10-Q

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016
 
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Maryland
001-13100
56-1871668
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
North Carolina
000-21731
56-1869557
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600
Raleigh, NC 27604
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
919-872-4924
(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)
______________
 
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.
Highwoods Properties, Inc.  Yes  x    No ¨    Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership  Yes  x    No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Highwoods Properties, Inc.  Yes  x    No ¨    Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership  Yes  x    No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of 'large accelerated filer,' 'accelerated filer' and 'smaller reporting company' in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act.
Highwoods Properties, Inc.
Large accelerated filer x    Accelerated filer ¨      Non-accelerated filer ¨      Smaller reporting company ¨
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership
Large accelerated filer ¨    Accelerated filer ¨      Non-accelerated filer x      Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act).
Highwoods Properties, Inc.  Yes  ¨    No x    Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership  Yes  ¨    No x
 
The Company had 97,409,163 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 19, 2016.
 




EXPLANATORY NOTE

We refer to Highwoods Properties, Inc. as the “Company,” Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership as the “Operating Partnership,” the Company’s common stock as “Common Stock” or “Common Shares,” the Company’s preferred stock as “Preferred Stock” or “Preferred Shares,” the Operating Partnership’s common partnership interests as “Common Units” and the Operating Partnership’s preferred partnership interests as “Preferred Units.” References to “we” and “our” mean the Company and the Operating Partnership, collectively, unless the context indicates otherwise.

The Company conducts its activities through the Operating Partnership and is its sole general partner. The partnership agreement provides that the Operating Partnership will assume and pay when due, or reimburse the Company for payment of, all costs and expenses relating to the ownership and operations of, or for the benefit of, the Operating Partnership. The partnership agreement further provides that all expenses of the Company are deemed to be incurred for the benefit of the Operating Partnership.

Certain information contained herein is presented as of April 19, 2016, the latest practicable date for financial information prior to the filing of this Quarterly Report.

This report combines the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 of the Company and the Operating Partnership. We believe combining the quarterly reports into this single report results in the following benefits:

combined reports better reflect how management and investors view the business as a single operating unit;

combined reports enhance investors' understanding of the Company and the Operating Partnership by enabling them to view the business as a whole and in the same manner as management;

combined reports are more efficient for the Company and the Operating Partnership and result in savings in time, effort and expense; and

combined reports are more efficient for investors by reducing duplicative disclosure and providing a single document for their review.

To help investors understand the significant differences between the Company and the Operating Partnership, this report presents the following separate sections for each of the Company and the Operating Partnership:

Consolidated Financial Statements;

Note 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements - Earnings Per Share and Per Unit;

Item 4 - Controls and Procedures; and

Item 6 - Certifications of CEO and CFO Pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.





HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS



2

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Real estate assets, at cost:
 
 
 
Land
$
448,706

 
$
443,705

Buildings and tenant improvements
4,113,001

 
4,063,328

Development in-process
180,150

 
194,050

Land held for development
68,244

 
68,244

 
4,810,101

 
4,769,327

Less-accumulated depreciation
(1,033,127
)
 
(1,007,104
)
Net real estate assets
3,776,974

 
3,762,223

Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale

 
240,948

Cash and cash equivalents
3,345

 
5,036

Restricted cash
258,444

 
16,769

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,003 and $928, respectively
25,912

 
29,077

Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $282 and $287, respectively
9,661

 
2,096

Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $468 and $257, respectively
156,323

 
150,392

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates
19,225

 
20,676

Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $122,630 and $115,172, respectively
224,459

 
231,765

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $18,590 and $17,830,
respectively
39,681

 
26,649

Total Assets
$
4,514,024

 
$
4,485,631

Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity:
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes payable, net
$
2,100,937

 
$
2,491,813

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
212,106

 
233,988

Liabilities held for sale

 
14,119

Total Liabilities
2,313,043

 
2,739,920

Commitments and contingencies

 

Noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
138,637

 
126,429

Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized shares;
 
 
 
8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (liquidation preference $1,000 per share), 29,030 and 29,050 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
29,030

 
29,050

Common Stock, $.01 par value, 200,000,000 authorized shares;
 
 
 
97,392,301 and 96,091,932 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
974

 
961

Additional paid-in capital
2,652,254

 
2,598,242

Distributions in excess of net income available for common stockholders
(631,226
)
 
(1,023,135
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,651
)
 
(3,811
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
2,044,381

 
1,601,307

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
17,963

 
17,975

Total Equity
2,062,344

 
1,619,282

Total Liabilities, Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership and Equity
$
4,514,024

 
$
4,485,631

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Rental and other revenues
$
164,859

 
$
145,236

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Rental property and other expenses
57,580

 
52,514

Depreciation and amortization
53,494

 
46,867

General and administrative
11,137

 
11,243

Total operating expenses
122,211

 
110,624

Interest expense:
 
 
 
Contractual
19,715

 
20,442

Amortization of debt issuance costs
990

 
800

 
20,705

 
21,242

Other income:
 
 
 
Interest and other income
517

 
582

 
517


582

Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates
22,460

 
13,952

Gains on disposition of property
4,397

 
1,157

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
1,285

 
1,811

Income from continuing operations
28,142

 
16,920

Discontinued operations:
 
 
 
Income from discontinued operations
4,097

 
3,915

Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations
414,496

 

 
418,593

 
3,915

Net income
446,735

 
20,835

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
(13,011
)
 
(596
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(308
)
 
(296
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock
(626
)
 
(627
)
Net income available for common stockholders
$
432,790


$
19,316

Earnings per Common Share – basic:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
$
0.27

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
4.22

 
0.04

Net income available for common stockholders
$
4.49

 
$
0.21

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – basic
96,373

 
93,222

Earnings per Common Share – diluted:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
$
0.27

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
4.22

 
0.04

Net income available for common stockholders
$
4.49

 
$
0.21

Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – diluted
99,357

 
96,279

Dividends declared per Common Share
$
0.425

 
$
0.425

Net income available for common stockholders:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
$
26,462

 
$
15,521

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
406,328

 
3,795

Net income available for common stockholders
$
432,790

 
$
19,316

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited and in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
Net income
$
446,735

 
$
20,835

Other comprehensive loss:
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond

 
193

Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
(3,635
)
 
(2,914
)
Amortization of cash flow hedges
795

 
924

Total other comprehensive loss
(2,840
)
 
(1,797
)
Total comprehensive income
443,895

 
19,038

Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(13,319
)
 
(892
)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders
$
430,576

 
$
18,146


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



5

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)

 
Number of Common Shares
 
Common Stock
 
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Other Compre-hensive Loss
 
Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates
 
Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2015
96,091,932

 
$
961

 
$
29,050

 
$
2,598,242

 
$
(3,811
)
 
$
17,975

 
$
(1,023,135
)
 
$
1,619,282

Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings
1,177,885

 
12

 

 
50,886

 

 

 

 
50,898

Dividends on Common Stock


 

 

 

 

 

 
(40,881
)
 
(40,881
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock


 

 

 

 

 

 
(626
)
 
(626
)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value


 

 

 
(429
)
 

 

 

 
(429
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates


 

 

 

 

 
(320
)
 

 
(320
)
Issuances of restricted stock
122,832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock
 
 

 
(20
)
 

 

 

 

 
(20
)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
(348
)
 
1

 

 
3,555

 

 

 

 
3,556

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership


 

 

 

 

 

 
(13,011
)
 
(13,011
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates


 

 

 

 

 
308

 
(308
)
 

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income


 

 

 

 

 

 
446,735

 
446,735

Other comprehensive loss


 

 

 

 
(2,840
)
 

 

 
(2,840
)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
443,895

Balance at March 31, 2016
97,392,301

 
$
974

 
$
29,030

 
$
2,652,254

 
$
(6,651
)
 
$
17,963

 
$
(631,226
)
 
$
2,062,344



 
Number of Common Shares
 
Common Stock
 
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Accumulated Other Compre-hensive Loss
 
Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates
 
Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(as revised)
 
(as revised)
Balance at December 31, 2014
92,907,310

 
$
929

 
$
29,060

 
$
2,464,275

 
$
(3,912
)
 
$
18,109

 
$
(957,370
)
 
$
1,551,091

Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings
989,417

 
10

 

 
40,557

 

 

 

 
40,567

Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock
26,820

 

 

 
1,206

 

 

 

 
1,206

Dividends on Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 
(39,563
)
 
(39,563
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 
(627
)
 
(627
)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value

 

 

 
(5,036
)
 

 

 

 
(5,036
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates

 

 

 

 

 
(321
)
 

 
(321
)
Issuances of restricted stock
123,571

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock

 

 
(10
)
 

 

 

 

 
(10
)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures

 
1

 

 
3,865

 

 

 

 
3,866

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 
(596
)
 
(596
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates

 

 

 

 

 
296

 
(296
)
 

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 
20,835

 
20,835

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 
(1,797
)
 

 

 
(1,797
)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19,038

Balance at March 31, 2015
94,047,118

 
$
940

 
$
29,050

 
$
2,504,867

 
$
(5,709
)
 
$
18,084

 
$
(977,617
)
 
$
1,569,615


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited and in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
446,735

 
$
20,835

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
53,494

 
50,308

Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities
108

 
(67
)
Share-based compensation expense
3,556

 
3,866

Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable
1,077

 
417

Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable
(42
)
 
(170
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
990

 
800

Amortization of cash flow hedges
795

 
924

Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments
(59
)
 
57

Net gains on disposition of property
(418,893
)
 
(1,157
)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
(1,285
)
 
(1,811
)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
717

 
1,386

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
601

 
3,166

Prepaid expenses and other assets
(6,577
)
 
