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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Organization Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business Highwoods Properties, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”), is a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity 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 virtually all of its activities through Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). At December 31, 2011, the Company and/or the Operating Partnership wholly owned: 303 in-service office, industrial and retail properties, comprising 29.3 million square feet; 96 rental residential units; 17 for-sale residential condominiums; 586 acres of undeveloped land suitable for future development, of which 524 acres are considered core assets; one office property under development; and one office property that is considered completed but not yet stabilized. In addition, we owned interests (50.0% or less) in 35 in-service office properties, one rental residential property under development and 11 acres of undeveloped land suitable for future development, which includes a 12.5% interest in a 261,000 square foot office property directly owned by the Company (not included in the Operating Partnership’s Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At December 31, 2011, the Company owned all of the Preferred Units and 72.2 million, or 95.1%, of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners, including one officer and two directors of the Company, own the remaining 3.7 million Common Units. In the event the Company issues shares of Common Stock, the proceeds of the issuance are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional Common Units. Generally, the Operating Partnership is required to redeem each Common Unit at the request of the holder thereof for cash equal to the value of one share of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, based on the average of the market price for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the notice date of such redemption, provided that the Company at its option may elect to acquire any such Common Units presented for redemption for cash or one share of Common Stock. The Common Units owned by the Company are not redeemable. During 2011, the Company redeemed 64,469 Common Units for a like number of shares of Common Stock. The redemptions, in conjunction with the proceeds from issuances of Common Stock contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional Common Units, increased the percentage of Common Units owned by the Company from 95.0% at December 31, 2010 to 95.1% at December 31, 2011. 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 Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010 was revised from previously reported amounts to reflect in real estate and other assets, net, held for sale those properties which qualified as held for sale during 2011. Our Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were revised from previously reported amounts to reflect in discontinued operations the operations for those properties sold or held for sale subsequent to those respective years. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the Operating Partnership, wholly owned subsidiaries and those subsidiaries in which we own a majority voting interest with the ability to control operations of the subsidiaries and where no substantive participating rights or substantive kick out rights have been granted to the noncontrolling interests. We consolidate partnerships, joint ventures and limited liability companies when we control the major operating and financial policies of the entity through majority ownership or in our capacity as general partner or managing member. Five of the 50.0% or less owned in-service office properties are consolidated. In addition, we consolidate those entities deemed to be variable interest entities in which we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. At December 31, 2011, we had involvement with no entities that we concluded to be variable interest entities. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. 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 the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Real Estate and Related Assets Real estate and related assets are recorded at cost and stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Renovations, replacements and other expenditures that improve or extend the life of assets are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 40 years for buildings and depreciable land infrastructure costs, 15 years for building improvements and five to seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Tenant improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over initial fixed terms of the respective leases, which generally are from three to 10 years. Depreciation expense for real estate assets was $120.8 million, $117.6 million and $115.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Expenditures directly related to the development and construction of real estate assets are included in net real estate assets and are stated at depreciated cost. Development expenditures include pre-construction costs essential to the development of properties, development and construction costs, interest costs on qualifying assets, real estate taxes, development personnel salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. Interest and other carrying costs are capitalized until the building is ready for its intended use, but not later than one year from cessation of major construction activity. We consider a construction project as substantially completed and ready for its intended use upon the completion of tenant improvements. We cease capitalization on the portion that is substantially completed and occupied or held available for occupancy, and capitalize only those costs associated with the portion under construction. Expenditures directly related to the leasing of properties are included in deferred financing and leasing costs and are stated at amortized cost. Such expenditures are part of the investment necessary to execute leases and, therefore, are classified as investment activities in the statement of cash flows. All leasing commissions paid to third parties for new leases or lease renewals are capitalized. Internal leasing costs include primarily compensation, benefits and other costs, such as legal fees related to leasing activities, that are incurred in connection with successfully securing leases of properties. Capitalized leasing costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the initial fixed terms of the respective leases, which generally are from three to 10 years. Estimated costs related to unsuccessful activities are expensed as incurred. We record liabilities for the performance of asset retirement activities when the obligation to perform such activities is probable even when uncertainty exists about the timing and/or method of settlement. Upon the acquisition of real estate assets, we assess the fair value of acquired tangible assets such as land, buildings and tenant improvements, intangible assets and liabilities such as above and below market leases, acquired in-place leases, customer relationships and other identifiable intangible assets and assumed liabilities. We assess fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize discount and/or capitalization rates as well as available market information. The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it were vacant. