as of September 30, 2021, for a nominal amount under a bargain purchase option.

Property lease liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):


Leases	Balance Sheet Location	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Lease liabilities
Operating leases - Property	Property - operating lease liabilities	$	29,630	$	30,746
Finance leases - Property	Other liabilities	14		28
Total lease liabilities		$	29,644	$	30,774

The table below sets forth the weighted average terms and discount rates of our property leases as of September 30, 2021:


Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases	51 years
Finance leases	< 1 year
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases	7.16	%
Finance leases	3.62	%

The table below presents our total property lease cost (in thousands):


	Statement of Operations Location	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Lease cost		2021		2020		2021		2020
Operating lease cost
Property leases - fixed	Property operating expenses	$	1,013	$	598	$	2,999	$	1,465
Property leases - variable	Property operating expenses	11		107		31		116
Finance lease cost
Amortization of property right-of-use assets	Property operating expenses	5		9		23		27

		$	1,029	$	714	$	3,053	$	1,608

The table below presents the effect of property lease payments on our consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
Supplemental cash flow information	2021		2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows for operating leases	$	2,399	$	987

Financing cash flows for financing leases	$	14	$	674

Payments on property leases were due as follows (in thousands):


	As of September 30, 2021
Year Ending December 31,	Operating leases		Finance leases		Total
2021 (1)	$	807	$	—	$	807
2022	3,297		14		3,311
2023	3,352		—		3,352
2024	3,403		—		3,403
2025	1,749		—		1,749
Thereafter	123,979		—		123,979
Total lease payments	136,587		14		136,601
Less: Amount representing interest	(106,957)		—		(106,957)
Lease liability	$	29,630	$	14	$	29,644

(1)Represents the three months ending December 31, 2021.

6. Real Estate Joint Ventures

Consolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures

The table below sets forth information pertaining to our investments in consolidated real estate joint ventures as of September 30, 2021 (dollars in thousands):


				September 30, 2021 (1)
	Date Acquired	Nominal Ownership %		Total Assets		Encumbered Assets		Total Liabilities
Entity			Location
LW Redstone Company, LLC (2)	3/23/2010	85%	Huntsville, Alabama	$	453,496	$	90,295	$	99,173
Stevens Investors, LLC	8/11/2015	95%	Washington, DC	164,189		—		859
M Square Associates, LLC	6/26/2007	50%	College Park, Maryland	100,634		60,950		52,527
				$	718,319	$	151,245	$	152,559

(1)Excludes amounts eliminated in consolidation.

(2)We fund all capital requirements. Our partner generally receives distributions of the first $1.2 million of annual operating cash flows and we receive the remainder.

On August 11, 2021, we entered into a $112.0 million construction loan with Stevens Investors, LLC to enable it to early extinguish a third party construction loan. Our loan to the joint venture, which is eliminated in consolidation, carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.35% and had a balance of $90.5 million as of September 30, 2021. The loan matures on August 11, 2024, and we have priority for repayment in full of borrowings and accrued interest on the loan over partner distributions of any future refinancing proceeds or other available cash flows.

Unconsolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures

The table below sets forth information pertaining to our investments in unconsolidated real estate joint ventures accounted for using the equity method of accounting (dollars in thousands):


	Date Acquired	Nominal Ownership %	Number of Properties	Carrying Value of Investment (1)
Entity				September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
B RE COPT DC JV II LLC (2)	10/30/2020	10%	8	$	15,735	$	15,988
BREIT COPT DC JV LLC	6/20/2019	10%	9	12,620		13,315
B RE COPT DC JV III LLC	6/2/2021	10%	2	11,949		—
			19	$	40,304	$	29,303

(1)Included in the line entitled “investment in unconsolidated real estate joint ventures” on our consolidated balance sheets.

(2)Our investment in B RE COPT DC JV II LLC was lower than our share of the joint venture’s equity by $7.3 million as of September 30, 2021 and $7.4 million as of December 31, 2020 due to a difference between our cost basis and our share of the joint venture’s underlying equity in its net assets. We recognize adjustments to our share of the joint venture’s earnings and losses resulting from this basis difference in the underlying assets of the joint venture.

As described further in Note 4, on June 2, 2021, we sold a 90% interest in two data center shell properties in Northern Virginia and retained a 10% interest in the properties through B RE COPT DC JV III LLC, a newly-formed joint venture. We concluded that the joint venture is a variable interest entity. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, we and our partner receive returns in proportion to our investments, and our maximum exposure to losses is limited to our investment, subject to certain indemnification obligations with respect to any nonrecourse debt secured by the properties. The nature of our involvement in the activities of the joint venture does not give us power over decisions that significantly affect its economic performance.

7. Investing Receivables

Investing receivables consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Notes receivable from the City of Huntsville	$	71,322	$	65,564
Other investing loans receivable	6,040		6,041
Amortized cost basis	77,362		71,605
Allowance for credit losses	(1,415)		(2,851)
Investing receivables, net	$	75,947	$	68,754

The balances above include accrued interest receivable, net of allowance for credit losses, of $3.6 million as of September 30, 2021 and $4.8 million as of December 31, 2020.

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%. Our other investing loans receivable carry an interest rate of 8.0%.

The fair value of these receivables was approximately $78 million as of September 30, 2021 and $73 million as of December 31, 2020.

8. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets, Net

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Lease incentives, net	$	40,150	$	35,642
Prepaid expenses	26,815		19,690
Construction contract costs in excess of billings, net	12,987		10,343
Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net	10,008		10,433
Net investment in sales-type leases	6,300		6,573
Non-real estate equity investments	5,545		5,509
Restricted cash	3,575		3,664
Marketable securities in deferred compensation plan	2,616		3,027
Deferred tax asset, net (1)	1,883		1,989
Deferred financing costs, net (2)	1,595		2,439

Other assets	5,740		5,274
Prepaid expenses and other assets, net	$	117,214	$	104,583

(1)Includes a valuation allowance of $24,000 as of September 30, 2021 and $201,000 as of December 31, 2020.

(2)Represents deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization, attributable to our Revolving Credit Facility and interest rate derivatives.

9. Debt, Net

Our debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):



	Carrying Value (1) as of
	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020			September 30, 2021
					Stated Interest Rates		Scheduled Maturity
Mortgage and Other Secured Debt:
Fixed rate mortgage debt (2)	$	137,310	$	139,991		3.82% - 4.62% (3)		2023-2026
Variable rate secured debt	33,698		115,119			LIBOR + 1.45% to 1.55% (4)		2025-2026
Total mortgage and other secured debt	171,008		255,110
Revolving Credit Facility (5)	10,000		143,000			LIBOR + 0.775% to 1.45% (6)		March 2023 (5)
Term Loan Facility	299,274		398,447			LIBOR + 1.00% to 1.65% (7)		December 2022
Unsecured Senior Notes
5.00%, $300,000 aggregate principal	298,235		297,915			5.00% (8)		July 2025
2.25%, $400,000 aggregate principal	395,232		394,464			2.25% (9)		March 2026
2.00%, $400,000 aggregate principal	396,394		—			2.00% (10)		January 2029
2.75%, $600,000 aggregate principal	588,798		—			2.75% (10)		April 2031
3.60%, $350,000 aggregate principal	—		348,888			3.60% (11)		N/A (11)
5.25%, $250,000 aggregate principal	—		248,194			5.25% (12)		N/A (12)
Unsecured note payable	791		900			0% (13)		May 2026
Total debt, net	$	2,159,732	$	2,086,918

(1)The carrying values of our debt other than the Revolving Credit Facility reflect net deferred financing costs of $5.4 million as of September 30, 2021 and $5.9 million as of December 31, 2020.

(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 $108,000 as of September 30, 2021 and $155,000 as of December 31, 2020.

(3)The weighted average interest rate on our fixed rate mortgage debt was 4.16% as of September 30, 2021.

(4)The weighted average interest rate on our variable rate secured debt was 1.60% as of September 30, 2021.

(5)The facility matures in March 2023, 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. In connection with this facility, we also have the ability to borrow up to $500.0 million under new term loans from the facility’s lender group provided that there is no default under the facility and subject to the approval of the lenders.

(6)The weighted average interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 1.19% as of September 30, 2021.