(6,769
)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable
(6,624
)
 
(5,591
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(26,358
)
 
(33,088
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
48,235

 
33,106

Investing activities:
 
 
 
Investments in development in-process
(33,188
)
 
(11,232
)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs
(23,513
)
 
(30,008
)
Investments in building improvements
(16,479
)
 
(12,081
)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets
661,390

 
5,650

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates
2,118

 
394

Investments in mortgages and notes receivable
(7,602
)
 
(938
)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable
79

 
87

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates
(105
)
 

Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities
(248,865
)
 
993

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
333,835

 
(47,135
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Dividends on Common Stock
(40,881
)
 
(39,563
)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock
(20
)
 
(10
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock
(626
)
 
(627
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
(1,232
)
 
(1,248
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(320
)
 
(321
)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock
54,915

 
44,937

Costs paid for the issuance of Common Stock
(788
)
 
(643
)
Repurchase of shares related to tax withholdings
(3,229
)
 
(3,727
)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility
66,400

 
110,900

Repayments of revolving credit facility
(107,400
)
 
(91,900
)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable
(350,535
)
 
(1,220
)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities
(45
)
 

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
(383,761
)
 
16,578

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(1,691
)
 
$
2,549

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

7

Table of Contents


HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Continued
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(1,691
)
 
$
2,549

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
5,036

 
8,832

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
$
3,345

 
$
11,381


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$
20,951

 
$
21,480


Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
$
(3,635
)
 
$
(2,914
)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock

 
1,206

Changes in accrued capital expenditures
(5,978
)
 
(2,697
)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets
12,579

 
15,020

Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance and leasing costs
5,282

 
10,147

Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value
429

 
5,036

Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond

 
193


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

8

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited and in thousands, except unit and per unit data)
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Real estate assets, at cost:
 
 
 
Land
$
448,706

 
$
443,705

Buildings and tenant improvements
4,113,001

 
4,063,328

Development in-process
180,150

 
194,050

Land held for development
68,244

 
68,244

 
4,810,101

 
4,769,327

Less-accumulated depreciation
(1,033,127
)
 
(1,007,104
)
Net real estate assets
3,776,974

 
3,762,223

Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale

 
240,948

Cash and cash equivalents
3,345

 
5,036

Restricted cash
258,444

 
16,769

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,003 and $928, respectively
25,912

 
29,077

Mortgages and notes receivable, net of allowance of $282 and $287, respectively
9,661

 
2,096

Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net of allowance of $468 and $257, respectively
156,323

 
150,392

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates
19,225

 
20,676

Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $122,630 and $115,172, respectively
224,459

 
231,765

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $18,590 and $17,830,
respectively
39,681

 
26,649

Total Assets
$
4,514,024

 
$
4,485,631

Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital:
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes payable, net
$
2,100,937

 
$
2,491,813

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
212,106

 
233,988

Liabilities held for sale

 
14,119

Total Liabilities
2,313,043

 
2,739,920

Commitments and contingencies

 

Redeemable Operating Partnership Units:
 
 
 
Common Units, 2,899,752 outstanding
138,637

 
126,429

Series A Preferred Units (liquidation preference $1,000 per unit), 29,030 and 29,050 units issued and
outstanding, respectively
29,030

 
29,050

Total Redeemable Operating Partnership Units
167,667

 
155,479

Capital:
 
 
 
Common Units:
 
 
 
General partner Common Units, 998,832 and 985,829 outstanding, respectively
20,219

 
15,759

Limited partner Common Units, 95,984,660 and 94,697,294 outstanding, respectively
2,001,783

 
1,560,309

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,651
)
 
(3,811
)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
17,963

 
17,975

Total Capital
2,033,314

 
1,590,232

Total Liabilities, Redeemable Operating Partnership Units and Capital
$
4,514,024

 
$
4,485,631


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

9

Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per unit amounts)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Rental and other revenues
$
164,859

 
$
145,236

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Rental property and other expenses
57,580

 
52,514

Depreciation and amortization
53,494

 
46,867

General and administrative
11,137

 
11,243

Total operating expenses
122,211

 
110,624

Interest expense:
 
 
 
Contractual
19,715

 
20,442

Amortization of debt issuance costs
990

 
800

 
20,705

 
21,242

Other income:
 
 
 
Interest and other income
517

 
582

 
517

 
582

Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates
22,460

 
13,952

Gains on disposition of property
4,397

 
1,157

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
1,285

 
1,811

Income from continuing operations
28,142

 
16,920

Discontinued operations:
 
 
 
Income from discontinued operations
4,097

 
3,915

Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations
414,496

 

 
418,593

 
3,915

Net income
446,735

 
20,835

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(308
)
 
(296
)
Distributions on Preferred Units
(626
)
 
(627
)
Net income available for common unitholders
$
445,801

 
$
19,912

Earnings per Common Unit – basic:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
$
0.28

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
4.23

 
0.04

Net income available for common unitholders
$
4.51

 
$
0.21

Weighted average Common Units outstanding – basic
98,864

 
95,746

Earnings per Common Unit – diluted:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
$
0.28

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
4.23

 
0.04

Net income available for common unitholders
$
4.51

 
$
0.21

Weighted average Common Units outstanding – diluted
98,948

 
95,870

Distributions declared per Common Unit
$
0.425

 
$
0.425

Net income available for common unitholders:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
$
27,208

 
$
15,997

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
418,593

 
3,915

Net income available for common unitholders
$
445,801

 
$
19,912

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited and in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
Net income
$
446,735

 
$
20,835

Other comprehensive loss:
 
 
 
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond

 
193

Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
(3,635
)
 
(2,914
)
Amortization of cash flow hedges
795

 
924

Total other comprehensive loss
(2,840
)
 
(1,797
)
Total comprehensive income
443,895

 
19,038

Less-comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(308
)
 
(296
)
Comprehensive income attributable to common unitholders
$
443,587

 
$
18,742


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Capital
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 
Common Units
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Loss
 
Noncontrolling
Interests in
Consolidated
Affiliates
 
Total
 
General
Partners’
Capital
 
Limited
Partners’
Capital
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
15,759

 
$
1,560,309

 
$
(3,811
)
 
$
17,975

 
$
1,590,232

Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings
509

 
50,389

 

 

 
50,898

Distributions paid on Common Units
(419
)
 
(41,520
)
 

 

 
(41,939
)
Distributions paid on Preferred Units
(6
)
 
(620
)
 

 

 
(626
)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
36

 
3,520

 

 

 
3,556

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates

 

 

 
(320
)
 
(320
)
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner
(124
)
 
(12,258
)
 

 

 
(12,382
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(3
)
 
(305
)
 

 
308

 

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
4,467

 
442,268

 

 

 
446,735

Other comprehensive loss

 

 
(2,840
)
 

 
(2,840
)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
443,895

Balance at March 31, 2016
$
20,219

 
$
2,001,783

 
$
(6,651
)
 
$
17,963

 
$
2,033,314



 
Common Units
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Loss
 
Noncontrolling
Interests in
Consolidated
Affiliates
 
Total
 
General
Partners’
Capital
 
Limited
Partners’
Capital
 
 
(as revised)
 
(as revised)
 
 
 
 
 
(as revised)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
15,078

 
$
1,492,948

 
$
(3,912
)
 
$
18,109

 
$
1,522,223

Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings
406

 
40,161

 

 

 
40,567

Distributions paid on Common Units
(406
)
 
(40,231
)
 

 

 
(40,637
)
Distributions paid on Preferred Units
(6
)
 
(621
)
 

 

 
(627
)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures
39

 
3,827

 

 

 
3,866

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates

 

 

 
(321
)
 
(321
)
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner
(36
)
 
(3,508
)
 

 

 
(3,544
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(3
)
 
(293
)
 

 
296

 

Comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
208

 
20,627

 

 

 
20,835

Other comprehensive loss

 

 
(1,797
)
 

 
(1,797
)
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19,038

Balance at March 31, 2015
$
15,280

 
$
1,512,910

 
$
(5,709
)
 
$
18,084

 
$
1,540,565


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited and in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
446,735

 
$
20,835

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
53,494

 
50,308

Amortization of lease incentives and acquisition-related intangible assets and liabilities
108

 
(67
)
Share-based compensation expense
3,556

 
3,866

Allowance for losses on accounts and accrued straight-line rents receivable
1,077

 
417

Accrued interest on mortgages and notes receivable
(42
)
 
(170
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
990

 
800

Amortization of cash flow hedges
795

 
924

Amortization of mortgages and notes payable fair value adjustments
(59
)
 
57

Net gains on disposition of property
(418,893
)
 
(1,157
)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
(1,285
)
 
(1,811
)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates
717

 
1,386

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
601

 
3,166

Prepaid expenses and other assets
(6,577
)
 
(6,769
)
Accrued straight-line rents receivable
(6,624
)
 
(5,591
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(26,358
)
 
(33,002
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
48,235

 
33,192

Investing activities:
 
 
 
Investments in development in-process
(33,188
)
 
(11,232
)
Investments in tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs
(23,513
)
 
(30,008
)
Investments in building improvements
(16,479
)
 
(12,081
)
Net proceeds from disposition of real estate assets
661,390

 
5,650

Distributions of capital from unconsolidated affiliates
2,118

 
394

Investments in mortgages and notes receivable
(7,602
)
 
(938
)
Repayments of mortgages and notes receivable
79

 
87

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates
(105
)
 

Changes in restricted cash and other investing activities
(248,865
)
 