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued The above and below market rate portions of leases acquired in connection with property acquisitions are recorded in deferred financing and leasing costs and in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, at fair value and amortized into rental revenue over the remaining term of the respective leases as described below. Fair value is calculated as the present value of the difference between (1) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (2) our estimate of fair market lease rates for each corresponding in-place lease, using a discount rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired and measured over a period equal to the remaining initial term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining initial term plus the term of any renewal option that the customer would be economically compelled to exercise for below-market leases. In-place leases acquired are recorded at fair value in deferred financing and leasing costs and are amortized to depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining term of the respective lease. The value of in-place leases is based on our evaluation of the specific characteristics of each customer's lease. Factors considered include estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, current market conditions, the customer's credit quality and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, we include real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses and estimates of lost rentals at market rates during the expected lease-up periods, depending on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, we consider tenant improvements, leasing commissions and legal and other related expenses. Real estate and other assets are classified as long-lived assets held for use or as long-lived assets held for sale. Real estate is classified as held for sale when the Company's Board of Directors, or its Investment Committee, has approved the sale of the asset, a legally enforceable contract has been executed and the buyer's due diligence period has expired. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates With respect to assets classified as held for use, we perform an impairment analysis if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired, such as a significant decline in occupancy, identification of materially adverse legal or environmental factors, change in our designation of an asset from core to non-core which impacts the anticipated holding period or a decline in market value to an amount less than cost. This analysis is generally performed at the property level, except when an asset is part of an interdependent group such as an office park, and consists of determining whether the asset's carrying amount will be recovered from its undiscounted estimated future operating and residual cash flows. These cash flows are estimated based on a number of assumptions that are subject to economic and market uncertainties including, among others, demand for space, competition for customers, changes in market rental rates, costs to operate each property and expected ownership periods. For properties under development, the cash flows are based on expected service potential of the asset or asset group when development is substantially complete. If the carrying amount of a held for use asset exceeds the sum of its undiscounted future operating and residual cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between estimated fair value of the asset and the carrying amount. We generally estimate the fair value of assets held for use by using discounted cash flow analyses. In some instances, appraisal information may be available and is used in addition to a discounted cash flow analysis. As the factors used in generating these cash flows are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter our assumptions, the discounted and/or undiscounted future operating and residual cash flows estimated by us in our impairment analyses or those established by appraisal may not be achieved and we may be required to recognize future impairment losses on our properties held for use. We record assets held for sale, including for-sale residential condominiums, at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value. Fair value of assets held for sale is equal to the estimated or contracted sales price with a potential buyer, less costs to sell. The impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value. We also analyze our investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment. This analysis consists of determining whether an expected loss in market value of an investment is other than temporary by evaluating the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and ability to retain our investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. As the factors used in this analysis are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter our assumptions, we may be required to recognize future impairment losses on our investments in unconsolidated affiliates. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Sales of Real Estate For sales transactions meeting the requirements for full profit recognition, the related assets and liabilities are removed from the balance sheet and the resultant gain or loss is recorded in the period the transaction closes. For sales transactions with continuing involvement after the sale, if the continuing involvement with the property is limited by the terms of the sales contract, profit is recognized at the time of sale and is reduced by the maximum exposure to loss related to the nature of the continuing involvement. Sales to entities in which we have or receive an interest are accounted for using partial sale accounting. For transactions that do not meet the criteria for a sale, we evaluate the nature of the continuing involvement, including put and call provisions, if present, and account for the transaction as a financing arrangement, profit-sharing arrangement, leasing arrangement or other alternate method of accounting, rather than as a sale, based on the nature and extent of the continuing involvement. Some transactions may have numerous forms of continuing involvement. In those cases, we determine which method is most appropriate based on the substance of the transaction. Rental and Other Revenues Minimum contractual rents from leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases. This means that, with respect to a particular lease, actual amounts billed in accordance with the lease during any given period may be higher or lower than the amount of rental revenue recognized for the period. Straight-line rental revenue is commenced when the customer assumes control of the leased premises. Accrued straight-line rents receivable represents the amount by which straight-line rental revenue exceeds rents currently billed in accordance with lease agreements. Contingent rental revenue, such as percentage rent, is accrued when the contingency is removed. Termination fee income is recognized at the later of when the customer has vacated the space or the lease has expired and a fully executed lease termination agreement has been delivered, the amount of the fee is determinable and collectability of the fee is reasonably assured. Rental revenue reductions related to co-tenancy lease provisions, if any, are accrued when events have occurred that trigger such provisions. Property operating cost recovery revenues from customers (“cost reimbursements”) are determined on a calendar year and a lease-by-lease basis. The most common types of cost reimbursements in our leases are common area maintenance (“CAM”) and real estate taxes, for which the customer pays its pro-rata share of operating and administrative expenses and real estate taxes in excess of a base year amount. The computation of cost reimbursements is complex and involves numerous judgments, including the interpretation of terms and other customer lease provisions. Leases are not uniform in dealing with such cost reimbursements and there are many variations in the computation. Many customers make monthly fixed payments of CAM, real estate taxes and other cost reimbursement items. We accrue income related to these payments each month. We make quarterly accrual adjustments, positive or negative, to cost recovery income to adjust the recorded amounts to our best estimate of the final annual amounts to be billed and collected with respect to the cost reimbursements. After the end of the calendar year, we compute each customer's final cost reimbursements and, after considering amounts paid by the customer during the year, issue a bill or credit for the appropriate amount to the customer. The differences between the amounts billed less previously received payments and the accrual adjustment are recorded as increases or decreases to cost recovery income when the final bills are prepared, which occurs during the first half of the subsequent year. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable, accrued straight-line rents receivable and mortgages and notes receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. We regularly evaluate the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts. The evaluation primarily consists of reviewing past due account balances and considering such factors as the credit quality of our customer, historical trends of the customer and changes in customer payment terms. Additionally, with respect to customers in bankruptcy, we estimate the probable recovery through bankruptcy claims and adjust the allowance for amounts deemed uncollectible. If our assumptions regarding the collectability of receivables prove incorrect, we could experience losses in excess of our allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance and its related receivable are written-off when we have concluded there is a low probability of collection and we have discontinued collection efforts. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Discontinued Operations Properties that are sold or classified as held for sale are classified as discontinued operations provided that (1) the operations and cash flows of the property will be eliminated from our ongoing operations and (2) we will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the property after it is sold. Interest expense is included in discontinued operations if the related loan securing the sold property is to be paid off or assumed by the buyer in connection with the sale. If the property is sold to a joint venture in which we retain an interest, the property will not be accounted for as a discontinued operation due to our significant ongoing interest in the operations through our joint venture interest. If we are retained to provide property management, leasing and/or other services for the property owner after the sale, the property generally will be accounted for as a discontinued operation because the expected cash flows related to our management and leasing activities generally will not be significant in comparison to the cash flows from the property prior to sale. Lease Incentives Lease incentive costs, which are payments made to or on behalf of a customer as an incentive to sign the lease, are capitalized in deferred financing and leasing costs and amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective lease terms as a reduction of rental revenues. For-Sale Residential Condominiums For-sale residential condominiums include completed, but unsold, condominium inventory. We initially record receipts of earnest money deposits in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in accordance with the deposit method. We then record completed sales when units close and the remaining net cash is received. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates We account for our investments in less than majority owned joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies using the equity method of accounting when our interests represent a general partnership interest but substantive participating rights or substantive kick out rights have been granted to the limited partners or when our interests do not represent a general partnership interest and we do not control the major operating and financial policies of the entity. These investments are initially recorded at cost in investments in unconsolidated affiliates and are subsequently adjusted for our share of earnings and cash contributions and distributions. To the extent our cost basis at formation of the joint venture is different than the basis reflected at the joint venture level, the basis difference is amortized over the life of the related assets and included in our share of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Cash Equivalents We consider highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Restricted Cash Restricted cash represents cash deposits that are legally restricted or held by third parties on our behalf, such as security deposits from sales contracts on for-sale residential condominiums, construction-related escrows, property disposition proceeds set aside and designated or intended to fund future tax-deferred exchanges of qualifying real estate investments, escrows and reserves for debt service, real estate taxes and property insurance established pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements and any deposits given to lenders to unencumber secured properties. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Income Taxes We have elected and expect to continue to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A corporate REIT is a legal entity that holds real estate assets and, through the payment of dividends to stockholders, is generally permitted to reduce or avoid the payment of federal and state income taxes at the corporate level. To maintain qualification as a REIT, we are required to pay dividends to our stockholders equal to at least 90.0% of our annual REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains. We conduct certain business activities through a taxable REIT subsidiary, as permitted under the Code. The taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal, state and local income taxes on its taxable income. We record provisions for income taxes based on its income recognized for financial statement purposes, including the effects of temporary differences between such income and the amount recognized for tax purposes. Concentration of Credit Risk At December 31, 2011, our Wholly Owned Properties were leased to 1,722 customers. The geographic locations that comprise greater than 10.0% of our annualized cash rental revenue are Raleigh, NC, Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN. Our customers engage in a wide variety of businesses. No single customer of the Wholly Owned Properties generated more than 10.0% of our consolidated revenues during 2011. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents and our restricted cash at financial or other intermediary institutions. The combined account balances at each institution may exceed FDIC insurance coverage and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. Additionally, from time to time in connection with tax-deferred 1031 transactions, our restricted cash balances may be commingled with other funds being held by any such intermediary institution which subjects our balance to the credit risk of the institution. Derivative Financial Instruments We borrow funds at a combination of fixed and variable rates. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility, construction facility and bank term loans bear interest at variable rates. Our long-term debt, which consists of secured and unsecured long-term financings and the issuance of unsecured debt securities, typically bears interest at fixed rates although some loans bear interest at variable rates. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit 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 do not hold or issue these derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rate on all of our variable rate debt is generally adjusted at one or three month intervals, subject to settlements under these interest rate hedge contracts. We also enter into treasury lock and similar agreements from time to time in order to limit our exposure to an increase in interest rates with respect to future debt offerings. Interest rate swaps involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and is subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Interest rate hedge contracts typically contain a provision whereby if we default on any of our indebtedness, we could also be declared in default on our hedge contracts. We account for terminated derivative instruments by recognizing the related accumulated comprehensive income/loss balance in current earnings, unless the hedged forecasted transaction continues as originally planned, in which case we continue to amortize the accumulated comprehensive income/loss into earnings over the originally designated hedge period. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Earnings Per Share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available for common stockholders by the weighted Common Shares outstanding - basic. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders plus noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership by the weighted Common Shares outstanding - basic plus the dilutive effect of options, warrants and convertible securities outstanding, including Common Units, using the treasury stock method. Weighted Common Shares outstanding - basic includes all unvested restricted stock since dividends received on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2012, we will be required to enhance our disclosure of assets and liabilities measured at fair value. This includes disclosing any significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, additional quantitative and qualitative information regarding fair value measurements categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and the hierarchy classification for items whose fair value is not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets but is disclosed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, we will be required to present comprehensive income on the face of our Consolidated Statements of Income, which is currently disclosed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member] |