(7)The interest rate on this loan was 1.09% as of September 30, 2021.

(8)The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $1.5 million as of September 30, 2021 and $1.8 million as of December 31, 2020. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.15%.

(9)The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $3.9 million as of September 30, 2021 and $4.5 million as of December 31, 2020. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 2.48%.

(10)Refer to paragraph below for further disclosure.

(11)The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $781,000 as of December 31, 2020. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 3.70%. Refer to paragraph below for further disclosure.

(12)The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $1.6 million as of December 31, 2020. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of the issuance costs, was 5.49%. Refer to paragraph below for further disclosure.

(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 $120,000 as of September 30, 2021 and $161,000 as of December 31, 2020.

All debt is owed by the Operating Partnership. While COPT is not directly obligated by any debt, it has guaranteed COPLP’s Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan Facility and Unsecured Senior Notes.

We issued the following unsecured senior notes in 2021:

•$600.0 million of 2.75% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2.75% Notes”) at an initial offering price of 98.95% of their face value on March 11, 2021, resulting in proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts, but before other offering expenses, of $589.8 million. The notes mature on April 15, 2031. The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $9.7 million as of September 30, 2021. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of discount and issuance costs, was 2.94%; and

•$400.0 million of 2.00% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2.00% Notes”) at an initial offering price of 99.97% of their face value on August 11, 2021, resulting in proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts, but before other offering

expenses, of $397.4 million. The notes mature on January 15, 2029. The carrying value of these notes reflects an unamortized discount totaling $2.6 million as of September 30, 2021. The effective interest rate under the notes, including amortization of discount and issuance costs, was 2.09%.

We may redeem these notes, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to its present value, on a semi-annual basis at an adjusted treasury rate plus a spread (25 basis points for the 2.75% Notes and 20 basis points for the 2.00% Notes), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption. However, if this redemption occurs on or after January 15, 2031 for the 2.75% Notes or November 15, 2028 for the 2.00% Notes, the redemption price will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. These notes are unconditionally guaranteed by COPT.

With regard to our 3.60% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “3.60% Notes”) and 5.25% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “5.25% Notes”), we:

•effective March 11, 2021, purchased pursuant to tender offers $184.4 million of 3.60% Notes for $196.7 million and $145.6 million of 5.25% Notes for $164.7 million, plus accrued interest; and

•on April 12, 2021, redeemed the remaining $165.6 million of 3.60% Notes for $176.3 million and $104.4 million of 5.25% Notes for $117.7 million, plus accrued interest.

In connection with these purchases and redemptions, we recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $58.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

On August 11, 2021, we repaid $100.0 million of our term loan facility.

Certain of our debt instruments require that we comply with a number of restrictive financial covenants. As of September 30, 2021, we were compliant with these financial covenants.

We capitalized interest costs of $1.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2021, $2.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020, $5.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $9.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

The following table sets forth information pertaining to the fair value of our debt (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Fixed-rate debt
Unsecured Senior Notes	$	1,678,659	$	1,723,267	$	1,289,461	$	1,334,342
Other fixed-rate debt	138,101		136,653		140,891		142,838
Variable-rate debt	342,972		343,577		656,566		654,102
	$	2,159,732	$	2,203,497	$	2,086,918	$	2,131,282

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	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
$	100,000		1.901%	One-Month LIBOR	9/1/2016	12/1/2022	$	(2,065)	$	(3,394)
$	100,000		1.905%	One-Month LIBOR	9/1/2016	12/1/2022	(2,070)		(3,401)
$	50,000		1.908%	One-Month LIBOR	9/1/2016	12/1/2022	(1,036)		(1,704)
$	11,180	(1)	1.678%	One-Month LIBOR	8/1/2019	8/1/2026	(391)		(733)
$	23,000	(2)	0.573%	One-Month LIBOR	4/1/2020	3/26/2025	70		(290)
							$	(5,492)	$	(9,522)

(1)The notional amount of this instrument is scheduled to amortize to $10.0 million.

(2)The notional amount of this instrument is scheduled to amortize to $22.1 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	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges	Prepaid expenses and other assets, net	$	70	$	—
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges	Interest rate derivatives (liabilities)	$	(5,562)	$	(9,522)

The tables below presents the effect of our interest rate derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (in thousands):


	Amount of (Loss) Income Recognized in AOCL on Derivatives								Amount of Loss Reclassified from AOCL into Interest Expense on Statement of Operations
Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,				For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020
Interest rate derivatives	$	(118)	$	1,428	$	426	$	(39,592)	$	(1,226)	$	(1,342)	$	(3,604)	$	(2,408)


	Amount of Loss Reclassified from AOCL into Loss on Interest Rate Derivatives on Statement of Operations								Amount of Loss Recognized on Undesignated Swaps in Loss on Interest Rate Derivatives on Statement of Operations
Derivatives in Hedging Relationships	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,				For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020		2021		2020
Interest rate derivatives	$	—	$	(51,865)	$	—	$	(51,865)	$	—	$	(1,265)	$	—	$	(1,265)

Based on the fair value of our derivatives as of September 30, 2021, we estimate that approximately $4.8 million of losses will be reclassified from AOCL as an increase to interest expense over the next 12 months.

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. As of September 30, 2021, we were not in default with any of these provisions. As of September 30, 2021, the fair value of interest rate derivatives in a liability position related to these agreements was $5.6 million, excluding the effects of accrued interest and credit valuation adjustments. As of September 30, 2021, we had not posted any collateral related to these agreements. If we breach any of these provisions, we could be required to settle our obligations under the agreements at their termination value, which was $6.0 million as of September 30, 2021.

11. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Our partners in two real estate joint ventures, LW Redstone Company, LLC and Stevens Investors, LLC, 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. The table below sets forth the activity for these redeemable noncontrolling interests (in thousands):


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	25,430	$	29,431

Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,387)		(13,335)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,286		2,715
Adjustment to arrive at fair value of interests	677		4,711
Ending balance	$	26,006	$	23,522

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, occupancy projections and estimated operating and development expenditures.

12. Equity

Common Shares

As of September 30, 2021, we had remaining capacity under our at-the-market stock offering program equal to an aggregate gross sales price of $300 million in common share sales.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, certain COPLP limited partners converted 8,054 common units in COPLP for an equal number of common shares.

We declared dividends per common share of $0.275 in the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and $0.825 in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

See Note 16 for disclosure of COPT common share and COPLP common unit activity pertaining to our share-based compensation plans.

13. Credit Losses, Financial Assets and Other Instruments

The table below sets forth the activity for the allowance for credit losses (in thousands):


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
	Investing Receivables		Tenant Notes Receivable (1)		Other Assets (2)		Total
December 31, 2020	$	2,851	$	1,203	$	643	$	4,697

Credit loss (recoveries) expense	(1,436)		(114)		510		(1,040)



September 30, 2021	$	1,415	$	1,089	$	1,153	$	3,657

(1)Included in the line entitled “accounts receivable, net” on our consolidated balance sheets.

(2)The balance as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 included $705,000 and $257,000, respectively, in the line entitled “accounts receivable, net” and $448,000 and $386,000, respectively, in the line entitled “prepaid expenses and other assets, net” on our consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of our investing receivables, tenant notes receivable and sales-type lease receivables by credit risk classification, by origination year as of September 30, 2021 (in thousands):


	Origination Year
	2016 and Earlier		2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Total
Investing receivables:
Credit risk classification:
Investment grade	$	68,773	$	1,043	$	—	$	—	$	1,057	$	449	$	71,322
Non-investment grade	—		—		—		6,040		—		—		6,040
Total	$	68,773	$	1,043	$	—	$	6,040	$	1,057	$	449	$	77,362

Tenant notes receivable:
Credit risk classification:
Investment grade	$	—	$	—	$	949	$	69	$	297	$	—	$	1,315
Non-investment grade	221		—		141		147		1,763		—		2,272
Total	$	221	$	—	$	1,090	$	216	$	2,060	$	—	$	3,587

Sales-type lease receivables:
Credit risk classification:
Investment grade	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	6,300	$	—	$	6,300

Our investment grade credit risk classification represents entities with investment grade credit ratings from ratings agencies (such as Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch Ratings Ltd.), meaning that they are considered to have at least an adequate capacity to meet their financial commitments, with credit risk ranging from minimal to moderate. Our non-investment grade credit risk classification represents entities with either no credit agency credit ratings or ratings deemed to be sub-investment grade; we believe that there is significantly more credit risk associated with this classification. The credit risk classifications of our investing receivables and tenant notes receivable were last updated in September 2021.

