10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

FORM 10-K

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

x Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

OR

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-13100

 


HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Maryland   56-1871668

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600

Raleigh, N.C. 27604

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

919-872-4924

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value

  New York Stock Exchange

8 5/8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares

  New York Stock Exchange

8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares

  New York Stock Exchange

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

NONE

 


Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of ‘accelerated filer’ and ‘large accelerated filer’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act.    Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing sale price on the New York Stock Exchange) on June 30, 2005 was approximately $1.6 billion. As of April 30, 2006, there were 54,136,934 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement in connection with its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held August 3, 2006 are incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 5 and Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Form 10-K.

 



Table of Contents

HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item No.

        Page No.
  

PART I

  

1.

   Business    3

1A.

   Risk Factors    6

1B.

   Unresolved Staff Comments    11

2.

   Properties    12

3.

   Legal Proceedings    17

4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    17

X.

   Executive Officers of the Registrant    18
  

PART II

  

5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   20

6.

   Selected Financial Data    21

7.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    22

7A.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    50

8.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    50

9.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    50

9A.

   Controls and Procedures    51

9B.

   Other Information    56
  

PART III

  

10.

   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    57

11.

   Executive Compensation    57

12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    57

13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    57

14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    57
  

PART IV

  

15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    58

 

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PART I

We refer to (1) Highwoods Properties, Inc. as the “Company,” (2) Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership as the “Operating Partnership,” (3) the Company’s common stock as “Common Stock,” (4) the Company’s preferred stock as “Preferred Stock,” (5) the Operating Partnership’s common partnership interests as “Common Units,” (6) the Operating Partnership’s preferred partnership interests as “Preferred Units” and (7) in-service properties (excluding apartment units) to which the Company has title and 100.0% ownership rights as the “Wholly Owned Properties.”

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

The Company is a fully-integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that began operations through a predecessor in 1978. We are one of the largest owners and operators of suburban office, industrial and retail properties in the southeastern and midwestern United States. At December 31, 2005, we:

 

    wholly owned 378 in-service office, industrial and retail properties, encompassing approximately 29.8 million rentable square feet, and 96 apartment units;

 

    owned an interest (50.0% or less) in 69 in-service office and industrial properties, encompassing approximately 7.2 million rentable square feet, and 418 apartment units. One of these in-service properties is consolidated at December 31, 2005 as more fully described in Notes 1 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements;

 

    wholly owned 898 acres of undeveloped land, approximately 500 acres of which are considered core holdings and which are suitable to develop approximately 7.1 million rentable square feet of office, industrial and retail space;

 

    were developing or re-developing six wholly owned properties of approximately 543,000 square feet that were under construction or were completed but had not achieved 95% stabilized occupancy;

 

    were developing through 50.0% owned joint ventures (a) an office property of approximately 75,000 square feet that was completed in 2005 but had not achieved 95% stabilized occupancy, and (b) an apartment property comprising 332 units; and

 

    owned a 50.0% interest in a joint venture that is developing a 156 unit apartment property (this joint venture interest is consolidated – see Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

The Company conducts substantially all of its activities through, and substantially all of its interests in the properties are held directly or indirectly by, the Operating Partnership. The Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership. At December 31, 2005, the Company owned 100.0% of the Preferred Units and 90.8% of the Common Units in the Operating Partnership. Limited partners (including certain officers and directors of the Company) own the remaining Common Units. Each Common Unit is redeemable by the holder for the cash value of one share of Common Stock or, at the Company’s option, one share of Common Stock. Preferred Units in the Operating Partnership were issued to the Company in connection with the Company’s Preferred Stock offerings that occurred in 1997 and 1998.

The Company was incorporated in Maryland in 1994. The Operating Partnership was formed in North Carolina in 1994. Our executive offices are located at 3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 600, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 and our telephone number is (919) 872-4924. We maintain offices in each of our primary markets.

Our business is the acquisition, development and operation of rental real estate properties. We operate office, industrial and retail properties and apartment units. There are no material inter-segment transactions. See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of the rental income, net operating income and assets for each reportable segment.