993

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
333,835

 
(47,135
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Distributions on Common Units
(41,939
)
 
(40,637
)
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Units
(20
)
 
(10
)
Distributions on Preferred Units
(626
)
 
(627
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(320
)
 
(321
)
Proceeds from the issuance of Common Units
54,915

 
44,937

Costs paid for the issuance of Common Units
(788
)
 
(643
)
Repurchase of units related to tax withholdings
(3,229
)
 
(3,727
)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility
66,400

 
110,900

Repayments of revolving credit facility
(107,400
)
 
(91,900
)
Repayments of mortgages and notes payable
(350,535
)
 
(1,220
)
Changes in debt issuance costs and other financing activities
(219
)
 
(366
)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
(383,761
)
 
16,386

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(1,691
)
 
$
2,443

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents


HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Continued
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
(1,691
)
 
$
2,443

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
5,036

 
8,938

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
$
3,345

 
$
11,381


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$
20,951

 
$
21,480


Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
$
(3,635
)
 
$
(2,914
)
Changes in accrued capital expenditures
(5,978
)
 
(2,697
)
Write-off of fully depreciated real estate assets
12,579

 
15,020

Write-off of fully amortized debt issuance and leasing costs
5,282

 
10,147

Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value
12,208

 
3,178

Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond

 
193


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2016
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)
(Unaudited)

1.    Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that provides leasing, management, development, construction and other customer-related services for its properties and for third parties. The Company conducts its activities through Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). At March 31, 2016, we owned or had an interest in 31.2 million rentable square feet of in-service properties, 1.3 million rentable square feet of properties under development and approximately 500 acres of development land.
 
The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At March 31, 2016, the Company owned all of the Preferred Units and 97.0 million, or 97.1%, of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners owned the remaining 2.9 million Common Units.

Common Stock Offerings
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company issued 1,054,496 shares of Common Stock under its equity distribution agreements at an average gross sales price of $45.86 per share and received net proceeds, after sales commissions, of $47.6 million.

Basis of Presentation
 
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Our Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were retrospectively revised from previously reported amounts to reclassify the operations for those properties classified as discontinued operations. The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include the Operating Partnership, wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Company has the controlling interest. The Operating Partnership's Consolidated Financial Statements include wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities in which the Operating Partnership has the controlling interest. In addition, we consolidate those entities deemed to be variable interest entities in which we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. At March 31, 2016, we had involvement with, but are not the primary beneficiary in, an entity that we concluded to be a variable interest entity. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying unaudited consolidated financial information, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We have condensed or omitted certain notes and other information from the interim Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this Quarterly Report as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

During 2015, as a result of our partner’s irrevocable exercise of a buy-sell provision in our SF-HIW Harborview Plaza, LP joint venture agreement, our partner’s right to put its 80.0% equity interest back to us became no longer exercisable. As a result, we recorded the original contribution transaction as a partial sale. Our investment in this joint venture then qualified for the equity method of accounting, which resulted in the retrospective revision of our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Equity and Capital for prior periods. Such retrospective revision is denoted using "as revised" on our Consolidated Statements of Equity and Capital as of March 31, 2015.

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Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


1.    Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") recently issued an accounting standards update that requires the use of a new five-step model to recognize revenue from customer contracts. The five-step model requires that we identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when we satisfy the performance obligations. We will also be required to disclose information regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The accounting standards update is required to be adopted in 2018. Retrospective application is required either to all periods presented or with the cumulative effect of initial adoption recognized in the period of adoption. We are in the process of evaluating this accounting standards update.
 
The FASB recently issued an accounting standards update that amended consolidation requirements. The amendments significantly change the consolidation analysis required under GAAP and require companies to reevaluate all previous consolidation conclusions. We adopted the accounting standards update as of January 1, 2016 and there was no impact to consolidated entities included in our Consolidated Financial Statements. However, in reevaluating our previous consolidation conclusions upon adoption of the accounting standards update, we determined our 12.5% equity interest in an unconsolidated affiliate to be an interest in a variable interest entity because certain of its limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights. We do not qualify as the primary beneficiary since our obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits of the variable interest entity is less than that of the other general partner. Accordingly, the entity is not consolidated. Our maximum exposure to loss with respect to this arrangement is limited to the $1.6 million carrying value of our 12.5% investment in the unconsolidated affiliate.
 
The FASB recently issued an accounting standards update that requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability to which they relate, consistent with debt discounts, as opposed to being presented as assets. For debt issuance costs related to revolving credit facilities, the FASB allows the presentation of debt issuance costs as an asset. We adopted the accounting standards update as of January 1, 2016 with retrospective application to our December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheets. The effect of the adoption was to reclassify debt issuance costs from deferred financing and leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization, as follows: $7.8 million to a contra account as a deduction from the related mortgages and notes payable and $2.1 million to prepaid expenses and other assets. There was no effect on our Consolidated Statements of Income.

The FASB recently issued an accounting standards update which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors.  The accounting standards update requires lessors to account for leases using an approach that is substantially equivalent to the existing guidance and is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted.  We are in the process of evaluating this accounting standards update.

2.    Real Estate Assets
 
Dispositions
 
During the first quarter of 2016, we sold:
 
substantially all of our wholly-owned Country Club Plaza assets in Kansas City (which we refer to as the “Plaza assets”) for a sale price of $660.0 million (before closing credits to buyer of $4.8 million). We recorded gains on disposition of discontinued operations of $414.5 million and a gain on disposition of property of $1.3 million related to the land;
 

16

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


2.    Real Estate Assets - Continued

a 32,000 square foot building for a sale price of $4.7 million (before closing credits to buyer of $0.1 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $1.1 million. The buyer, which leased 79% of the building, is a family business controlled by a director of the Company. The sale price exceeded the value set forth in an appraisal performed by a reputable independent commercial real estate services firm that has no relationship with the director or any of his affiliates; and

a building for a sale price of $6.4 million (before closing credits to buyer of $0.5 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $2.0 million.

3.    Mortgages and Notes Receivable

Mortgages and notes receivable were $9.7 million and $2.1 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. We evaluate the ability to collect our mortgages and notes receivable by monitoring the leasing statistics and/or market fundamentals of these assets. As of March 31, 2016, our mortgages and notes receivable were not in default and there were no other indicators of impairment.

4.    Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates

We have equity interests of up to 50.0% in various joint ventures with unrelated third parties that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting because we have the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies.
 
The following table sets forth the summarized income statements of our unconsolidated affiliates:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Income Statements:
 
 
 
Rental and other revenues
$
10,772

 
$
12,231

Expenses:
 
 
 
Rental property and other expenses
4,715

 
5,667

Depreciation and amortization
2,747

 
3,115

Interest expense
1,377

 
2,149

Total expenses
8,839

 
10,931

Income before disposition of property
1,933

 
1,300

Gains on disposition of property
902

 
2,127

Net income
$
2,835

 
$
3,427


During the first quarter of 2016, Concourse Center Associates, LLC sold two buildings and land to an unrelated third party for an aggregate sale price of $11.0 million and recorded losses on disposition of property of $0.1 million. As our cost basis was different from the basis reflected at the joint venture level, we recorded $0.4 million of gains through equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Simultaneously with the sale, the joint venture repaid all $6.6 million of its secured debt.

During the first quarter of 2016, 4600 Madison Associates, LP sold land to an unrelated third party for a sale price of $3.4 million and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $1.0 million. We recorded $0.1 million as our share of this gain through equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Simultaneously with the sale, the joint venture used all of the proceeds to pay down $3.4 million on its secured mortgage loan with an effective interest rate of 6.85%.

17

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
5.    Intangible Assets and Below Market Lease Liabilities
 
The following table sets forth total intangible assets and acquisition-related below market lease liabilities, net of accumulated amortization:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Deferred leasing costs (including lease incentives and above market lease and in-place lease acquisition-related intangible assets)
$
347,089

 
$
346,937

Less accumulated amortization
(122,630
)
 
(115,172
)
 
$
224,459

 
$
231,765

 
 
 
 
Liabilities (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities):
 
 
 
Acquisition-related below market lease liabilities
$
63,628

 
$
63,830

Less accumulated amortization
(19,497
)
 
(17,927
)
 
$
44,131

 
$
45,903


The following table sets forth amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Amortization of deferred leasing costs and acquisition-related intangible assets (in depreciation and amortization)
$
11,335

 
$
10,001

Amortization of lease incentives (in rental and other revenues)
$
711

 
$
351

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental and other revenues)
$
1,031

 
$
1,166

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (in rental property and other expenses)
$
138

 
$
137

Amortization of acquisition-related below market lease liabilities (in rental and other revenues)
$
(1,772
)
 
$
(1,732
)

The following table sets forth scheduled future amortization of intangible assets and below market lease liabilities:
 
 
 
Amortization of Deferred Leasing Costs and Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Depreciation and Amortization)
 
Amortization of Lease Incentives (in Rental and Other Revenues)
 
Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental and Other Revenues)
 
Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets (in Rental Property and Other Expenses)
 
Amortization of Acquisition-Related Below Market Lease Liabilities (in Rental and Other Revenues)
April 1 through December 31, 2016
 
$
34,295

 
$
1,011

 
$
2,805

 
$
415

 
$
(5,225
)
2017
 
38,954

 
1,275

 
2,650

 
553

 
(6,619
)
2018
 
32,108

 
1,171

 
1,706

 
553

 
(6,228
)
2019
 
26,469

 
961

 
1,305

 
553

 
(5,737
)
2020
 
21,882

 
725

 
988

 
525

 
(5,408
)
Thereafter
 
48,940

 
2,056

 
2,559

 

 
(14,914
)
 
 
$
202,648

 
$
7,199

 
$
12,013

 
$
2,599

 
$
(44,131
)
Weighted average remaining amortization periods as of March 31, 2016 (in years)
 
6.7

 
7.2

 
6.1

 
4.7

 
7.7


18

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
6.    Mortgages and Notes Payable
 
The following table sets forth our mortgages and notes payable:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Secured indebtedness
$
174,475

 
$
175,281

Unsecured indebtedness
1,933,536

 
2,324,333

Less-unamortized debt issuance costs
(7,074
)
 
(7,801
)
Total mortgages and notes payable, net
$
2,100,937

 
$
2,491,813

 
At March 31, 2016, our secured mortgage loans were collateralized by real estate assets with an aggregate undepreciated book value of $315.8 million.
 