An insignificant portion of the investing and tenant notes receivables set forth above was past due, which we define as being delinquent by more than three months from the due date.

Notes receivable on nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were not significant. We did not recognize any interest income on notes receivable on nonaccrual status during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

14. 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 (“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 fund the costs for the power, fiber connectivity and data center infrastructure).

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 our 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, right-of-use assets, net of related lease liabilities, 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):


	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		Operating Wholesale Data Center		Other		Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
Revenues from real estate operations	$	66,029	$	15,291	$	14,519	$	8,558	$	9,144	$	6,913	$	120,454	$	16,810	$	8,637	$	689	$	146,590
Property operating expenses	(22,956)		(5,980)		(6,935)		(3,454)		(3,003)		(657)		(42,985)		(8,395)		(5,345)		(465)		(57,190)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT	—		—		—		—		—		1,060		1,060		—		—		—		1,060
NOI from real estate operations	$	43,073	$	9,311	$	7,584	$	5,104	$	6,141	$	7,316	$	78,529	$	8,415	$	3,292	$	224	$	90,460
Additions to long-lived assets	$	10,671	$	1,614	$	—	$	897	$	107	$	—	$	13,289	$	5,319	$	1,141	$	69	$	19,818
Transfers from non-operating properties	$	53,935	$	87,986	$	7,332	$	—	$	5,519	$	421	$	155,193	$	381	$	—	$	—	$	155,574
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Revenues from real estate operations	$	63,328	$	14,699	$	12,602	$	8,006	$	6,079	$	7,995	$	112,709	$	14,913	$	6,068	$	753	$	134,443
Property operating expenses	(21,537)		(5,245)		(7,116)		(3,044)		(2,029)		(861)		(39,832)		(7,782)		(3,642)		(296)		(51,552)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT	—		—		—		—		—		1,752		1,752		—		—		—		1,752
NOI from real estate operations	$	41,791	$	9,454	$	5,486	$	4,962	$	4,050	$	8,886	$	74,629	$	7,131	$	2,426	$	457	$	84,643
Additions to long-lived assets	$	7,511	$	2,219	$	—	$	1,650	$	6,382	$	—	$	17,762	$	5,303	$	1,917	$	(3)	$	24,979
Transfers from non-operating properties	$	(209)	$	58	$	221	$	—	$	61,520	$	65,269	$	126,859	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	126,859
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
Revenues from real estate operations	$	197,315	$	45,214	$	40,762	$	25,401	$	26,172	$	23,770	$	358,634	$	50,371	$	24,902	$	2,270	$	436,177
Property operating expenses	(69,341)		(17,394)		(21,315)		(10,114)		(8,525)		(2,516)		(129,205)		(23,901)		(14,395)		(1,279)		(168,780)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT	—		—		—		—		—		2,950		2,950		—		—		—		2,950
NOI from real estate operations	$	127,974	$	27,820	$	19,447	$	15,287	$	17,647	$	24,204	$	232,379	$	26,470	$	10,507	$	991	$	270,347
Additions to long-lived assets	$	29,063	$	2,921	$	—	$	2,654	$	3,418	$	—	$	38,056	$	13,430	$	1,490	$	82	$	53,058
Transfers from non-operating properties	$	55,075	$	88,099	$	56,601	$	—	$	19,724	$	2,423	$	221,922	$	38,738	$	—	$	—	$	260,660
Segment assets at September 30, 2021	$	1,315,101	$	470,077	$	196,624	$	172,381	$	299,184	$	353,340	$	2,806,707	$	538,080	$	194,576	$	3,508	$	3,542,871
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Revenues from real estate operations	$	190,464	$	42,824	$	37,935	$	24,466	$	15,402	$	20,648	$	331,739	$	45,535	$	19,695	$	2,128	$	399,097
Property operating expenses	(63,618)		(15,765)		(21,696)		(9,500)		(5,488)		(2,307)		(118,374)		(22,207)		(10,338)		(836)		(151,755)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT	—		—		—		—		—		5,190		5,190		—		—		—		5,190
NOI from real estate operations	$	126,846	$	27,059	$	16,239	$	14,966	$	9,914	$	23,531	$	218,555	$	23,328	$	9,357	$	1,292	$	252,532
Additions to long-lived assets	$	22,144	$	8,114	$	—	$	5,518	$	6,698	$	—	$	42,474	$	13,105	$	10,699	$	165	$	66,443
Transfers from non-operating properties	$	4,304	$	838	$	381	$	—	$	91,827	$	171,465	$	268,815	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	268,815
Segment assets at September 30, 2020	$	1,264,547	$	392,226	$	143,206	$	180,337	$	234,355	$	446,530	$	2,661,201	$	387,290	$	204,834	$	3,643	$	3,256,968

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 September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Segment revenues from real estate operations	$	146,590	$	134,443	$	436,177	$	399,097
Construction contract and other service revenues	28,046		20,323		64,592		46,240
Total revenues	$	174,636	$	154,766	$	500,769	$	445,337

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 September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
UJV NOI allocable to COPT	$	1,060	$	1,752	$	2,950	$	5,190
Less: Income from UJV allocable to COPT attributable to depreciation and amortization expense and interest expense	(763)		(1,274)		(2,167)		(3,814)
Add: Equity in loss of unconsolidated non-real estate entities	—		(1)		(4)		(4)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	$	297	$	477	$	779	$	1,372

As previously discussed, we provide real estate services such as property management, development and construction 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 September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Construction contract and other service revenues	$	28,046	$	20,323	$	64,592	$	46,240
Construction contract and other service expenses	(27,089)		(19,220)		(61,964)		(44,052)
NOI from service operations	$	957	$	1,103	$	2,628	$	2,188

The following table reconciles our NOI from real estate operations for reportable segments and NOI from service operations to net income as reported on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
NOI from real estate operations	$	90,460	$	84,643	$	270,347	$	252,532
NOI from service operations	957		1,103		2,628		2,188
Interest and other income	1,818		1,746		5,911		5,233
Credit loss recoveries	326		1,465		1,040		161
Gain on sales of real estate	(32)		—		39,711		5
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	297		477		779		1,372
Income tax expense	(47)		(16)		(103)		(95)
Depreciation and other amortization associated with real estate operations	(36,611)		(35,332)		(111,487)		(101,540)
Impairment losses	—		(1,530)		—		(1,530)
General, administrative and leasing expenses	(9,342)		(7,467)		(26,970)		(23,111)
Business development expenses and land carry costs	(1,093)		(1,094)		(3,559)		(3,474)
Interest expense	(15,720)		(17,152)		(49,181)		(50,789)
UJV NOI allocable to COPT included in equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(1,060)		(1,752)		(2,950)		(5,190)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,159)		(3,237)		(59,553)		(3,237)
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		(53,196)		—		(53,196)
Net income (loss)	$	28,794	$	(31,342)	$	66,613	$	19,329

The following table reconciles our segment assets to our consolidated total assets (in thousands):


	September 30, 2021		September 30, 2020
Segment assets	$	3,542,871	$	3,256,968
Operating properties lease liabilities included in segment assets	29,644		26,054
Non-operating property assets	385,025		642,182
Other assets	193,598		194,985
Total consolidated assets	$	4,151,138	$	4,120,189

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those used to prepare our consolidated financial statements. In the segment reporting presented above, we did not allocate interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment losses, gain on sales of real estate, loss on early extinguishment of debt, loss on interest rate derivatives 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, credit loss (expense) recoveries, income taxes and noncontrolling interests because these items represent general corporate or non-operating property items not attributable to segments.

15. Construction Contract and Other Service Revenues

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 September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Construction contract revenue:
Guaranteed maximum price	$	15,846	$	4,358	$	29,335	$	14,834
Cost-plus fee	4,742		13,249		23,075		20,121
Firm fixed price	7,042		1,365		10,954		9,421
Other	416		1,351		1,228		1,864
	$	28,046	$	20,323	$	64,592	$	46,240

The table below reports construction contract and other service revenues by service type (in thousands):


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Construction contract revenue:
Construction	$	26,893	$	18,786	$	61,477	$	42,520
Design	737		186		1,887		1,856
Other	416		1,351		1,228		1,864
	$	28,046	$	20,323	$	64,592	$	46,240

We recognized an insignificant amount of revenue in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in previous periods.