Organization Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Highwoods Properties, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”), is a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity 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 virtually all of its activities through Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). At December 31, 2011, the Company and/or the Operating Partnership wholly owned: 303 in-service office, industrial and retail properties, comprising 29.3 million square feet; 96 rental residential units; 17 for-sale residential condominiums; 586 acres of undeveloped land suitable for future development, of which 524 acres are considered core assets; one office property under development; and one office property that is considered completed but not yet stabilized. In addition, we owned interests (50.0% or less) in 35 in-service office properties, one rental residential property under development and 11 acres of undeveloped land suitable for future development, which includes a 12.5% interest in a 261,000 square foot office property directly owned by the Company (not included in the Operating Partnership’s Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At December 31, 2011, the Company owned all of the Preferred Units and 72.2 million, or 95.1%, of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners, including one officer and two directors of the Company, own the remaining 3.7 million Common Units. In the event the Company issues shares of Common Stock, the proceeds of the issuance are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional Common Units. Generally, the Operating Partnership is required to redeem each Common Unit at the request of the holder thereof for cash equal to the value of one share of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, based on the average of the market price for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the notice date of such redemption, provided that the Company at its option may elect to acquire any such Common Units presented for redemption for cash or one share of Common Stock. The Common Units owned by the Company are not redeemable. During 2011, the Company redeemed 64,469 Common Units for a like number of shares of Common Stock. The redemptions, in conjunction with the proceeds from issuances of Common Stock contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for additional Common Units, increased the percentage of Common Units owned by the Company from 95.0% at December 31, 2010 to 95.1% at December 31, 2011. 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 Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010 was revised from previously reported amounts to reflect in real estate and other assets, net, held for sale those properties which qualified as held for sale during 2011. Our Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were revised from previously reported amounts to reflect in discontinued operations the operations for those properties sold or held for sale subsequent to those respective years. The Consolidated Financial Statements include wholly owned subsidiaries and those subsidiaries in which we own a majority voting interest with the ability to control operations of the subsidiaries and where no substantive participating rights or substantive kick out rights have been granted to the noncontrolling interests. We consolidate partnerships, joint ventures and limited liability companies when we control the major operating and financial policies of the entity through majority ownership or in our capacity as general partner or managing member. Five of the 50.0% or less owned in-service office properties are consolidated. In addition, we consolidate those entities deemed to be variable interest entities in which we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. At December 31, 2011, we had involvement with no entities that we concluded to be variable interest entities. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. 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 the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Real Estate and Related Assets Real estate and related assets are recorded at cost and stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Renovations, replacements and other expenditures that improve or extend the life of assets are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Expenditures for ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of 40 years for buildings and depreciable land infrastructure costs, 15 years for building improvements and five to seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Tenant improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over initial fixed terms of the respective leases, which generally are from three to 10 years. Depreciation expense for real estate assets was $120.8 million, $117.6 million and $115.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Expenditures directly related to the development and construction of real estate assets are included in net real estate assets and are stated at depreciated cost. Development expenditures include pre-construction costs essential to the development of properties, development and construction costs, interest costs on qualifying assets, real estate taxes, development personnel salaries and related costs and other costs incurred during the period of development. Interest and other carrying costs are capitalized until the building is ready for its intended use, but not later than one year from cessation of major construction activity. We consider a construction project as substantially completed and ready for its intended use upon the completion of tenant improvements. We cease capitalization on the portion that is substantially completed and occupied or held available for occupancy, and capitalize only those costs associated with the portion under construction. Expenditures directly related to the leasing of properties are included in deferred financing and leasing costs and are stated at amortized cost. Such expenditures are part of the investment necessary to execute leases and, therefore, are classified as investment activities in the statement of cash flows. All leasing commissions paid to third parties for new leases or lease renewals are capitalized. Internal leasing costs include primarily compensation, benefits and other costs, such as legal fees related to leasing activities, that are incurred in connection with successfully securing leases of properties. Capitalized leasing costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the initial fixed terms of the respective leases, which generally are from three to 10 years. Estimated costs related to unsuccessful activities are expensed as incurred. We record liabilities for the performance of asset retirement activities when the obligation to perform such activities is probable even when uncertainty exists about the timing and/or method of settlement. Upon the acquisition of real estate assets, we assess the fair value of acquired tangible assets such as land, buildings and tenant improvements, intangible assets and liabilities such as above and below market leases, acquired in-place leases, customer relationships and other identifiable intangible assets and assumed liabilities. We assess fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize discount and/or capitalization rates as well as available market information. The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it were vacant. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued The above and below market rate portions of leases acquired in connection with property acquisitions are recorded in deferred financing and leasing costs and in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, at fair value and amortized into rental revenue over the remaining term of the respective leases as described below. Fair value is calculated as the present value of the difference between (1) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (2) our estimate of fair market lease rates for each corresponding in-place lease, using a discount rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired and measured over a period equal to the remaining initial term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining initial term plus the term of any renewal option that the customer would be economically compelled to exercise for below-market leases. In-place leases acquired are recorded at fair value in deferred financing and leasing costs and are amortized to depreciation and amortization expense over the remaining term of the respective lease. The value of in-place leases is based on our evaluation of the specific characteristics of each customer's lease. Factors considered include estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, current market conditions, the customer's credit quality and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, we include real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses and estimates of lost rentals at market rates during the expected lease-up periods, depending on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, we consider tenant improvements, leasing commissions and legal and other related expenses. Real estate and other assets are classified as long-lived assets held for use or as long-lived assets held for sale. Real estate is classified as held for sale when the Company's Board of Directors, or its Investment Committee, has approved the sale of the asset, a legally enforceable contract has been executed and the buyer's due diligence period has expired. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates With respect to assets classified as held for use, we perform an impairment analysis if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired, such as a significant decline in occupancy, identification of materially adverse legal or environmental factors, change in our designation of an asset from core to non-core which impacts the anticipated holding period or a decline in market value to an amount less than cost. This analysis is generally performed at the property level, except when an asset is part of an interdependent group such as an office park, and consists of determining whether the asset's carrying amount will be recovered from its undiscounted estimated future operating and residual cash flows. These cash flows are estimated based on a number of assumptions that are subject to economic and market uncertainties including, among others, demand for space, competition for customers, changes in market rental rates, costs to operate each property and expected ownership periods. For properties under development, the cash flows are based on expected service potential of the asset or asset group when development is substantially complete. If the carrying amount of a held for use asset exceeds the sum of its undiscounted future operating and residual cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between estimated fair value of the asset and the carrying amount. We generally estimate the fair value of assets held for use by using discounted cash flow analyses. In some instances, appraisal information may be available and is used in addition to a discounted cash flow analysis. As the factors used in generating these cash flows are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter our assumptions, the discounted and/or undiscounted future operating and residual cash flows estimated by us in our impairment analyses or those established by appraisal may not be achieved and we may be required to recognize future impairment losses on our properties held for use. We record assets held for sale, including for-sale residential condominiums, at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value. Fair value of assets held for sale is equal to the estimated or contracted sales price with a potential buyer, less costs to sell. The impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value. We also analyze our investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment. This analysis consists of determining whether an expected loss in market value of an investment is other than temporary by evaluating the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and ability to retain our investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. As the factors used in this analysis are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter our assumptions, we may be required to recognize future impairment losses on our investments in unconsolidated affiliates. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Sales of Real Estate For sales transactions meeting the requirements for full profit recognition, the related assets and liabilities are removed from the balance sheet and the resultant gain or loss is recorded in the period the transaction closes. For sales transactions with continuing involvement after the sale, if the continuing involvement with the property is limited by the terms of the sales contract, profit is recognized at the time of sale and is reduced by the maximum exposure to loss related to the nature of the continuing involvement. Sales to entities in which we have or receive an interest are accounted for using partial sale accounting. For transactions that do not meet the criteria for a sale, we evaluate the nature of the continuing involvement, including put and call provisions, if present, and account for the transaction as a financing arrangement, profit-sharing arrangement, leasing arrangement or other alternate method of accounting, rather than as a sale, based on the nature and extent of the continuing involvement. Some transactions may have numerous forms of continuing involvement. In those cases, we determine which method is most appropriate based on the substance of the transaction. Rental and Other Revenues Minimum contractual rents from leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases. This means