Our $475.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature in January 2018 and includes an accordion feature that allows for an additional $75.0 million of borrowing capacity subject to additional lender commitments. Assuming no defaults have occurred, we have an option to extend the maturity for two additional six-month periods. The interest rate at our current credit ratings is LIBOR plus 110 basis points and the annual facility fee is 20 basis points. There was $258.0 million and $257.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility at March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016, respectively. At both March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016, we had $0.2 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduces the availability on our revolving credit facility. As a result, the unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016 was $216.8 million and $217.8 million, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2016, we prepaid without penalty the $350.0 million balance on our unsecured bridge facility that was originally scheduled to mature in March 2016.

We are currently in compliance with financial covenants and other requirements with respect to our consolidated debt.

7.
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
During the first quarter of 2016, we obtained $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively lock the underlying treasury rate at 1.90% with respect to a forecasted debt issuance expected to occur between June 15, 2016 and March 15, 2017. The counterparties under the swaps are major financial institutions.

Our interest rate swaps have been designated as and are being accounted for as cash flow hedges with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income/(loss) each reporting period. No gain or loss was recognized related to hedge ineffectiveness or to amounts excluded from effectiveness testing on our cash flow hedges during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. We have no collateral requirements related to our interest rate swaps.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCL") related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate debt. During the period from April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017, we estimate that $3.3 million will be reclassified to interest expense.

The following table sets forth the fair value of our derivatives:
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Derivatives:
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities:
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
$
5,992

 
$
3,073




19

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


7.
Derivative Financial Instruments - Continued

The following table sets forth the effect of our cash flow hedges on AOCL and interest expense:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
 
 
 
Amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCL on derivatives (effective portion):
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
$
(3,635
)
 
$
(2,914
)
Amount of losses reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense (effective portion):
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
$
795

 
$
924


8.
Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates
 
At March 31, 2016, our noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates relate to our joint venture partner's 50.0% interest in office properties in Richmond, VA. Our joint venture partner is an unrelated third party.

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership

The following table sets forth the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Beginning noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
$
126,429

 
$
130,048

Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value
429

 
5,036

Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock

 
(1,206
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
13,011

 
596

Distributions to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
(1,232
)
 
(1,248
)
Total noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
$
138,637

 
$
133,226


The following table sets forth net income available for common stockholders and transfers from the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net income available for common stockholders
$
432,790

 
$
19,316

Increase in additional paid in capital from conversions of Common Units
to Common Stock

 
1,206

Change from net income available for common stockholders and transfers from noncontrolling interests
$
432,790

 
$
20,522


20

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
9.
Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following summarizes the three levels of inputs that we use to measure fair value.

Level 1.  Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Our Level 1 asset is our investment in marketable securities that we use to pay benefits under our non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Our Level 1 liability is our non-qualified deferred compensation obligation. The Company's Level 1 noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership relate to the ownership of Common Units by various individuals and entities other than the Company.

Level 2. Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

Our Level 2 asset is the fair value of our mortgages and notes receivable. Our Level 2 liabilities include the fair value of our mortgages and notes payable and interest rate swaps.

The fair value of mortgages and notes receivable and mortgages and notes payable is estimated by the income approach utilizing contractual cash flows and market-based interest rates to approximate the price that would be paid in an orderly transaction between market participants. The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts and the discounted expected variable cash payments. The variable cash payments of interest rate swaps are based on the expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observed market interest rate curves. In addition, credit valuation adjustments are considered in the fair values to account for potential nonperformance risk, but were concluded to not be significant inputs to the calculation for the periods presented.
 
Level 3. Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
 
Our Level 3 asset included our tax increment financing bond, which was not routinely traded but whose fair value was determined by the income approach utilizing contractual cash flows and market-based interest rates to estimate the projected redemption value based on quoted bid/ask prices for similar unrated municipal bonds.
 
Our Level 3 liability was the fair value of our financing obligation, which was estimated by the income approach to approximate the price that would be paid in an orderly transaction between market participants, utilizing: (1) contractual cash flows; (2) market-based interest rates; and (3) a number of other assumptions including demand for space, competition for customers, changes in market rental rates, costs of operation and expected ownership periods.


21

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


9.
Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Continued

The following table sets forth our assets and liabilities and the Company's noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership that are measured at fair value within the fair value hierarchy.
 
 
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
Total
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities
 
Significant Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Fair Value at March 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)
 
$
9,661

 
$

 
$
9,661

 
$

Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)
 
2,521

 
2,521

 

 

Total Assets
 
$
12,182

 
$
2,521

 
$
9,661

 
$

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership
 
$
138,637

 
$
138,637

 
$

 
$

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)
 
$
2,131,771

 
$

 
$
2,131,771

 
$

Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)
 
5,992

 

 
5,992

 

Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)
 
2,521

 
2,521

 

 

Total Liabilities
 
$
2,140,284

 
$
2,521

 
$
2,137,763

 
$

Fair Value at December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes receivable, at fair value (1)
 
$
2,096

 
$

 
$
2,096

 
$

Marketable securities of non-qualified deferred compensation plan (in prepaid expenses and other assets)
 
2,736

 
2,736

 

 

Tax increment financing bond (in real estate and other assets, net, held for sale) (2)
 
11,197

 

 

 
11,197

Total Assets
 
$
16,029

 
$
2,736

 
$
2,096

 
$
11,197

Noncontrolling Interests in the Operating Partnership
 
$
126,429

 
$
126,429

 
$

 
$

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at fair value (1)
 
$
2,517,589

 
$

 
$
2,517,589

 
$

Interest rate swaps (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)
 
3,073

 

 
3,073

 

Non-qualified deferred compensation obligation (in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities)
 
2,736

 
2,736

 

 

Financing obligation, at fair value (in liabilities held for sale) (1) (2)
 
7,402

 

 

 
7,402

Total Liabilities
 
$
2,530,800

 
$
2,736

 
$
2,520,662

 
$
7,402

__________
(1)    Amounts recorded at historical cost on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
(2)    Sold during the first quarter of 2016 in conjunction with the sale of the Plaza assets.

22

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
9.
Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Continued

The following table sets forth the changes in our Level 3 asset, which was recorded at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Asset:
 
 
 
Tax Increment Financing Bond:
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
11,197

 
$
12,447

Assigned to the buyer of the Plaza assets
(11,197
)
 

Unrealized gains (in AOCL)

 
193

Ending balance
$

 
$
12,640


During 2007, we acquired a tax increment financing bond associated with a parking garage developed by us, which was assigned to the buyer of the Plaza assets in the first quarter of 2016. The estimated fair value at the date of sale was equal to the outstanding principal amount due on the bond.
 
The following table sets forth quantitative information about the unobservable input of our Level 3 asset, which was recorded at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:
 
 
Valuation
Technique
 
Unobservable
Input
 
Rate as of
 
 
 
December 31,
2015
Asset:
 
 
 
 
 
Tax increment financing bond
Income approach
 
Discount rate
 
6.93%

10.
Share-Based Payments
 
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company granted 244,664 stock options with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which resulted in a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $4.61. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company also granted 66,486 shares of time-based restricted stock and 56,346 shares of total return-based restricted stock with weighted average grant date fair values per share of $43.19 and $41.25, respectively. We recorded share-based compensation expense of $3.6 million and $3.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. At March 31, 2016, there was $7.8 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation costs, which will be recognized over a weighted average remaining contractual term of 2.7 years.

23

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
11.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
The following table sets forth the components of AOCL:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Tax increment financing bond:
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$

 
$
(445
)
Unrealized gains on tax increment financing bond

 
193

Ending balance

 
(252
)
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
Beginning balance
(3,811
)
 
(3,467
)
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
(3,635
)
 
(2,914
)
Amortization of cash flow hedges (1)
795

 
924

Ending balance
(6,651
)
 
(5,457
)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(6,651
)
 
$
(5,709
)
__________
(1)    Amounts reclassified out of AOCL into contractual interest expense.