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 Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	13,997	$	12,378
Ending balance	$	5,726	$	11,183

Contract assets, which we refer to herein as construction contract costs in excess of billings, net, 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 Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	10,343	$	17,223
Ending balance	$	12,987	$	13,980

Contract liabilities are included in other liabilities reported on our consolidated balance sheets. Changes in contract liabilities were as follows (in thousands):


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	4,610	$	1,184
Ending balance	$	3,818	$	5,236
Portion of beginning balance recognized in revenue during:
Three months ended September 30	$	9	$	19
Nine months ended September 30	$	2,626	$	757

Revenue allocated to the remaining performance obligations under existing contracts as of September 30, 2021 that will be recognized as revenue in future periods was $159.2 million, of which we expect to recognize approximately $29 million in the three months ending December 31, 2021 and most of the remainder in 2022.

We have no deferred incremental costs incurred to obtain or fulfill our construction contracts or other service revenues as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Our credit loss expense on construction contracts receivables and unbilled construction revenue totaled $412,000 and $463,000 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and was insignificant in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

16. Share-Based Compensation

Restricted Shares

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, certain employees and non-employee members of our Board of Trustees (“Trustees”) were granted a total of 165,770 restricted common shares with an aggregate grant date fair value of $4.4 million (weighted average of $26.25 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 employee remains employed by us. Restricted shares granted to non-employee Trustees vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, forfeiture restrictions lapsed on 157,066 previously issued common shares; these shares had a weighted average grant date fair value of $25.88 per share, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the shares on the vesting dates was $4.1 million.

Performance Share Awards (“PSUs”)

We issued 93,824 common shares on February 3, 2021 to executives in settlement of PSUs granted in 2018, representing 200% of the target awards for those PSUs.

Profit Interest Units in COPLP (“PIUs”)

We granted two forms of PIUs: time-based PIUs (“TB-PIUs”); and performance-based PIUs (“PB-PIUs”). TB-PIUs are subject to forfeiture restrictions until the end of the requisite service period, at which time the TB-PIUs automatically convert into vested PIUs. PB-PIUs are subject to a market condition in that the number of earned awards are determined at the end of the performance period (as described further below) and then settled in vested PIUs. Vested PIUs carry substantially the same rights to redemption and distributions as non-PIU common units.

TB-PIUs

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we granted 93,983 TB-PIUs with an aggregate grant date fair value of $2.5 million (weighted average of $26.16 per TB-PIU) to senior management team members and certain non-employee Trustees. TB-PIUs granted to senior management team members generally vest in equal annual increments over a three-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant provided that the employee remains employed by us. TB-PIUs granted to non-employee Trustees vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position. Prior to vesting, TB-PIUs carry substantially the same rights to distributions as non-PIU common units but carry no redemption rights. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, forfeiture restrictions lapsed on 40,591 previously issued TB-PIUs; these TB-PIUs had a weighted average grant date fair value of $25.14 per unit, and the aggregate intrinsic value of the TB-PIUs on the vesting date was $1.1 million.

PB-PIUs

On January 1, 2021, we granted certain senior management team members 227,544 PB-PIUs with a three-year performance period concluding on the earlier of December 31, 2023 or the date of: (1) termination by us without cause, death or disability of the employee or constructive discharge of the employee (collectively, “qualified termination”); or (2) a sale event. The number of earned awards at the end of the performance period will be determined based on the percentile rank of COPT’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) relative to a peer group of companies, as set forth in the following schedule:


Percentile Rank						Earned PB-PIUs Payout %
75th or greater						100% of PB-PIUs granted
50th (target)						50% of PB-PIUs granted
25th						25% of PB-PIUs granted
Below 25th						0% of PB-PIUs 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 awards will be interpolated between the ranges set forth in the table above to reflect any performance between the listed percentiles. If COPT’s TSR during the measurement period is negative, the maximum number of earned awards will be limited to the target level payout percentage. During the performance period, PB-PIUs carry rights to distributions equal to 10% of the distribution rights of non-PIU common units but carry no redemption rights.

At the end of the performance period, we will settle the award by issuing vested PIUs equal to: the number of earned awards; and the excess, if any, of (1) the aggregate distributions that would have been paid with respect to vested PIUs issued in settlement of the earned awards through the date of settlement had such vested PIUs been issued on the grant date over (2) the aggregate distributions made on the PB-PIUs during the performance period, divided by the price of our common shares on the settlement date. If a performance period ends due to a sale event or qualified termination, the number of earned awards 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 PB-PIUs are forfeited.

These PB-PIU grants had an aggregate grant date fair value of $3.4 million ($30.03 per target-level award associated with the grants) which is being recognized over the performance period. The grant date fair value was computed using a Monte Carlo model that included the following assumptions: baseline common share value of $26.08; expected volatility for common shares of 34.7%; and a risk-free interest rate of 0.18%.

Deferred Share Awards

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a non-employee Trustee was granted 3,416 deferred share awards with an aggregate grant date fair value of $93,000 ($27.12 per share). Deferred share awards vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the Trustee remains in his or her position. We settle deferred share awards by issuing an equivalent number of common shares upon vesting of the awards or a later date elected by the Trustee (generally upon cessation of being a Trustee).

17. Earnings Per Share (“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 common shares were converted; and (2) the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests and share-based compensation awards using the if-converted or treasury stock 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 add 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 September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to COPT	$	27,101	$	(31,845)	$	62,833	$	15,706
Income attributable to share-based compensation awards	(92)		(145)		(337)		(365)
Numerator for basic EPS on net income (loss) attributable to COPT common shareholders	27,009		(31,990)		62,496		15,341

Redeemable noncontrolling interests	(89)		—		(82)		—


Income attributable to share-based compensation awards	13		—		17		6
Numerator for diluted EPS on net income (loss) attributable to COPT common shareholders	$	26,933	$	(31,990)	$	62,431	$	15,347
Denominator (all weighted averages):
Denominator for basic EPS (common shares)	111,985		111,811		111,949		111,778


Dilutive effect of redeemable noncontrolling interests	138		—		130		—
Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards	375		—		285		278
Denominator for diluted EPS (common shares)	112,498		111,811		112,364		112,056
Basic EPS	$	0.24	$	(0.29)	$	0.56	$	0.14
Diluted EPS	$	0.24	$	(0.29)	$	0.56	$	0.14

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 September 30,		For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Conversion of common units	1,262	1,240	1,257	1,235
Conversion of redeemable noncontrolling interests	782	973	793	954
Conversion of Series I Preferred Units	—	176	—	176

The following securities were also excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because their effect was antidilutive:

•weighted average restricted shares and deferred share awards for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of 410,000 and 429,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of 416,000 and 432,000, respectively;

•weighted average unvested TB-PIUs for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of 168,000 and 91,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of 155,000 and 85,000, respectively; and

•weighted average unvested PB-PIUs for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 of 228,000.

18. 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. As of September 30, 2021, management believes that it is reasonably possible that we could recognize a loss of up to $3.4 million for certain municipal tax claims; while we do not believe this loss would materially affect our financial position or liquidity, it could be material to our results of operations. Management believes that it is also reasonably possible that we could incur losses pursuant to other claims but do not believe such losses would materially affect our financial position, liquidity or 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

Anne Arundel County, Maryland issued tax incremental financing bonds to third-party investors in order to finance public improvements needed in connection with our project known as the National Business Park. These bonds had a remaining principal balance of approximately $31 million as of September 30, 2021. The real estate taxes on increases in assessed values post-bond issuance of properties in development districts encompassing the National Business Park are transferred to a special fund pledged to the repayment of the bonds. While we are obligated to fund, through a special tax, any future shortfalls between debt service of the bonds and real estate taxes available to repay the bonds, as of September 30, 2021, we do not expect any such future fundings will be required.