 

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In addition to this Annual Report, we file or furnish quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. All documents that we file or furnish with the SEC are made available as soon as reasonably practicable free of charge on our corporate website, which is http://www.highwoods.com. The information on this website is not and should not be considered part of this Annual Report and is not incorporated by reference in this document. This website is only intended to be an inactive textual reference. You may also read and copy any document that we file or furnish at the public reference facilities of the SEC at 100 F. Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 for further information about the public reference facilities. These documents also may be accessed through the SEC’s electronic data gathering, analysis and retrieval system (“EDGAR”) via electronic means, including the SEC’s home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov). In addition, since some of our securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, you can read similar information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

Customers

The following table sets forth information concerning the 20 largest customers of our Wholly Owned Properties as of December 31, 2005:

 

Customer

   Rental
Square Feet
   Annualized
Rental Revenue (1)
   Percent of Total
Annualized
Rental Revenue (1)
    Weighted Average
Remaining Lease
Term in Years
          (in thousands)           

Federal Government

   1,526,045    $ 22,519    5.65 %   8.4

AT&T (2)

   537,529      10,280    2.58     3.1

PricewaterhouseCoopers

   297,795      7,609    1.91     4.3

State of Georgia

   356,175      6,882    1.73     3.8

T-Mobile USA

   205,855      4,676    1.17     8.1

US Airways (3)

   293,007      3,971    1.00     2.0

IBM

   188,763      3,768    0.95     0.3

Volvo

   278,940      3,752    0.94     3.5

Lockton Companies

   145,651      3,701    0.93     9.2

Northern Telecom

   246,000      3,651    0.92     2.2

SCI Services, Inc.

   162,784      3,450    0.87     11.6

BB&T

   227,757      3,127    0.78     6.2

CHS Professional Services

   170,524      3,080    0.77     1.1

Metropolitan Life Insurance

   174,944      2,659    0.67     6.8

MCI (4)

   127,915      2,487    0.62     1.4

Jacob’s Engineering Group, Inc.

   164,417      2,269    0.57     10.4

Lifepoint Corporate Services

   120,112      2,224    0.56     5.6

ICON Clinical Research

   99,163      2,153    0.54     6.4

Vanderbilt University

   108,622      2,090    0.52     9.8

The Martin Agency

   118,518      2,018    0.51     11.3
                      

Total (5)

   5,550,516    $ 96,366    24.19 %   5.8
                      

(1) Annualized Rental Revenue is rental revenue (base rent plus additional rent based on the level of operating expenses) for the month of December 2005 multiplied by 12.
(2) On March 5, 2006, AT&T and BellSouth Corporation announced their plans to merge. At December 31, 2005, BellSouth Corporation leased 54,123 square feet from us with $1.0 million in annualized rental revenue.
(3) On September 12, 2004, US Airways, Inc. and related entities filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11. US Airways’ plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 was confirmed by the US Bankruptcy Court on September 16, 2005, and US Airways completed a merger with America West Airlines on September 27, 2005. US Airways assumed two leases (both of which expire on December 31, 2007), and one lease was amended to expire one year early on December 31, 2006.
(4) Verizon Communications Inc. acquired MCI, Inc. on January 6, 2006.
(5) Excludes one property recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet that was sold but accounted for as a financing under SFAS No. 66. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Operating Strategy

Efficient, Customer Service-Oriented Organization. We provide a complete line of real estate services to our customers and third parties. We believe that our in-house development, acquisition, construction management, leasing and property management services allow us to respond to the many demands of our existing and potential customer base. We provide our customers with cost-effective services such as build-to-suit construction and space modification, including tenant improvements and expansions. In addition, the breadth of our capabilities and resources provides us with market information not generally available. We believe that the operating efficiencies achieved through our fully integrated organization also provide a competitive advantage in setting our lease rates and pricing other services.

Capital Recycling Program. Our strategy has been to focus our real estate activities in markets where we believe our extensive local knowledge gives us a competitive advantage over other real estate developers and operators. Through our capital recycling program, we generally seek to:

 

    selectively dispose of non-core properties in order to use the net proceeds to improve our balance sheet by reducing outstanding debt and Preferred Stock balances, for new investments or other purposes;

 

    engage in the development of office and industrial projects in our existing geographic markets, primarily in suburban in-fill business parks; and

 

    acquire selective suburban office and industrial properties in our existing geographic markets at prices below replacement cost that offer attractive returns.

Our capital recycling activities benefit from our local market presence and knowledge. Our division officers have significant real estate experience in their respective markets. Based on this experience, we believe that we are in a better position to evaluate capital recycling opportunities than many of our competitors. In addition, our relationships with our customers and those tenants at properties for which we conduct third-party fee-based services may lead to development projects when these tenants seek new space.