24

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
12.
Real Estate, Other Assets and Liabilities Held For Sale and Discontinued Operations

The following tables set forth the assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Land
$

 
$
16,681

Buildings and tenant improvements

 
322,811

Land held for development

 
1,089

Less-accumulated depreciation

 
(131,274
)
Net real estate assets

 
209,307

Accrued straight-line rents receivable, net

 
11,730

Deferred leasing costs, net

 
6,690

Prepaid expenses and other assets, net

 
13,221

Real estate and other assets, net, held for sale
$

 
$
240,948

Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
$

 
$
(6,717
)
Financing obligation

 
(7,402
)
Liabilities held for sale
$

 
$
(14,119
)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Rental and other revenues
$
8,484

 
$
12,074

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Rental property and other expenses
3,334

 
4,999

Depreciation and amortization

 
3,441

General and administrative
1,388

 
194

Total operating expenses
4,722

 
8,634

Interest expense
85

 
181

Other income
420

 
656

Income from discontinued operations
4,097

 
3,915

Net gains on disposition of discontinued operations
414,496

 

Total income from discontinued operations
$
418,593

 
$
3,915


 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities
$
2,040

 
$
6,773

Cash flows from investing activities
$
417,097

 
$
(2,268
)


25

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
13.
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share of the Company:

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Earnings per Common Share - basic:
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
28,142

 
$
16,920

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from continuing operations
(746
)
 
(476
)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations
(308
)
 
(296
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock
(626
)
 
(627
)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
26,462

 
15,521

Income from discontinued operations
418,593

 
3,915

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership from discontinued operations
(12,265
)
 
(120
)
Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
406,328

 
3,795

Net income available for common stockholders
$
432,790

 
$
19,316

Denominator:
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares
96,373

 
93,222

Earnings per Common Share - basic:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
$
0.27

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
4.22

 
0.04

Net income available for common stockholders
$
4.49

 
$
0.21

Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
28,142

 
$
16,920

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations
(308
)
 
(296
)
Dividends on Preferred Stock
(626
)
 
(627
)
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
27,208

 
15,997

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
418,593

 
3,915

Net income available for common stockholders before net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership
$
445,801

 
$
19,912

Denominator:
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Share – weighted average shares
96,373

 
93,222

Add:
 
 
 
Stock options using the treasury method
84

 
124

Noncontrolling interests Common Units
2,900

 
2,933

Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Share – adjusted weighted average shares and assumed conversions (1) (2)
99,357

 
96,279

Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders
$
0.27

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common stockholders
4.22

 
0.04

Net income available for common stockholders
$
4.49

 
$
0.21

__________
(1)
There were 0.4 million and 0.2 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.
(2)
Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

26

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


13.
Earnings Per Share and Per Unit - Continued

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per unit of the Operating Partnership:
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
28,142

 
$
16,920

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations
(308
)
 
(296
)
Distributions on Preferred Units
(626
)
 
(627
)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
27,208

 
15,997

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
418,593

 
3,915

Net income available for common unitholders
$
445,801

 
$
19,912

Denominator:
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units
98,864

 
95,746

Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
$
0.28

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
4.23

 
0.04

Net income available for common unitholders
$
4.51

 
$
0.21

Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
 
 
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
$
28,142

 
$
16,920

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates from continuing operations
(308
)
 
(296
)
Distributions on Preferred Units
(626
)
 
(627
)
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
27,208

 
15,997

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
418,593

 
3,915

Net income available for common unitholders
$
445,801

 
$
19,912

Denominator:
 
 
 
Denominator for basic earnings per Common Unit – weighted average units
98,864

 
95,746

Add:
 
 
 
Stock options using the treasury method
84

 
124

Denominator for diluted earnings per Common Unit – adjusted weighted average units and assumed conversions (1) (2)
98,948

 
95,870

Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations available for common unitholders
$
0.28

 
$
0.17

Income from discontinued operations available for common unitholders
4.23

 
0.04

Net income available for common unitholders
$
4.51

 
$
0.21

__________
(1)
There were 0.4 million and 0.2 million options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per unit because the impact of including such options would be anti-dilutive.
(2)
Includes all unvested restricted stock where dividends on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable.

27

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)

 
14.
Segment Information

The following tables summarize the rental and other revenues and net operating income, the primary industry property-level performance metric used by our chief operating decision maker which is defined as rental and other revenues less rental property and other expenses, for each of our reportable segments. Our segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2015 has been retrospectively revised from previously reported amounts to reflect a change in our reportable segments.

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Rental and Other Revenues:
 
 
 
Office:
 
 
 
Atlanta, GA
$
33,196

 
$
24,782

Greensboro, NC
5,147

 
5,440

Memphis, TN
12,014

 
11,734

Nashville, TN
23,366

 
21,816

Orlando, FL
11,485

 
10,834

Pittsburgh, PA
15,140

 
14,549

Raleigh, NC
28,222

 
23,441

Richmond, VA
11,069

 
10,584

Tampa, FL
21,438

 
18,427

Total Office Segment
161,077

 
141,607

Other
3,782

 
3,629

Total Rental and Other Revenues
$
164,859

 
$
145,236


28

Table of Contents
HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.
HIGHWOODS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(tabular dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per unit data)


14.
Segment Information - Continued

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Net Operating Income:
 
 
 
Office:
 
 
 
Atlanta, GA
$
21,052

 
$
15,367

Greensboro, NC
3,148

 
3,426

Memphis, TN
7,415

 
7,389

Nashville, TN
16,815

 
15,232

Orlando, FL
6,685

 
6,483

Pittsburgh, PA
8,603

 
7,962

Raleigh, NC
20,254

 
16,271

Richmond, VA
7,429

 
6,880

Tampa, FL
13,327

 
11,220

Total Office Segment
104,728

 
90,230

Other
2,551

 
2,492

Total Net Operating Income
107,279

 
92,722

Reconciliation to income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
(53,494
)
 
(46,867
)
General and administrative expenses
(11,137
)
 
(11,243
)
Interest expense
(20,705
)
 
(21,242
)
Other income
517

 
582

Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates
$
22,460

 
$
13,952


15.
Subsequent Events

On April 4, 2016, we acquired 14 acres of development land in Nashville, TN for a purchase price of $9.0 million.



29

Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company is a fully integrated office REIT that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Greensboro, Memphis, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa. The Company conducts its activities through the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership is managed by the Company, its sole general partner. Additional information about us can be found on our website at www.highwoods.com. Information on our website is not part of this Quarterly Report.

You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information in this Quarterly Report may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects under this section. You can identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue” or other similar words. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that our plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. When considering such forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the following important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement:

given the competition for properties meeting our investment criteria, there could be a delay in reinvesting Section 1031 proceeds currently held by an escrow agent or we may be unable to reinvest such proceeds at all and any delay or limitation in using the reinvestment proceeds to acquire additional income producing assets would adversely affect our results of operations;

the financial condition of our customers could deteriorate;

we may not be able to lease or re-lease second generation space, defined as previously occupied space that becomes available for lease, quickly or on as favorable terms as old leases;

we may not be able to lease our newly constructed buildings as quickly or on as favorable terms as originally anticipated;

we may not be able to complete development, acquisition, reinvestment, disposition or joint venture projects as quickly or on as favorable terms as anticipated;

development activity by our competitors in our existing markets could result in an excessive supply relative to customer demand;

our markets may suffer declines in economic growth;

unanticipated increases in interest rates could increase our debt service costs;

unanticipated increases in operating expenses could negatively impact our operating results;

we may not be able to meet our liquidity requirements or obtain capital on favorable terms to fund our working capital needs and growth initiatives or repay or refinance outstanding debt upon maturity; and

the Company could lose key executive officers.

This list of risks and uncertainties, however, is not intended to be exhaustive. You should also review the other cautionary statements we make in “Business – Risk Factors” set forth in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


30

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
 
Our Strategic Plan focuses on:
 
owning high-quality, differentiated office buildings in the BBDs of our core markets;

improving the operating results of our existing properties through concentrated leasing, asset management, cost control and customer service efforts;

developing and acquiring office buildings in BBDs that improve the overall quality of our portfolio and generate attractive returns over the long term for our stockholders;

disposing of properties no longer considered to be core assets primarily due to location, age, quality and overall strategic fit; and

maintaining a conservative and flexible balance sheet with ample liquidity to meet our funding needs and growth prospects.
 
Revenues

Our operating results depend heavily on successfully leasing and operating the office space in our portfolio. Economic growth and employment levels in our core markets are and will continue to be important factors in predicting our future operating results.
 
The key components affecting our rental and other revenues are average occupancy, rental rates, cost recovery income, new developments placed in service, acquisitions and dispositions. Average occupancy generally increases during times of improving economic growth, as our ability to lease space outpaces vacancies that occur upon the expirations of existing leases. Average occupancy generally declines during times of slower economic growth, when new vacancies tend to outpace our ability to lease space. Asset acquisitions, dispositions and new developments placed in service directly impact our rental revenues and could impact our average occupancy, depending upon the occupancy rate of the properties that are acquired, sold or placed in service. A further indicator of the predictability of future revenues is the expected lease expirations of our portfolio. As a result, in addition to seeking to increase our average occupancy by leasing current vacant space, we also must concentrate our leasing efforts on renewing our existing leases prior to expiration. For more information regarding our lease expirations, see "Properties - Lease Expirations" in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Occupancy in our office portfolio decreased from 92.6% at December 31, 2015 to 92.2% at March 31, 2016. We expect average occupancy for our office portfolio to be approximately 92% to 93% for the remainder of 2016.
 
Whether or not our rental revenue tracks average occupancy proportionally depends upon whether GAAP rents under signed new and renewal leases are higher or lower than the GAAP rents under expiring leases. Annualized rental revenues from second generation leases expiring during any particular year are generally less than 15% of our total annual rental revenues. The following table sets forth information regarding second generation office leases signed during the first quarter of 2016 (we define second generation office leases as leases with new customers and renewals of existing customers in office space that has been previously occupied under our ownership and leases with respect to vacant space in acquired buildings):
 
 
New
 
Renewal
 
All Office
Leased space (in rentable square feet)
207,880

 
694,258

 
902,138

Average term (in years - rentable square foot weighted)
7.2

 
6.3

 
6.5

Base rents (per rentable square foot) (1)
$
25.47

 
$
24.11

 
$
24.42

Rent concessions (per rentable square foot) (1)
(1.32
)
 
(0.43
)
 
(0.63
)
GAAP rents (per rentable square foot) (1)
$
24.15

 
$
23.68

 
$
23.79

Tenant improvements (per rentable square foot) (1)
$
3.85

 
$
1.52

 
$
2.05

Leasing commissions (per rentable square foot) (1)
$
0.89

 
$
0.42

 
$
0.53

__________
(1)
Weighted average per rentable square foot on an annual basis over the lease term.

Compared to previous leases in the same office spaces, annual combined GAAP rents for new and renewal leases signed in the first quarter were $23.79 per rentable square foot, or 9.7% higher.