Effects of COVID-19

As of the date of this filing, spread of COVID-19 continues world- and nation-wide. Since the beginning of the year, the United States has significantly increased the proportion of the population that has received COVID-19 vaccines, and there is increased confidence that spread of COVID-19 can, to a large extent, be contained through vaccinations and wearing masks indoors in public. As a result, most restrictive measures previously instituted to control spread have been gradually lifted and an increased proportion of the population has resumed a return to normal activities. However, there continues to be significant uncertainty regarding the duration and extent of the pandemic due to factors such as the continuing spread of the virus, the pace of world- and nation-wide vaccination efforts, the emergence of new variants of the virus and the efficacy of vaccines against such variants. While the pandemic has impacted the operations of much of the commercial real estate industry, we believe that we have been less susceptible to such impact due to our portfolio’s significant concentration in Defense/IT Locations. As a result, we believe that we have not been significantly affected by the pandemic.

COVID-19, along with measures instituted to prevent spread, may adversely affect us in many ways, including, but not limited to:

•disruption of our tenants’ operations, which could adversely affect their ability, or willingness, to sustain their businesses and/or fulfill their lease obligations;

•our ability to maintain occupancy in our properties and obtain new leases for unoccupied and new development space at favorable terms or at all;

•shortages in supply of products or services from our and our tenants’ vendors that are needed for us and our tenants to operate effectively, and which could lead to increased costs for such products and services;

•access to debt and equity capital on attractive terms or at all. Severe disruption and instability in the global financial markets or deteriorations in credit and financing conditions may affect our or our tenants’ ability to access capital necessary to fund operations, refinance debt or fund planned investments on a timely basis, and may adversely affect the valuation of financial assets and liabilities;

•our and our tenants’ ability to continue or complete planned development, including the potential for delays in the supply of materials or labor necessary for development; and

•an increase in the pace of businesses implementing remote work arrangements over the long-term, which would adversely effect demand for office space.

The extent of the effect on our operations, financial condition and cash flows will be dependent on future developments, including the duration and extent of the pandemic, the prevalence, strength and duration of restrictive measures and the resulting effects on our tenants, potential future tenants, the commercial real estate industry and the broader economy, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we:

•finished the period with our office and data center shell portfolio 93.3% occupied and 94.6% leased;

•placed into service 709,000 square feet in six newly-developed office properties that were 90.4% leased as of September 30, 2021;

•refinanced certain unsecured senior notes issuances with a new unsecured senior note issuance by:

◦issuing $600.0 million of 2.75% Notes at an initial offering price of 98.95% of their face value on March 11, 2021. The proceeds from this issuance, after deducting underwriting discounts but before other offering expenses, were $589.8 million; and

◦purchasing or redeeming $350.0 million of 3.60% Notes (52.7% of such notes effective March 11, 2021 and the remaining notes on April 12, 2021) and $250.0 million of 5.25% Notes (58.2% of such notes effective March 11, 2021 and the remaining notes on April 12, 2021) for $373.1 million and $282.4 million, respectively, plus accrued interest. In connection with these purchases, we recognized a loss on early extinguishment of debt in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 of $58.4 million.

We used borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility to fund the net cash outlay resulting from this refinancing;

•issued $400.0 million of 2.00% Notes at an initial offering price of 99.97% of their face value on August 11, 2021. The proceeds from this issuance, after deducting underwriting discounts but before other offering expenses, were $397.4 million. We used $100.0 million of the proceeds from this issuance to repay a portion of our term loan facility, $89.0 million to pay off a construction loan and most of the remaining proceeds to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility; and

•sold a 90% interest in two data center shell properties in Northern Virginia on June 2, 2021 based on an aggregate property value of $118.8 million and retained a 10% interest in the properties through B RE COPT DC JV III LLC, a newly-formed joint venture. Our partner in the joint venture acquired the 90% interest from us for $106.9 million, which was used by us to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.

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 information pertaining to properties owned through unconsolidated real estate joint ventures.

We discuss significant factors contributing to changes in our net income in the section below entitled “Results of Operations.” 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, construction costs and property values;

•adverse changes in the real estate markets, including, among other things, increased competition with other companies;

•risks and uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar pandemics, along with restrictive measures instituted to prevent spread, on our business, the real estate industry and national, regional and local economic conditions;

•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 reduced or delayed 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;

•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;

•security breaches relating to cyber attacks, cyber intrusions or other factors; and

•environmental requirements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or supplement forward-looking statements.

Effects of COVID-19

While the pandemic has impacted the operations of much of the commercial real estate industry, we believe that we have been less susceptible to such impact due to our portfolio’s significant concentration in Defense/IT Locations. As a result, our results of operations were not significantly affected by the pandemic. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, our:

•Same Properties NOI from real estate operations increased relative to the comparable 2020 periods by $2.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and was only minimally affected by the pandemic-related effect of lower provisions for collectability losses in the 2021 periods relative to the 2020 periods; and

•lease revenue collections were not significantly affected by the pandemic. After agreeing to deferred payment arrangements for approximately $2.6 million in lease receivables last year (most of which was repaid by June 30, 2021), we did not agree to significant additional arrangements to date in 2021.

While we do not currently expect that the pandemic will significantly affect our future results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, we believe that the impact will be dependent on future developments, including the duration and extent of the pandemic, the prevalence, strength and duration of restrictive measures and the resulting effects on our tenants, potential future tenants, the commercial real estate industry and the broader economy, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict. Nevertheless, we believe at this time that there is more inherent risk associated with the operations of our Regional Office properties than our Defense/IT Locations.

While we do not believe that our development leasing and ability to renew leases scheduled to expire have been significantly affected by the pandemic, we do believe that the impact of the restrictive measures and the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic has impacted our timing and volume of vacant space leasing, and may continue to do so in the future, particularly for our Regional Office properties.

The pandemic enhances the risk of us being able to stay on pace to complete development and begin operations on schedule due to the potential for delays from: jurisdictional permitting and inspections; factories’ ability to provide materials; and possible labor shortages. These types of issues have not significantly affected us to date but could in the future, depending on pandemic related developments.

We do not expect that we will be required to incur significant additional capital expenditures on existing properties as a result of the pandemic.

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:


	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
Occupancy rates at period end
Total	93.3		%	94.1		%
Defense/IT Locations:
Fort Meade/BW Corridor	90.4		%	91.0		%
Northern Virginia Defense/IT	88.8		%	88.1		%
Lackland Air Force Base	100.0		%	100.0		%
Navy Support Locations	96.5		%	97.2		%
Redstone Arsenal	99.3		%	99.4		%
Data Center Shells	100.0		%	100.0		%
Total Defense/IT Locations	94.1		%	94.5		%
Regional Office	87.8		%	92.5		%
Other	66.2		%	68.4		%
Average contractual annual rental rate per square foot at period end (1)	$	32.38		$	31.50

(1)Includes estimated expense reimbursements.


	Rentable Square Feet	Occupied Square Feet
	(in thousands)
December 31, 2020	20,959	19,722
Vacated upon lease expiration (1)	—	(524)
Occupancy for new leases	—	387
Developed or redeveloped	709	628



Other changes	(8)	—
September 30, 2021	21,660	20,213

(1)Includes lease terminations and space reductions occurring in connection with lease renewals.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we completed 2.7 million square feet of leasing, including: renewed leases on 1.4 million square feet, representing 74.6% of the square footage of our lease expirations (including the effect of early renewals); 420,000 square feet of vacant space; and 915,000 square feet of development space.

Wholesale Data Center

Our 19.25 megawatt wholesale data center was 86.7% leased as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. An 11.25 megawatt lease that expired in August 2020 remains in place until renewed by both parties or terminated by either party.

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 our 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:

•stably owned and 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods being compared. We define these as changes from “Same Properties”

•developed or redeveloped and placed into service that were not 100% operational throughout the current and prior year reporting periods; and

•disposed; 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 net 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 net income reported on our consolidated statements of operations is provided in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.