The following table summarizes the changes in square footage in our in-service Wholly Owned Properties during each of the three years ended December 31, 2005:

 

     2005     2004     2003  
     (rentable square feet in thousands)  
Office, Industrial and Retail Properties:       

Dispositions

   (4,641 )   (1,263 )   (3,298 )

Contributions to Joint Ventures

   —       (1,270 )(1)   (291 )

Developments Placed In-Service

   713     141     191  

Redevelopment/Other

   (133 )   (21 )   (221 )

Acquisitions

   —       1,357 (1)   1,429  
                  
Net Change of In-Service Wholly Owned Properties    (4,061 )   (1,056 )   (2,190 )
                  

(1) Includes 1,270,000 square feet of properties in Orlando, Florida acquired from MG-HIW, LLC in March 2004 and contributed to HIW-KC Orlando, LLC in June 2004.

Conservative and Flexible Balance Sheet. We are committed to maintaining a conservative and flexible balance sheet that allows us to capitalize on favorable development and acquisition opportunities as they arise. Accordingly, we expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements through a combination of any one or more of:

 

    cash flow from operating activities;

 

    borrowings under our new $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility;

 

    the issuance of unsecured debt;

 

    the issuance of secured debt;

 

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    the issuance of equity securities by both the Company and the Operating Partnership;

 

    the selective disposition of non-core land and other assets; and

 

    private equity capital raised from unrelated joint venture partners that may involve the sale or contribution of our Wholly Owned Properties, development projects or development land to joint ventures formed with such partners.

Geographic Diversification. We do not believe that our operations are significantly dependent upon any particular geographic market. Today, including our various joint ventures, our portfolio consists primarily of office and industrial properties throughout the Southeast and retail and office properties in Kansas City, Missouri, including one significant mixed retail and office property, and office properties in Des Moines, Iowa (included in a joint venture).

Competition

Our properties compete for tenants with similar properties located in our markets primarily on the basis of location, rent, services provided and the design and condition of the facilities. We also compete with other REITs, financial institutions, pension funds, partnerships, individual investors and others when attempting to acquire, develop and operate properties.

Employees

As of December 31, 2005, the Company employed 494 persons.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

An investment in our equity and debt securities involves various risks. All investors should carefully consider the following risk factors in conjunction with the other information contained in this Annual Report before trading in our securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition could be harmed.

Our performance is subject to risks associated with real estate investment. We are a real estate company that derives most of our income from the ownership and operation of our properties. There are a number of factors that may adversely affect the income that our properties generate, including the following:

 

    Economic Downturns. Downturns in the national economy, particularly in the Southeast, generally will negatively impact the demand and rental rates for our properties.

 

    Oversupply of Space. An oversupply of space in our markets would typically cause rental rates and occupancies to decline, making it more difficult for us to lease space at attractive rental rates.

 

    Competitive Properties. If our properties are not as attractive to tenants (in terms of rents, services, condition or location) as other properties that are competitive with ours, we could lose tenants to those properties or receive lower rental rates.

 

    Renovation Costs. In order to maintain the quality of our properties and successfully compete against other properties, we periodically have to spend money to maintain, repair and renovate our properties.

 

    Customer Risk. Our performance depends on our ability to collect rent from our customers. Our financial condition could be adversely affected by financial difficulties experienced by a major customer, or by a number of smaller customers, including bankruptcies, insolvencies or general downturns in business.

 

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    Reletting Costs. As leases expire, we try to either relet the space to the existing customer or attract a new customer to occupy the space. In either case, we likely will incur significant costs in the process, including potentially substantial tenant improvement expense or lease incentives. In addition, if market rents have declined since the time the expiring lease was executed, the terms of any new lease signed likely will not be as favorable to us as the terms of the expiring lease, thereby reducing the rental revenue earned from that space.

 

    Regulatory Costs. There are a number of government regulations, including zoning, tax and accessibility laws that apply to the ownership and operation of real estate properties. Compliance with existing and newly adopted regulations may require us to incur significant costs on our properties.

 

    Rising Operating Costs. Costs of operating our properties, such as real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance and other costs, can rise faster than our ability to increase rental income. While we do receive some additional rent from our tenants that is based on recovering a portion of the operating expenses, generally increased operating expenses will negatively impact our net operating income from the properties. Our revenues and expense recoveries are subject to longer term leases and may not be quickly increased sufficient to recover an increase in operating costs and expenses.

 

    Fixed Nature of Costs. Most of the costs associated with owning and operating our properties are not necessarily reduced when circumstances such as market factors and competition cause a reduction in rental revenues from the property. Increases in such fixed operating expenses, such as increased real estate taxes or insurance costs, would reduce our net income.

 

    Environmental Problems. Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment may require a current or previous owner or operator of real property to investigate and clean up hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum product releases at the property. The clean up can be costly. The presence of or failure to clean up contamination may adversely affect our ability to sell or lease a property or to borrow funds using a property as collateral.

 

    Competition. A number of other major real estate investors with significant capital compete with us. These competitors include publicly-traded REITs, private REITs, private real estate investors and private institutional investment funds.