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We strive to maintain a diverse, stable and creditworthy customer base. We have an internal guideline whereby customers that account for more than 3% of our revenues are periodically reviewed with the Company's Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2016, no customer accounted for more than 3% of our cash revenues other than the Federal Government, which accounted for less than 6% of our cash revenues on an annualized basis. Upon completion of the Bridgestone Americas development project in Nashville, which is scheduled for delivery in mid-to-late 2017, it is expected that Bridgestone Americas, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, will account for approximately 3% of our revenues based on annualized cash revenues for March 2016.

Operating Expenses
 
Our expenses primarily consist of rental property expenses, depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. From time to time, expenses also include impairments of real estate assets. Rental property expenses are expenses associated with our ownership and operation of rental properties and include expenses that vary somewhat proportionately to occupancy levels, such as janitorial services and utilities, and expenses that do not vary based on occupancy, such as property taxes and insurance. Depreciation and amortization is a non-cash expense associated with the ownership of real property and generally remains relatively consistent each year, unless we buy, place in service or sell assets, since we depreciate our properties and related building and tenant improvement assets on a straight-line basis over fixed lives. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of management and employee salaries and other personnel costs, corporate overhead and short and long-term incentive compensation.

Net Operating Income

Whether or not we record growing same property net operating income (“NOI”) depends upon our ability to garner higher rental revenues, whether from higher average occupancy, higher GAAP rents per rentable square foot or higher cost recovery income, that exceed any corresponding growth in operating expenses. Same property NOI from continuing operations was $4.0 million, or 4.5%, higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 due to an increase in same property revenues of $4.1 million. We expect same property NOI to be higher in the remainder of 2016 than 2015 as higher rental revenues, mostly from higher average occupancy and higher average GAAP rents per rentable square foot, are expected to more than offset an increase in same property operating expenses.

In addition to the effect of same property NOI, whether or not NOI from continuing operations increases depends upon whether the NOI from our acquired properties and development properties placed in service exceeds the NOI from sold properties. NOI from continuing operations was $14.6 million, or 15.7%, higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 due to the full year impact of acquisitions and development properties placed in service in 2015, offset by NOI lost from sold properties not classified as discontinued operations. We expect NOI from continuing operations to be higher in the remainder of 2016 than 2015 due to the full year impact of our net investment activity in 2015.

Cash Flows

In calculating net cash related to operating activities, depreciation and amortization, which are non-cash expenses, are added back to net income. As a result, we have historically generated a positive amount of cash from operating activities. From period to period, cash flow from operations depends primarily upon changes in our net income, as discussed more fully below under “Results of Operations,” changes in receivables and payables, and net additions or decreases in our overall portfolio.

Net cash related to investing activities generally relates to capitalized costs incurred for leasing and major building improvements and our acquisition, development, disposition and joint venture capital activity. During periods of significant net acquisition and/or development activity, our cash used in such investing activities will generally exceed cash provided by investing activities, which typically consists of cash received upon the sale of properties and distributions of capital from our joint ventures.

Net cash related to financing activities generally relates to distributions, incurrence and repayment of debt, and issuances, repurchases or redemptions of Common Stock, Common Units and Preferred Stock. As discussed previously, we use a significant amount of our cash to fund distributions. Whether or not we have increases in the outstanding balances of debt during a period depends generally upon the net effect of our acquisition, disposition, development and joint venture activity. We generally use our revolving credit facility for daily working capital purposes, which means that during any given period, in order to minimize interest expense, we may record significant repayments and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We intend to maintain a conservative and flexible balance sheet with access to multiple sources of debt and equity capital and sufficient availability under our revolving credit facility that allows us to capitalize on favorable development and acquisition opportunities as they arise.

Rental and other revenues are our principal source of funds to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. Other sources of funds for short-term liquidity needs include available working capital and borrowings under our existing revolving credit facility, which had $217.8 million of availability at April 19, 2016. Our short-term liquidity requirements primarily consist of operating expenses, interest and principal amortization on our debt, distributions and capital expenditures, including building improvement costs, tenant improvement costs and lease commissions. Building improvements are capital costs to maintain or enhance existing buildings not typically related to a specific customer. Tenant improvements are the costs required to customize space for the specific needs of customers. We anticipate that our available cash and cash equivalents and cash provided by operating activities, together with cash available from borrowings under our revolving credit facility, will be adequate to meet our short-term liquidity requirements. We use our revolving credit facility for working capital purposes and for the short-term funding of our development and acquisition activity and, in certain instances, the repayment of other debt. The continued ability to borrow under the revolving credit facility allows us to quickly capitalize on strategic opportunities at short-term interest rates.
 
Our long-term liquidity uses generally consist of the retirement or refinancing of debt upon maturity (including mortgage debt, our revolving credit facility, term loans and other unsecured debt), funding of existing and new building development and land infrastructure projects and funding acquisitions of buildings and development land. Our expected future capital expenditures for started and/or committed new development projects were approximately $297 million at March 31, 2016. Additionally, we may, from time to time, retire some or all of our remaining outstanding Preferred Stock and/or unsecured debt securities through redemptions, open market repurchases, privately negotiated acquisitions or otherwise.
 
We expect to meet our long-term liquidity needs through a combination of:
 
cash flow from operating activities;
 
bank term loans and borrowings under our revolving credit facility;
 
the issuance of unsecured debt;
 
the issuance of secured debt;
 
the issuance of equity securities by the Company or the Operating Partnership; and
 
the disposition of non-core assets.

We generally expect to grow our company on a leverage-neutral basis by maintaining a leverage ratio of 38% to 43% as measured by the ratio of our mortgages and notes payable and outstanding preferred stock to the undepreciated book value of our assets. At March 31, 2016, our leverage ratio was 38.4% and there were 100.4 million diluted shares outstanding.

Investment Activity

As noted above, a key tenet of our strategic plan is to continuously upgrade the quality of our office portfolio through acquisitions, dispositions and development. We generally seek to acquire and develop office buildings that improve the average quality of our overall portfolio and deliver consistent and sustainable value for our stockholders over the long-term. Whether or not an asset acquisition or new development results in higher per share net income or funds from operations ("FFO") in any given period depends upon a number of factors, including whether the NOI for any such period exceeds the actual cost of capital used to finance the acquisition or development. Additionally, given the length of construction cycles, development projects are not placed in service until, in some cases, several years after commencement. Sales of non-core assets could result in lower per share net income or FFO in any given period in the event the resulting use of proceeds does not exceed the capitalization rate on the sold properties.


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Results of Operations

On March 1, 2016, we sold substantially all of our wholly-owned Country Club Plaza assets in Kansas City (which we refer to as the “Plaza assets”) for a sale price of $660.0 million. The Plaza assets and related liabilities were classified as held for sale at December 31, 2015 and, accordingly, the revenues and expenses of the Plaza assets have been reclassified to discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
 
Rental and Other Revenues
 
Rental and other revenues were $19.6 million, or 13.5%, higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to 2015 acquisitions, development properties placed in service in 2015 and higher same property revenues, which increased rental and other revenues by $12.2 million, $5.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively. Same property rental and other revenues were higher primarily due to an increase in average occupancy to 92.6% in the first quarter of 2016 from 91.4% in the first quarter of 2015, higher average GAAP rents per rentable square foot and higher termination fees. These increases were partly offset by lost revenue of $1.7 million from property dispositions. We expect rental and other revenues for the remainder of 2016 to increase over 2015 primarily due to the full year contribution of acquisitions closed in 2015, development properties placed in service in 2015 and 2016 and higher same property revenues, partly offset by lost revenue from property dispositions.

Operating Expenses
 
Rental property and other expenses were $5.1 million, or 9.6%, higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to 2015 acquisitions and development properties placed in service, which increased operating expenses by $4.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively. These increases were partly offset by a $0.5 million decrease in operating expenses from property dispositions. Same property operating expenses were relatively unchanged in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to higher property taxes offset by lower utilities. We expect rental property and other expenses for the remainder of 2016 to increase over 2015 primarily due to the full year contribution of acquisitions closed in 2015, development properties placed in service in 2015 and 2016 and higher same property operating expenses, partly offset by lower operating expenses due to property dispositions.

Depreciation and amortization was $6.6 million, or 14.1%, higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to 2015 acquisitions and development properties placed in service, partly offset by property dispositions. We expect depreciation and amortization for the remainder of 2016 to increase over 2015 for similar reasons.

General and administrative expenses were relatively unchanged in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to lower incentive compensation offset by higher company-wide base salaries. We expect general and administrative expenses for the remainder of 2016 to decrease over 2015 primarily due to lower incentive compensation, partly offset by higher company-wide base salaries and benefits. First quarter general and administrative expenses are typically higher than in subsequent quarters due to higher long-term equity incentive compensation recognized for certain employees who meet the age and service eligibility requirements under our retirement plan. Long-term equity incentive compensation awards are typically issued during the first quarter of each year.

Interest Expense
 
Interest expense was $0.5 million, or 2.5%, lower in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to lower average interest rates, partly offset by higher average debt balances. We expect interest expense for the remainder of 2016 to decrease over 2015 primarily due to lower average debt balances, lower average interest rates and higher capitalized interest.