Comparison of Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Variance
	(in thousands)
Revenues
Revenues from real estate operations	$	146,590	$	134,443	$	12,147
Construction contract and other service revenues	28,046		20,323		7,723
Total revenues	174,636		154,766		19,870
Operating expenses
Property operating expenses	57,190		51,552		5,638
Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations	36,611		35,332		1,279
Construction contract and other service expenses	27,089		19,220		7,869
Impairment losses	—		1,530		(1,530)
General, administrative and leasing expenses	9,342		7,467		1,875
Business development expenses and land carry costs	1,093		1,094		(1)
Total operating expenses	131,325		116,195		15,130
Interest expense	(15,720)		(17,152)		1,432
Interest and other income	1,818		1,746		72
Credit loss recoveries	326		1,465		(1,139)
Gain on sales of real estate	(32)		—		(32)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,159)		(3,237)		2,078
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		(53,196)		53,196
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	297		477		(180)
Income tax expense	(47)		(16)		(31)
Net income (loss)	$	28,794	$	(31,342)	$	60,136

NOI from Real Estate Operations


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020			Variance
	(Dollars in thousands, except per square foot data)
Revenues
Same Properties revenues
Lease revenue, excluding net lease termination revenue and provision for collectability losses	$	123,331		$	119,782		$	3,549
Lease termination revenue, net	853			455			398
Provision for collectability losses included in lease revenue	1			(412)			413
Other property revenue	808			573			235
Same Properties total revenues	124,993			120,398			4,595
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	12,937			4,930			8,007

Wholesale data center	8,637			6,068			2,569

Dispositions	(154)			3,047			(3,201)
Other	177			—			177
	146,590			134,443			12,147
Property operating expenses
Same Properties	(48,769)			(46,856)			(1,913)
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	(2,945)			(726)			(2,219)

Wholesale data center	(5,345)			(3,642)			(1,703)

Dispositions	(44)			(326)			282
Other	(87)			(2)			(85)
	(57,190)			(51,552)			(5,638)

UJV NOI allocable to COPT
Same Properties	504			504			—
Retained interest in newly-formed UJVs	575			—			575
Dispositions	(19)			1,248			(1,267)
	1,060			1,752			(692)

NOI from real estate operations
Same Properties	76,728			74,046			2,682
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	9,992			4,204			5,788

Wholesale data center	3,292			2,426			866

Dispositions, net of retained interest in newly-formed UJVs	358			3,969			(3,611)
Other	90			(2)			92
	$	90,460		$	84,643		$	5,817

Same Properties NOI from real estate operations by segment
Defense/IT Locations	$	68,664		$	66,459		$	2,205
Regional Office	7,739			7,131			608
Other	325			456			(131)
	$	76,728		$	74,046		$	2,682

Same Properties rent statistics
Average occupancy rate	92.0		%	92.8		%	(0.8		%)
Average straight-line rent per occupied square foot (1)	$	6.59		$	6.49		$	0.10

(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 159 properties, comprising 80.2% of our office and data center shell portfolio’s square footage as of September 30, 2021. This pool of properties changed from the pool used for purposes of comparing 2020 and 2019 in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K due to the: addition of eight properties placed in service and 100%

operational on or before January 1, 2020 and nine properties owned through an unconsolidated real estate joint venture that was formed in 2019; and removal of two properties in which we sold a 90% interest.

Regarding the changes in NOI from real estate operations reported above:

•the increase for our Same Properties pool was due primarily to higher rent per occupied square foot in the current period due to an increase in rental rates (mostly from leases of renewed or previously-vacant space), offset in part by lower occupancy in the current period;

•developed and redeveloped properties placed in service reflects the effect of 17 properties placed in service in 2020 and 2021; and

•dispositions, net of retained interest in newly-formed UJVs reflects the effect of our decrease in ownership of eight data center shells in 2020 and two in 2021.

NOI from Service Operations


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Variance
	(in thousands)
Construction contract and other service revenues	$	28,046	$	20,323	$	7,723
Construction contract and other service expenses	(27,089)		(19,220)		(7,869)
NOI from service operations	$	957	$	1,103	$	(146)

Construction contract and other service revenue and expenses increased due primarily to a higher 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 income relative to our real estate operations.

General, administrative and leasing expenses

General, administrative and leasing expenses increased in large part due to higher compensation related expenses in the current period.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

The loss on early extinguishment of debt in the current period was attributable to our repayment of $100.0 million of our term loan facility and payoff of a construction loan. The loss on early extinguishment of debt in the prior period was attributable to our purchase of 3.70% Senior Notes due 2021.

Loss on interest rate derivatives

We recognized a loss in the prior period on interest rate swaps previously designated as cash flow hedges of interest expense on forecasted future borrowings that we determined would probably not occur.

Comparison of Statements of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Variance
	(in thousands)
Revenues
Revenues from real estate operations	$	436,177	$	399,097	$	37,080
Construction contract and other service revenues	64,592		46,240		18,352
Total revenues	500,769		445,337		55,432
Operating expenses
Property operating expenses	168,780		151,755		17,025
Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations	111,487		101,540		9,947
Construction contract and other service expenses	61,964		44,052		17,912
Impairment losses	—		1,530		(1,530)
General, administrative and leasing expenses	26,970		23,111		3,859
Business development expenses and land carry costs	3,559		3,474		85
Total operating expenses	372,760		325,462		47,298
Interest expense	(49,181)		(50,789)		1,608
Interest and other income	5,911		5,233		678
Credit loss recoveries	1,040		161		879
Gain on sales of real estate	39,711		5		39,706
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(59,553)		(3,237)		(56,316)
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		(53,196)		53,196
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	779		1,372		(593)
Income tax expense	(103)		(95)		(8)
Net income	$	66,613	$	19,329	$	47,284

NOI from Real Estate Operations


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020			Variance
	(Dollars in thousands, except per square foot data)
Revenues
Same Properties revenues
Lease revenue, excluding lease termination revenue and provision for collectability losses	$	367,002		$	361,032		$	5,970
Lease termination revenue, net	3,309			693			2,616
Provision for collectability losses included in lease revenue	(118)			(1,894)			1,776
Other property revenue	2,047			2,060			(13)
Same Properties total revenues	372,240			361,891			10,349
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	35,902			8,410			27,492

Wholesale data center	24,902			19,695			5,207

Dispositions	2,691			9,097			(6,406)
Other	442			4			438
	436,177			399,097			37,080
Property operating expenses
Same Properties	(145,830)			(139,209)			(6,621)
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	(7,795)			(1,246)			(6,549)

Wholesale data center	(14,395)			(10,338)			(4,057)

Dispositions	(477)			(952)			475
Other	(283)			(10)			(273)
	(168,780)			(151,755)			(17,025)

UJV NOI allocable to COPT
Same Properties	1,506			1,515			(9)
Retained interest in newly-formed UJVs	1,463			—			1,463
Dispositions	(19)			3,675			(3,694)
	2,950			5,190			(2,240)

NOI from real estate operations
Same Properties	227,916			224,197			3,719
Developed and redeveloped properties placed in service	28,107			7,164			20,943

Wholesale data center	10,507			9,357			1,150

Dispositions, net of retained interest in newly-formed UJVs	3,658			11,820			(8,162)
Other	159			(6)			165
	$	270,347		$	252,532		$	17,815

Same Properties NOI from real estate operations by segment
Defense/IT Locations	$	203,232		$	199,577		$	3,655
Regional Office	23,674			23,328			346
Other	1,010			1,292			(282)
	$	227,916		$	224,197		$	3,719

Same Properties rent statistics
Average occupancy rate	92.4		%	92.7		%	(0.3		%)
Average straight-line rent per occupied square foot (1)	$	19.62		$	19.42		$	0.20

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

Regarding the changes in NOI from real estate operations reported above:

•the increase for our Same Properties pool was due primarily to: higher rent per occupied square foot in the current period due to an increase in rental rates (mostly from leases of renewed or previously-vacant space); and higher lease termination

revenues and lower provisions for collectability losses in the current period; offset in part by higher snow removal costs in the current period;

•developed and redeveloped properties placed in service reflects the effect of 17 properties placed in service in 2020 and 2021; and

•dispositions, net of retained interest in newly-formed UJVs reflects the effect of our decrease in ownership of eight data center shells in 2020 and two in 2021.

NOI from Service Operations


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		Variance
	(in thousands)
Construction contract and other service revenues	$	64,592	$	46,240	$	18,352
Construction contract and other service expenses	(61,964)		(44,052)		(17,912)
NOI from service operations	$	2,628	$	2,188	$	440

Construction contract and other service revenue and expenses increased due primarily to a higher volume of construction activity in connection with several of our tenants.

Depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations

The increase in depreciation and amortization associated with real estate operations was mostly attributable to newly-developed properties placed in service.

General, administrative and leasing expenses

General, administrative and leasing expenses increased in large part due to higher compensation related expenses in the current period.

Gain on sales of real estate

The gain on sales of real estate was due to our sale of a 90% interest in two data center shell properties in the current period.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

The loss on early extinguishment of debt in the current period was attributable to our purchase and redemption of 3.60% Notes and 5.25% Notes, repayment of $100.0 million of our term loan facility and payoff of a construction loan. The loss on early extinguishment of debt in the prior period was attributable to our purchase of 3.70% Senior Notes due 2021.

Loss on interest rate derivatives

Refer to our explanation above for the three-month periods.

Funds from Operations

Funds from operations (“FFO”) is defined as net income computed using GAAP, excluding gains on sales and impairment losses of real estate (net of associated income tax) and real estate-related depreciation and amortization. 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 on sales and impairment losses of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate joint ventures (net of associated income tax), and 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) income attributable to noncontrolling interests through ownership of preferred units in the Operating Partnership or interests in other consolidated entities not owned by us, (3) depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other consolidated entities and (4) Basic FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards. 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 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; 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 (discussed further below); loss on interest rate derivatives; demolition costs on redevelopment and nonrecurring improvements; executive transition costs; issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares; allocations of FFO to holders on noncontrolling interests resulting from capital events; and certain other expenses that we believe are not closely correlated with our operating performance. 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.

The table below sets forth the computation of the above stated measures, and provides reconciliations to our GAAP measures associated with such measures:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
	(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
Net income (loss)	$	28,794	$	(31,342)	$	66,613	$	19,329
Real estate-related depreciation and amortization	36,611		35,332		111,487		101,540
Depreciation and amortization on UJVs allocable to COPT	525		819		1,455		2,455
Impairment losses on real estate	—		1,530		—		1,530
Gain on sales of real estate	32		—		(39,711)		(5)
FFO	65,962		6,339		139,844		124,849
FFO allocable to other noncontrolling interests	(1,696)		(1,074)		(4,025)		(14,614)
Basic FFO allocable to share-based compensation awards	(313)		(119)		(663)		(449)
Noncontrolling interests-preferred units in the Operating Partnership	—		(77)		—		(231)
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders	63,953		5,069		135,156		109,555

Redeemable noncontrolling interests	(68)		—		1		103
Diluted FFO adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards	13		—		27		—
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders	63,898		5,069		135,184		109,658
Loss on interest rate derivatives	—		53,196		—		53,196



Loss on early extinguishment of debt	1,159		3,237		59,553		3,237
Demolition costs on redevelopment and nonrecurring improvements	129		11		431		63
Diluted FFO comparability adjustments for redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		34		—		—
Diluted FFO comparability adjustments allocable to share-based compensation awards	(7)		(139)		(300)		(307)
Dilutive preferred units in the Operating Partnership	—		77		—		231
FFO allocation to other noncontrolling interests resulting from capital event	—		—		—		11,090
Diluted FFO available to common share and common unit holders, as adjusted for comparability	$	65,179	$	61,485	$	194,868	$	177,168

Weighted average common shares	111,985		111,811		111,949		111,778
Conversion of weighted average common units	1,262		1,240		1,257		1,235
Weighted average common shares/units - Basic FFO per share	113,247		113,051		113,206		113,013
Dilutive effect of share-based compensation awards	375		274		311		278


Redeemable noncontrolling interests	138		—		130		125
Weighted average common shares/units - Diluted FFO per share	113,760		113,325		113,647		113,416
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		109		—		—
Dilutive convertible preferred units	—		176		—		176
Weighted average common shares/units - Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability	113,760		113,610		113,647		113,592

Diluted FFO per share	$	0.56	$	0.04	$	1.19	$	0.97
Diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability	$	0.57	$	0.54	$	1.71	$	1.56

Denominator for diluted EPS	112,498		111,811		112,364		112,056
Weighted average common units	1,262		1,240		1,257		1,235
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		—		—		125

Anti-dilutive EPS effect of share-based compensation awards	—		274		26		—
Denominator for diluted FFO per share	113,760		113,325		113,647		113,416
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	—		109		—		—
Dilutive convertible preferred units	—		176		—		176
Denominator for diluted FFO per share, as adjusted for comparability	113,760		113,610		113,647		113,592

Property Additions

The table below sets forth the major components of our additions to properties for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (in thousands):


Development	$	195,825

Tenant improvements on operating properties (1)	16,665
Capital improvements on operating properties	18,191
	$	230,681

(1)Tenant improvement costs incurred on newly-developed properties are classified in this table as development and redevelopment.

Cash Flows

Net cash flow from operating activities increased $40.9 million when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 due primarily to an increase in cash flow from real estate operations resulting from the growth of our property portfolio and an increase associated with the timing of cash flow from third-party construction projects.

Net cash flow used in investing activities decreased $284.2 million when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 due primarily to our receipt of $114.1 million in property disposition proceeds in 2021 mostly from our sale of a 90% interest in two data center shells, a $107.9 million decrease in cash outlays for development and redevelopment of properties and the effect of $53.1 million paid in the prior period to cash settle interest rate swaps.

Net cash flow used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $91.8 million, and included dividends to common shareholders of $92.6 million. Net proceeds from debt borrowings during the period totaled $11.2 million, which included the net effect of our purchase and redemption of 3.60% Notes and 5.25% Notes (and related early extinguishment costs), issuance of 2.75% Notes and 2.00% Notes and the repayment of a portion of our term loan facility and payoff of a construction loan (and related early extinguishment costs).

Net cash flow provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $233.7 million, and included the following:

•net proceeds from debt borrowings of $345.3 million, which included the net increase from our issuance of 2.25% Notes and purchase of 3.70% Notes (and related early extinguishment costs); offset in part by

•dividends to common shareholders of $92.5 million.

Supplemental Guarantor Information

As of September 30, 2021, COPLP had several series of unsecured senior notes outstanding that were issued in transactions registered with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These notes are COPLP’s direct, senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of COPLP’s existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. However, these notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to COPLP’s existing and future secured indebtedness. The notes are also effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future liabilities and other indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, of COPLP's subsidiaries. COPT fully and unconditionally guarantees COPLP’s obligations under these notes. COPT’s guarantees of these notes are senior unsecured obligations that rank equally in right of payment with other senior unsecured obligations of, or guarantees by, COPT. COPT itself does not hold any indebtedness, and its only material asset is its investment in COPLP.

In March 2020, the SEC adopted amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and adopted Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X to simplify disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities that became effective on January 4, 2021. As a result of these amendments, subsidiary issuers of obligations guaranteed by the parent are not required to provide separate financial statements, provided that the subsidiary obligor is consolidated into the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the parent guarantee is “full and unconditional” and the alternative disclosure required by Rule 13-01 is provided, which includes narrative disclosure and, subject to certain exceptions, summarized financial information. Accordingly, we no longer present separate consolidated financial statements for the Operating Partnership. Furthermore, as permitted under Rule 13-01(a)(4)(vi), we have excluded summarized financial information for the Operating Partnership since: the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the Company and the Operating Partnership are not materially different than the corresponding amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements of the Company; and we believe that inclusion of such summarized financial information would be repetitive and not provide incremental value to investors.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary cash requirements are for operating expenses, debt service, development of new properties, improvements to existing properties and dividends to our shareholders. We expect to continue to use cash flow provided by operations as the primary source to meet our short-term capital needs, including property operating expenses, general and administrative expenses, interest expense, scheduled principal amortization of debt, dividends to our shareholders, distributions to COPLP’s unitholders and improvements to existing properties. As of September 30, 2021, we had $14.6 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Our senior unsecured debt is currently rated investment grade by the three major rating agencies. We aim to maintain an investment grade rating to enable us to use debt comprised of unsecured, primarily fixed-rate debt (including the effect of interest rate swaps) from public markets and banks. We also use secured nonrecourse debt from institutional lenders and banks primarily for joint venture financings. In addition, we periodically raise equity when we access the public equity markets by issuing common and/or preferred shares.