that, with respect to a particular lease, actual amounts billed in accordance with the lease during any given period may be higher or lower than the amount of rental revenue recognized for the period. Straight-line rental revenue is commenced when the customer assumes control of the leased premises. Accrued straight-line rents receivable represents the amount by which straight-line rental revenue exceeds rents currently billed in accordance with lease agreements. Contingent rental revenue, such as percentage rent, is accrued when the contingency is removed. Termination fee income is recognized at the later of when the customer has vacated the space or the lease has expired and a fully executed lease termination agreement has been delivered, the amount of the fee is determinable and collectability of the fee is reasonably assured. Rental revenue reductions related to co-tenancy lease provisions, if any, are accrued when events have occurred that trigger such provisions. Property operating cost recovery revenues from customers (“cost reimbursements”) are determined on a calendar year and a lease-by-lease basis. The most common types of cost reimbursements in our leases are common area maintenance (“CAM”) and real estate taxes, for which the customer pays its pro-rata share of operating and administrative expenses and real estate taxes in excess of a base year amount. The computation of cost reimbursements is complex and involves numerous judgments, including the interpretation of terms and other customer lease provisions. Leases are not uniform in dealing with such cost reimbursements and there are many variations in the computation. Many customers make monthly fixed payments of CAM, real estate taxes and other cost reimbursement items. We accrue income related to these payments each month. We make quarterly accrual adjustments, positive or negative, to cost recovery income to adjust the recorded amounts to our best estimate of the final annual amounts to be billed and collected with respect to the cost reimbursements. After the end of the calendar year, we compute each customer's final cost reimbursements and, after considering amounts paid by the customer during the year, issue a bill or credit for the appropriate amount to the customer. The differences between the amounts billed less previously received payments and the accrual adjustment are recorded as increases or decreases to cost recovery income when the final bills are prepared, which occurs during the first half of the subsequent year. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable, accrued straight-line rents receivable and mortgages and notes receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. We regularly evaluate the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts. The evaluation primarily consists of reviewing past due account balances and considering such factors as the credit quality of our customer, historical trends of the customer and changes in customer payment terms. Additionally, with respect to customers in bankruptcy, we estimate the probable recovery through bankruptcy claims and adjust the allowance for amounts deemed uncollectible. If our assumptions regarding the collectability of receivables prove incorrect, we could experience losses in excess of our allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance and its related receivable are written-off when we have concluded there is a low probability of collection and we have discontinued collection efforts. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Discontinued Operations Properties that are sold or classified as held for sale are classified as discontinued operations provided that (1) the operations and cash flows of the property will be eliminated from our ongoing operations and (2) we will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the property after it is sold. Interest expense is included in discontinued operations if the related loan securing the sold property is to be paid off or assumed by the buyer in connection with the sale. If the property is sold to a joint venture in which we retain an interest, the property will not be accounted for as a discontinued operation due to our significant ongoing interest in the operations through our joint venture interest. If we are retained to provide property management, leasing and/or other services for the property owner after the sale, the property generally will be accounted for as a discontinued operation because the expected cash flows related to our management and leasing activities generally will not be significant in comparison to the cash flows from the property prior to sale. Lease Incentives Lease incentive costs, which are payments made to or on behalf of a customer as an incentive to sign the lease, are capitalized in deferred financing and leasing costs and amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective lease terms as a reduction of rental revenues. For-Sale Residential Condominiums For-sale residential condominiums include completed, but unsold, condominium inventory. We initially record receipts of earnest money deposits in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in accordance with the deposit method. We then record completed sales when units close and the remaining net cash is received. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates We account for our investments in less than majority owned joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies using the equity method of accounting when our interests represent a general partnership interest but substantive participating rights or substantive kick out rights have been granted to the limited partners or when our interests do not represent a general partnership interest and we do not control the major operating and financial policies of the entity. These investments are initially recorded at cost in investments in unconsolidated affiliates and are subsequently adjusted for our share of earnings and cash contributions and distributions. To the extent our cost basis at formation of the joint venture is different than the basis reflected at the joint venture level, the basis difference is amortized over the life of the related assets and included in our share of equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Cash Equivalents We consider highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Restricted Cash Restricted cash represents cash deposits that are legally restricted or held by third parties on our behalf, such as security deposits from sales contracts on for-sale residential condominiums, construction-related escrows, property disposition proceeds set aside and designated or intended to fund future tax-deferred exchanges of qualifying real estate investments, escrows and reserves for debt service, real estate taxes and property insurance established pursuant to certain mortgage financing arrangements and any deposits given to lenders to unencumber secured properties. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Redeemable Common Units and Preferred Units Limited partners holding Common Units other than the Company (“Redeemable Common Units”) have the right to put any and all of the Common Units to the Operating Partnership and the Company has the right to put any and all of the Preferred Units to the Operating Partnership in exchange for their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid distributions in the event of a corresponding redemption by the Company of the underlying Preferred Stock. Consequently, these Redeemable Common Units and Preferred Units are classified outside of permanent partners’ capital in the accompanying balance sheet. The recorded value of the Redeemable Common Units is based on fair value at the balance sheet date as measured by the closing price of Common Stock on that date multiplied by the total number of Redeemable Common Units outstanding. The recorded value of the Preferred Units is based on their redemption value. Income Taxes The Company has elected and expects to continue to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A corporate REIT is a legal entity that holds real estate assets and, through the payment of dividends to stockholders, is generally permitted to reduce or avoid the payment of federal and state income taxes at the corporate level. To maintain qualification as a REIT, the Company is required to pay dividends to its stockholders equal to at least 90.0% of its annual REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains. The partnership agreement requires the Operating Partnership to pay economically equivalent distributions on outstanding Common Units at the same time that the Company pays dividends on its outstanding Common Stock. Other than income taxes related to its taxable REIT subsidiary, the Operating Partnership does not reflect any federal income taxes in its financial statements, since as a partnership the taxable effects of its operations are attributed to its partners. The Operating Partnership does record state income tax for states that tax partnership income directly. Concentration of Credit Risk At December 31, 2011, our Wholly Owned Properties were leased to 1,722 customers. The geographic locations that comprise greater than 10.0% of our annualized cash rental revenue are Raleigh, NC, Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN. Our customers engage in a wide variety of businesses. No single customer of the Wholly Owned Properties generated more than 10.0% of our consolidated revenues during 2011. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents and our restricted cash at financial or other intermediary institutions. The combined account balances at each institution may exceed FDIC insurance coverage and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. Additionally, from time to time in connection with tax-deferred 1031 transactions, our restricted cash balances may be commingled with other funds being held by any such intermediary institution which subjects our balance to the credit risk of the institution. Derivative Financial Instruments We borrow funds at a combination of fixed and variable rates. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility, construction facility and bank term loans bear interest at variable rates. Our long-term debt, which consists of secured and unsecured long-term financings and the issuance of unsecured debt securities, typically bears interest at fixed rates although some loans bear interest at variable rates. Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit 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 do not hold or issue these derivative contracts for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rate on all of our variable rate debt is generally adjusted at one or three month intervals, subject to settlements under these interest rate hedge contracts. We also enter into treasury lock and similar agreements from time to time in order to limit our exposure to an increase in interest rates with respect to future debt offerings. 1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies – Continued Interest rate swaps involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and is subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Interest rate hedge contracts typically contain a provision whereby if we default on any of our indebtedness, we could also be declared in default on our hedge contracts. We account for terminated derivative instruments by recognizing the related accumulated comprehensive income/loss balance in current earnings, unless the hedged forecasted transaction continues as originally planned, in which case we continue to amortize the accumulated comprehensive income/loss into earnings over the originally designated hedge period. Earnings Per Unit Basic earnings per unit is computed by dividing net income available for common unitholders by the weighted Common Units outstanding - basic. Diluted earnings per unit is computed by dividing net income available to common unitholders by the weighted Common Units outstanding - basic plus the dilutive effect of options and warrants, using the treasury stock method. Weighted Common Units outstanding - basic include all of the Company's unvested restricted stock since dividends received on such restricted stock are non-forfeitable. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2012, we will be required to enhance our disclosure of assets and liabilities measured at fair value. This includes disclosing any significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, additional quantitative and qualitative information regarding fair value measurements categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and the hierarchy classification for items whose fair value is not recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets but is disclosed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, we will be required to present comprehensive income on the face of our Consolidated Statements of Income, which is currently disclosed in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Publisher AICPA -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Publisher FASB -Number 46R -Paragraph 4, 14, 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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