Other Income

Other income was $0.1 million, or 11.2%, lower in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to the repayment of mortgages receivable in the second quarter of 2015. We expect other income for the remainder of 2016 to decrease over 2015 as a result of this repayment.


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Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates was $0.5 million, or 29.0%, lower in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily due to our $1.1 million share of a gain recognized by Highwoods DLF 97/26 DLF 99/32, LP in 2015 and less net operating income in our unconsolidated affiliates as a result of disposition activity, partly offset by our $0.4 million share of a gain recognized by Concourse Center Associates, LLC in 2016. We expect equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for the remainder of 2016 to decrease over 2015 for similar reasons.

Gains on Disposition of Property and Net Gains on Disposition of Discontinued Operations

Total gains were $417.7 million higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 due to the sale of the Plaza assets.

Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted
 
Diluted earnings per common share was $4.28 higher in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 due to an increase in net income for the reasons discussed above offset by an increase in the weighted average Common Shares outstanding.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Statements of Cash Flows
 
We report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. The following table sets forth the changes in the Company’s cash flows ($ in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
$
48,235

 
$
33,106

 
$
15,129

Net Cash Provided By/(Used In) Investing Activities
333,835

 
(47,135
)
 
380,970

Net Cash Provided By/(Used In) Financing Activities
(383,761
)
 
16,578

 
(400,339
)
Total Cash Flows
$
(1,691
)
 
$
2,549

 
$
(4,240
)

The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to higher net cash from the operations of 2015 acquisitions and development properties placed in service and the timing of cash paid for operating expenses. We expect net cash related to operating activities for the remainder of 2016 to be higher as compared to 2015 due to the full year impact of properties acquired in 2015, development properties placed in service in 2015 and 2016 and higher cash flows from leases signed in prior years as free rent periods expire, partly offset by the sale of the Plaza assets in 2016.

The change in net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to the proceeds from the sale of the Plaza assets, partly offset by higher investments in development in-process in 2016. We expect uses of cash for investing activities for the remainder of 2016 to be primarily driven by our plans to acquire and commence development of office buildings in the BBDs of our markets. Additionally, as of March 31, 2016, we have $297 million left to fund of our previously-announced development activity. We expect these uses of cash for investing activities will be partly offset by proceeds from non-core dispositions for the remainder of 2016.

The change in net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to higher net debt repayments in 2016, partly offset by higher proceeds from the issuance of Common Stock in 2016.


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Capitalization

The following table sets forth the Company’s capitalization (in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
 
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Mortgages and notes payable, net, at recorded book value
$
2,100,937

 
$
2,491,813

Financing obligation (in liabilities held for sale)
$

 
$
7,402

Preferred Stock, at liquidation value
$
29,030

 
$
29,050

Common Stock outstanding
97,392

 
96,092

Common Units outstanding (not owned by the Company)
2,900

 
2,900

Per share stock price at period end
$
47.81

 
$
43.60

Market value of Common Stock and Common Units
$
4,794,961

 
$
4,316,051

Total capitalization
$
6,924,928

 
$
6,844,316

 
At March 31, 2016, our mortgages and notes payable and outstanding preferred stock represented 30.8% of our total capitalization and 38.4% of the undepreciated book value of our assets.
 
Our mortgages and notes payable as of March 31, 2016 consisted of $174.5 million of secured indebtedness with a weighted average interest rate of 5.14% and $1,933.5 million of unsecured indebtedness with a weighted average interest rate of 3.73%. The secured indebtedness was collateralized by real estate assets with an aggregate undepreciated book value of $315.8 million. As of March 31, 2016, $583.0 million of our debt does not bear interest at fixed rates or is not protected by interest rate hedge contracts.
 
Investment Activity

On April 4, 2016, we acquired 14 acres of development land in Nashville, TN for a purchase price of $9.0 million.

In the normal course of business, we regularly evaluate potential acquisitions. As a result, from time to time, we may have one or more potential acquisitions under consideration that are in varying stages of evaluation, negotiation or due diligence, including potential acquisitions that are subject to non-binding letters of intent or enforceable contracts. Consummation of any transaction is subject to a number of contingencies, including the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. No assurances can be provided that we will acquire any properties in the future. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors - Recent and future acquisitions and development properties may fail to perform in accordance with our expectations and may require renovation and development costs exceeding our estimates" in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
During the first quarter of 2016, we sold the Plaza assets for a sale price of $660.0 million (before closing credits to buyer of $4.8 million). We recorded gains on disposition of discontinued operations of $414.5 million and a gain on disposition of property of $1.3 million related to the land. We used $420.0 million of the net sale proceeds from the sale of the Plaza assets to repay debt incurred to acquire three buildings in the third quarter of 2015 and are holding approximately $230 million of the net sale proceeds in escrow pending reinvestment in 1031 exchanges qualifying for tax-deferred treatment, repayment of additional debt and/or other general corporate purposes. We closed our Kansas City division office upon such sale. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors - Illiquidity of real estate investments and the tax effect of dispositions could significantly impede our ability to sell assets or respond to favorable or adverse changes in the performance of our properties" in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

During the first quarter of 2016, we also sold:

a 32,000 square foot building for a sale price of $4.7 million (before closing credits to buyer of $0.1 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $1.1 million. The buyer, which leased 79% of the building, is a family business controlled by a director of the Company. The sale price exceeded the value set forth in an appraisal performed by a reputable independent commercial real estate services firm that has no relationship with the director or any of his affiliates; and

a building for a sale price of $6.4 million (before closing credits to buyer of $0.5 million) and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $2.0 million.
 

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As of March 31, 2016, we were developing 1.4 million rentable square feet of properties. The following table summarizes these developments:
 
Property
 
Market
 
Rentable Square Feet
 
Anticipated Total Investment (1)
 
Investment As Of March 31, 2016 (1)
 
Pre-Leased %
 
Estimated Completion
 
Estimated Stabilization
 
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seven Springs West (Office)
 
Nashville
 
203,000

 
$
59,000

 
$
45,951

 
85.6
%
 
3Q16
 
1Q17
Riverwood 200 (Office)
 
Atlanta
 
299,000

 
107,000

 
31,133

 
66.2

 
2Q17
 
2Q19
Seven Springs II (Office)
 
Nashville
 
131,000

 
38,100

 
6,322

 
42.9

 
2Q17
 
3Q18
Bridgestone Americas (Office)
 
Nashville
 
514,000

 
200,000

 
70,579

 
98.5

 
3Q17
 
3Q17
CentreGreen III (Office) (2)
 
Raleigh
 
166,500

 
40,850

 
1,938

 

 
3Q17
 
3Q19
Enterprise V (Industrial)
 
Greensboro
 
131,200

 
7,600

 
6,156

 

 
2Q16
 
2Q17
 
 
 
 
1,444,700

 
$
452,550

 
$
162,079

 
64.7
%
 
 
 
 
__________
(1)
Includes deferred lease commissions which are classified in deferred leasing costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
Recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets in land held for development, not development in-process.

Financing Activity

During the first quarter of 2016, we entered into separate equity distribution agreements with each of Jefferies LLC, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Capital One Securities, Inc., Comerica Securities, Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Piper Jaffray & Co., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. Under the terms of the equity distribution agreements, the Company may offer and sell up to $250.0 million in aggregate gross sales price of shares of common stock from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Company or as principals. Sales of the shares, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or as otherwise agreed with any of such firms. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company issued 1,054,496 shares of Common Stock at an average gross sales price of $45.86 per share and received net proceeds, after sales commissions, of $47.6 million. We paid an aggregate of $0.7 million in sales commissions to RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC during the first quarter of 2016.

Our $475.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility is scheduled to mature in January 2018 and includes an accordion feature that allows for an additional $75.0 million of borrowing capacity subject to additional lender commitments. Assuming no defaults have occurred, we have an option to extend the maturity for two additional six-month periods. The interest rate at our current credit ratings is LIBOR plus 110 basis points and the annual facility fee is 20 basis points. The interest rate and facility fee are based on the higher of the publicly announced ratings from Moody's Investors Service or Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. There was $258.0 million and $257.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility at March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016, respectively. At both March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016, we had $0.2 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduces the availability on our revolving credit facility. As a result, the unused capacity of our revolving credit facility at March 31, 2016 and April 19, 2016 was $216.8 million and $217.8 million, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2016, we prepaid without penalty the $350.0 million balance on our unsecured bridge facility that was originally scheduled to mature in March 2016.

We are currently in compliance with financial covenants and other requirements with respect to our consolidated debt. Although we expect to remain in compliance with these covenants and ratios for at least the next year, depending upon our future operating performance, property and financing transactions and general economic conditions, we cannot assure you that we will continue to be in compliance.

Our revolving credit facility and bank term loans require us to comply with customary operating covenants and various financial requirements.
 
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the first quarter of 2016, Concourse Center Associates, LLC sold two buildings and land to an unrelated third party for an aggregate sale price of $11.0 million and recorded losses on disposition of property of $0.1 million. As our cost basis was

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different from the basis reflected at the joint venture level, we recorded $0.4 million of gains through equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Simultaneously with the sale, the joint venture repaid all $6.6 million of its secured debt.

During the first quarter of 2016, 4600 Madison Associates, LP sold land to an unrelated third party for a sale price of $3.4 million and recorded a gain on disposition of property of $1.0 million. We recorded $0.1 million as our share of this gain through equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Simultaneously with the sale, the joint venture used all of the proceeds to pay down $3.4 million on its secured mortgage loan with an effective interest rate of 6.85%.