We use our Revolving Credit Facility to initially finance much of our investing activities. We subsequently pay down the facility using cash available from operations and proceeds from long-term borrowings, equity issuances and sales of interests in properties. The lenders’ aggregate commitment under the facility is $800.0 million, with the ability for us to increase the lenders’ aggregate commitment to $1.25 billion, provided that there is no default under the facility and subject to the approval of the lenders. The facility matures in March 2023, and may be extended 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. As of September 30, 2021, the maximum borrowing capacity under this facility totaled $800.0 million, of which $790.0 million was available.

We have a program in place under which we may offer and sell common shares in at-the-market stock offerings having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $300 million. Under this program, we may also, at our discretion, sell common shares under forward equity sales agreements. The use of a forward equity sales agreement would enable us to lock in a price on a sale of common shares when the agreement is executed but defer receiving the proceeds from the sale until a later date.

We believe that our liquidity and capital resources are adequate for our near-term and longer-term requirements without necessitating property sales. However, we may dispose of interests in properties opportunistically or when market conditions otherwise warrant. In addition, we believe that we have the ability to raise additional equity by selling interests in data center shells through joint ventures.

Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2021 included the following (in thousands):


	For the Periods Ending December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter		Total
Contractual obligations (1)
Debt (2)
Balloon payments due upon maturity	$	—	$	300,000	$	73,578	$	27,649	$	322,100	$	1,445,623	$	2,168,950
Scheduled principal payments (3)	1,045		4,498		3,552		2,334		1,617		677		13,723
Interest on debt (3)(4)	14,562		57,963		52,759		51,009		42,665		114,185		333,143
Development obligations (5)(6)	77,621		161,023		46,081		—		—		—		284,725
Third-party construction cost obligations (6)(7)	26,773		100,000		—		—		—		—		126,773
Tenant and other building improvements (3)(6)	13,811		22,465		33,203		—		—		—		69,479
Property finance leases (principal and interest) (3)	—		14		—		—		—		—		14
Property operating leases (3)	807		3,297		3,352		3,403		1,749		123,979		136,587
Total contractual cash obligations	$	134,619	$	649,260	$	212,525	$	84,395	$	368,131	$	1,684,464	$	3,133,394

(1)The contractual obligations set forth in this table exclude contracts for property operations and certain other contracts entered into in the normal course of business. Also excluded are accruals and payables incurred and interest rate derivative liabilities, which are reflected in our reported liabilities (although debt and lease liabilities are included on the table).

(2)Represents scheduled principal amortization payments and maturities only and therefore excludes net debt discounts and deferred financing costs of $22.9 million. As of September 30, 2021, maturities in 2023 included $10.0 million that may be extended to 2024, 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 September 30, 2021 for the terms of such debt. For variable rate debt, the amounts reflected above used September 30, 2021 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 activities.

(6)Due to the long-term nature of certain development and construction 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.

We expect to spend approximately $85 million on development costs and approximately $40 million on improvements and leasing costs for operating properties (including the commitments set forth in the table above) during the remainder of 2021. We expect to fund the development costs initially using primarily borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. We expect to fund improvements to existing operating properties using cash flow from operating activities.

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 September 30, 2021, we were compliant with these covenants.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

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 September 30, 2021 our debt obligations and weighted average interest rates on debt maturing each year (dollars in thousands):


	For the Periods Ending December 31,
	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter		Total
Debt:
Fixed rate debt (1)	$	985	$	4,033	$	66,590	$	29,443	$	301,302	$	1,436,140	$	1,838,493
Weighted average interest rate	3.97%		3.98%		4.22%		4.42%		4.99%		2.43%		2.95%
Variable rate debt	$	60	$	300,465	$	10,540	$	540	$	22,415	$	10,160	$	344,180
Weighted average interest rate (2)	1.54%		1.09%		1.21%		1.59%		1.63%		1.54%		1.14%

(1)Represents principal maturities only and therefore excludes net discounts and deferred financing costs of $22.9 million. As of September 30, 2021, maturities in 2023 included $10.0 million that may be extended to 2024, subject to certain conditions.

(2)The amounts reflected above used interest rates as of September 30, 2021 for variable rate debt.

The fair value of our debt was $2.2 billion as of September 30, 2021. If interest rates had been 1% lower, the fair value of our fixed-rate debt would have increased by approximately $110 million as of September 30, 2021.

See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to interest rate swap contracts in place as of September 30, 2021 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 $2.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 if the applicable LIBOR rate was 1% higher.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(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 our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2021. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2021 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 our management, including our 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 our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our 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 us (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 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) Not applicable

(b) 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

On November 1, 2021, COPT and COPLP, entered into Letter Agreements (the “2021 Letter Agreements”) with Todd Hartman, our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Anthony Mifsud, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, regarding their participation in COPT’s and COPLP’s Executive Change in Control and Severance Plan (the “Plan”). The 2021 Letter Agreements supersede previous Letter Agreements that COPT and COPLP had with Mr. Hartman and Mr. Mifsud dated November 30, 2020 and November 1, 2016, respectively, pertaining to their respective participation in the Plan. The 2021 Letter Agreements establish 5-year participation periods for Mr. Hartman and Mr. Mifsud under the Plan, after which they will cease to participate in the Plan unless otherwise agreed to by COPT, COPLP and the respective executives.

Under the Plan, each executive selected to participate is entitled to receive the following payments and benefits in the event the executive is terminated prior to the end of any defined participation period for any reason other than death, disability or for “cause,” as defined in the Plan, or is “Constructively Discharged,” as defined in the Plan: (1) a severance payment equal to a specified severance multiple, described below, multiplied by the sum of the executive’s annual base salary plus the average of the executive’s annual cash performance bonuses for the last three years; (2) a pro-rated annual cash performance bonus for the year of termination through the date of termination based on the amount of the executive’s target annual cash performance bonus for that year; (3) full vesting of equity awards subject to a time-based vesting schedule (with vesting of equity awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions to remain governed by the terms of the applicable award agreement); (4) the right to exercise existing stock options for up to 18 months following termination; and (5) continuing coverage under COPLP’s group medical, dental and vision plans for up to 24 months following termination unless such benefits are available to the executive through another group plan. If any payments and benefits to be paid or provided to an executive, whether pursuant to the Plan or otherwise, would be subject to “golden parachute” excise taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, the executive’s payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid such excise taxes, but only if such a reduction of pay or benefits would result in a greater after-tax benefit to the executive.

An executive’s receipt of payments and benefits under the Plan will be conditioned upon the executive’s execution of a general release of claims in favor of COPT and COPLP. In addition, in order to participate in the Plan, an executive must agree to comply with non-competition and non-solicitation covenants while the executive is employed and for 12 months thereafter and confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. COPT and COPLP may amend or terminate the Plan at any time, provided that executive’s rights to payments and benefits upon a termination in connection with or within 12 months after a “Change in Control,” as defined in the Plan, may not be adversely affected by an amendment or termination occurring within 12 months before or after the Change in Control.

Messrs. Hartman’s and Mifsud’s severance multiple under the Plan will be 1.00 or, in the event of a termination within six months prior to and 12 months after a Change in Control, the multiple will be 2.99.

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits:


EXHIBIT NO.						DESCRIPTION

10.1						Third Supplemental Indenture, by and among Corporate Office Properties, L.P., as issuer, Corporate Office Properties Trust, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 11, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.2						Letter Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Corporate Office Properties Trust, Corporate Office Properties, L.P., and Todd Hartman (filed herewith).

10.3						Letter Agreement, dated November 1, 2021, between Corporate Office Properties Trust, Corporate Office Properties, L.P., and Anthony Mifsud (filed herewith).

22.1						List of Subsidiary Issuers and Guaranteed Securities (filed herewith).

31.1						Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).

31.2						Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (filed herewith).

32.1						Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.) (Furnished herewith).

32.2						Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Corporate Office Properties Trust required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). (Furnished herewith).

101.INS						XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document (filed herewith).

101.SCH						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (filed herewith).

101.CAL						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).

101.LAB						Inline XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase (filed herewith).

101.PRE						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (filed herewith).

101.DEF						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (filed herewith).

104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


			CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST



			/s/ Stephen E. Budorick
			Stephen E. Budorick
			President and Chief Executive Officer


			/s/ Anthony Mifsud
			Anthony Mifsud
			Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:			November 1, 2021