Critical Accounting Estimates
 
There were no changes made by management to the critical accounting policies in the three months ended March 31, 2016. For a description of our critical accounting estimates, see “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Estimates” in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Non-GAAP Information
 
The Company believes that FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share are beneficial to management and investors and are important indicators of the performance of any equity REIT. Because these FFO calculations exclude such factors as depreciation, amortization and impairments of real estate assets and gains or losses from sales of operating real estate assets, which can vary among owners of identical assets in similar conditions based on historical cost accounting and useful life estimates, they facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between other REITs. Management believes that historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP implicitly assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors and analysts have considered the presentation of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient on a stand-alone basis. As a result, management believes that the use of FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share, together with the required GAAP presentations, provides a more complete understanding of the Company's performance relative to its competitors and a more informed and appropriate basis on which to make decisions involving operating, financing and investing activities.
 
FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share are non-GAAP financial measures and therefore do not represent net income or net income per share as defined by GAAP. Net income and net income per share as defined by GAAP are the most relevant measures in determining the Company's operating performance because these FFO measures include adjustments that investors may deem subjective, such as adding back expenses such as depreciation, amortization and impairments. Furthermore, FFO available for common stockholders per share does not depict the amount that accrues directly to the stockholders' benefit. Accordingly, FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share should never be considered as alternatives to net income, net income available for common stockholders, or net income available for common stockholders per share as indicators of the Company's operating performance.
 
The Company's presentation of FFO is consistent with FFO as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, which is calculated as follows:
 
Net income/(loss) computed in accordance with GAAP;
 
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates;
 
Plus depreciation and amortization of depreciable operating properties;
 
Less gains, or plus losses, from sales of depreciable operating properties, plus impairments on depreciable operating properties and excluding items that are classified as extraordinary items under GAAP;
 
Plus or minus our share of adjustments, including depreciation and amortization of depreciable operating properties, for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures (to reflect funds from operations on the same basis); and
 
Plus or minus adjustments for depreciation and amortization and gains/(losses) on sales of depreciable operating properties, plus impairments on depreciable operating properties, and noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates related to discontinued operations.
 
In calculating FFO, the Company includes net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership, which the Company believes is consistent with standard industry practice for REITs that operate through an UPREIT structure.

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The Company believes that it is important to present FFO on an as-converted basis since all of the Common Units not owned by the Company are redeemable on a one-for-one basis for shares of its Common Stock.
 
The following table sets forth the Company's FFO, FFO available for common stockholders and FFO available for common stockholders per share ($ in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Funds from operations:
 
 
 
Net income
$
446,735

 
$
20,835

Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates
(308
)
 
(296
)
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets
52,797

 
46,298

(Gains) on disposition of depreciable properties
(3,054
)
 
(394
)
Unconsolidated affiliates:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets
742

 
846

(Gains) on disposition of depreciable properties
(331
)
 
(1,071
)
Discontinued operations:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets

 
3,380

(Gains) on disposition of depreciable properties
(414,496
)
 

Funds from operations
82,085

 
69,598

Dividends on Preferred Stock
(626
)
 
(627
)
Funds from operations available for common stockholders
$
81,459

 
$
68,971

Funds from operations available for common stockholders per share
$
0.82

 
$
0.72

Weighted average shares outstanding (1)
99,357

 
96,279

__________
(1)
Includes assumed conversion of all potentially dilutive Common Stock equivalents.

In addition, the Company believes NOI from continuing operations and same property NOI are useful supplemental measures of the Company’s property operating performance because such metrics provide a performance measure of the revenues and expenses directly involved in owning real estate assets and a perspective not immediately apparent from net income or FFO. The Company defines NOI as rental and other revenues from continuing operations, less rental property and other expenses from continuing operations. The Company defines cash NOI as NOI less straight-line rent and lease termination fees. Other REITs may use different methodologies to calculate NOI and same property NOI.

As of March 31, 2016, our same property portfolio consisted of 223 in-service properties encompassing 26.9 million rentable square feet that were wholly owned during the entirety of the periods presented (from January 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016). As of December 31, 2015, our same property portfolio consisted of 221 in-service properties encompassing 26.2 million rentable square feet that were wholly owned during the entirety of the periods presented (from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015). The change in our same property portfolio was due to the addition of three properties encompassing 0.7 million rentable square feet acquired during 2014 and one newly developed property encompassing 0.1 million rentable square feet placed in service during 2014. These additions were offset by the removal of two properties encompassing 0.1 million rentable square feet that were sold during 2016.

Rental and other revenues related to properties not in our same property portfolio were $20.7 million and $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Rental property and other expenses related to properties not in our same property portfolio were $6.8 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


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The following table sets forth the Company’s NOI and same property NOI:

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Income from continuing operations before disposition of investment properties and activity in unconsolidated affiliates
$
22,460

 
$
13,952

Other income
(517
)
 
(582
)
Interest expense
20,705

 
21,242

General and administrative expenses
11,137

 
11,243

Depreciation and amortization
53,494

 
46,867

Net operating income from continuing operations
107,279

 
92,722

Less – non same property and other net operating income
(13,924
)
 
(3,416
)
Same property net operating income from continuing operations
$
93,355

 
$
89,306

 
 
 
 
Same property net operating income from continuing operations
$
93,355

 
$
89,306

Less – straight-line rent and lease termination fees
(4,842
)
 
(3,962
)
Same property cash net operating income from continuing operations
$
88,513

 
$
85,344



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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The effects of potential changes in interest rates are discussed below. Our market risk discussion includes “forward-looking statements” and represents an estimate of possible changes in fair value or future earnings that would occur assuming hypothetical future movements in interest rates. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. See “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our accounting policies and other information related to these financial instruments.
 
We borrow funds at a combination of fixed and variable rates. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility and bank term loans bear interest at variable rates. Our long-term debt, which consists of secured and unsecured long-term financings, typically bears interest at fixed rates. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit generally the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, from time to time we enter into interest rate hedge contracts such as collars, swaps, caps and treasury lock agreements in order to mitigate our interest rate risk with respect to various debt instruments. We generally do not hold or issue these derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes.
 
At March 31, 2016, we had $1,300.0 million principal amount of fixed rate debt outstanding (not including debt with a variable rate that is effectively fixed by related interest rate swaps). The estimated aggregate fair market value of this debt was $1,333.6 million. If interest rates had been 100 basis points higher, the aggregate fair market value of our fixed rate debt would have been $39.0 million lower. If interest rates had been 100 basis points lower, the aggregate fair market value of our fixed rate debt would have been $41.1 million higher.
 
At March 31, 2016, we had $583.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding not protected by interest rate hedge contracts. If the weighted average interest rate on this variable rate debt had been 100 basis points higher, the annual interest expense would increase $5.8 million. If the weighted average interest rate on this variable rate debt had been 100 basis points lower, the annual interest expense would decrease $5.8 million.
 
At March 31, 2016, we had $225.0 million of variable rate LIBOR-based debt outstanding with $225.0 million of related floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps. These swaps effectively fix the underlying LIBOR rate of the debt at 1.678%. If LIBOR interest rates increase or decrease by 100 basis points, the aggregate fair market value of the swaps at March 31, 2016 would increase by $0.4 million or decrease by $10.7 million, respectively. During the first quarter of 2016, we obtained $150.0 million notional amount of forward-starting swaps that effectively lock the underlying treasury rate at 1.90% with respect to a forecasted debt issuance expected to occur between June 15, 2016 and March 15, 2017.

We are exposed to certain losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties, which are major financial institutions, under the swaps. We regularly evaluate the financial condition of our counterparties using publicly available information. Based on this review, we currently expect the counterparties to perform fully under the swaps. However, if a counterparty defaults on its obligations under a swap, we could be required to pay the full rates on the applicable debt, even if such rates were in excess of the rate in the contract.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

SEC rules require us to maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company's CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Operating Partnership were each effective at the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

SEC rules also require us to establish and maintain internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. There were also no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership's internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth information related to shares of Common Stock surrendered by employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock during the first quarter of 2016:
 
 
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Weighted Average Price Paid per Share
 
 
 
 
 
January 1 to January 31
 

 
$

February 1 to February 29
 
26,758

 
43.55

March 1 to March 31
 
25,926

 
44.70

Total
 
52,684

 
$
44.12


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
Description
1
Form of Equity Distribution Agreement, dated February 10, 2016, among Highwoods Properties, Inc., Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership and each of the firms named therein (filed as part of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2016)
10.17
Form of Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated as of December 21, 2015, by and between Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, Highwoods Services, Inc., Country Club Plaza KC Partners LLC, The Macerich Partnership, L.P. and The Taubman Realty Group Limited Partnership (filed as part of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015)
10.18
Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate and Related Property, dated as of January 29, 2016, by and between Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership and SJ Company I LLC (filed as part of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015)
12.1
Statement re: Computation of Ratios of the Company
12.2
Statement re: Computation of Ratios of the Operating Partnership
31.1
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Company
31.2
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Company
31.3
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Operating Partnership
31.4
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Operating Partnership
32.1
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Company
32.2
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Company
32.3
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Operating Partnership
32.4
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the Operating Partnership
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Extension Labels Linkbase
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


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SIGNATURES

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

Highwoods Properties, Inc.
 
By: 

/s/ Mark F. Mulhern
 
Mark F. Mulhern
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership
 
By:
Highwoods Properties, Inc., its sole general partner
By: 

/s/ Mark F. Mulhern
 
Mark F. Mulhern
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 26, 2016



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