Future acquisitions and development properties may fail to perform in accordance with our expectations and may require development and renovation costs exceeding our estimates. In the normal course of business, we typically evaluate potential acquisitions, enter into non-binding letters of intent, and may, at any time, enter into contracts to acquire additional properties. However, changing market conditions, including competition from others, may diminish our opportunities for making attractive acquisitions. Once made, our investments may fail to perform in accordance with our expectations. In addition, the renovation and improvement costs we incur in bringing an acquired property up to market standards may exceed our estimates. We may not have the financial resources to make suitable acquisitions or renovations on favorable terms or at all.

In addition to acquisitions, we periodically consider developing and constructing properties. Risks associated with development and construction activities include:

 

    the unavailability of favorable financing;

 

    construction costs exceeding original estimates;

 

    construction and lease-up delays resulting in increased debt service expense and construction costs; and

 

    insufficient occupancy rates and rents at a newly completed property causing a property to be unprofitable.

 

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If new developments are financed through construction loans, there is a risk that, upon completion of construction, permanent financing for newly developed properties will not be available or will be available only on disadvantageous terms. Development activities are also subject to risks relating to our inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, all necessary zoning, land-use, building, occupancy and other required governmental and utility company authorizations.

Illiquidity of real estate investments and the tax effect of dispositions could significantly impede our ability to sell assets or to respond to favorable or adverse changes in the performance of our properties. Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in our portfolio in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions is limited. In addition, approximately $1.2 billion of our real assets (undepreciated book value) are encumbered by $721 million in mortgage loans as of December 31, 2005 under which we could incur significant prepayment penalties if such loans were paid off in connection with the sale of the underlying real estate assets. Such loans, even if assumed by a buyer rather than being paid off, could reduce the sale proceeds if we decided to sell such assets.

We intend to continue to sell some of our properties in the future. However, we cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any property for the price or on the terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We also cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a property.

Certain of our properties have low tax bases relative to their fair value, and accordingly, the sale of such assets would generate significant taxable gains unless we sold such properties in a tax-free exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code or another tax-free or tax-deferred transaction. For an exchange to qualify for tax-deferred treatment under Section 1031, the net proceeds from the sale of a property must be held by an escrow agent until applied toward the purchase of real estate qualifying for gain deferral. Given the competition for properties meeting our investment criteria, there could be a delay in reinvesting such proceeds. Any delay in using the reinvestment proceeds to acquire additional income producing assets would reduce our income from operations.

In addition, the sale of certain properties acquired in the J.C. Nichols Company merger in July 1998 would require us to pay corporate-level tax under Section 1374 of the Internal Revenue Code on the built-in gain relating to such properties unless we sold such properties in a tax-free exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code or another tax-free or tax-deferred transaction. This tax will no longer apply after we have owned the assets for 10 years or more. As a result, we may be limited or restricted in our ability to sell any of these properties even if management determines that such a sale would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders. Although we have no current plans to dispose of any properties in a manner that would require us to pay corporate-level tax under Section 1374, we would consider doing so if our management determines that a sale of a property would be in our best interests based on consideration of a number of factors, including the price being offered for the property, the operating performance of the property, the tax consequences of the sale and other factors and circumstances surrounding the proposed sale.

Because holders of our Common Units, including some of our officers and directors, may suffer adverse tax consequences upon the sale of some of our properties, it is possible that we may sometimes make decisions that are not in your best interest. Holders of Common Units may suffer adverse tax consequences upon our sale of certain properties. Therefore, holders of Common Units, including certain of our officers and directors, may have different objectives than our stockholders regarding the appropriate pricing and timing of a property’s sale. Although we are the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and have the exclusive authority to sell all of our individual Wholly Owned Properties, officers and directors who hold Common Units may seek to influence us not to sell certain properties even if such sale might be financially advantageous to stockholders or influence us to enter into tax deferred exchanges with the proceeds of such sales when such a reinvestment might not otherwise be in our best interests.

The success of our joint venture activity depends upon our ability to work effectively with financially sound partners. Instead of owning properties directly, we have in some cases invested, and may continue to invest, as a partner or a co-venturer with one or more third parties. Under certain circumstances, this type of investment may involve risks not otherwise present, including the possibility that a partner or co-venturer might become bankrupt or that a partner or co-venturer might have business interests or goals inconsistent with ours. Also, such a partner or co-venturer may take action contrary to our instructions or requests or contrary to provisions in our joint venture agreements that could harm us, including jeopardizing our qualification as a REIT.

 

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Our insurance coverage on our properties may be inadequate. We carry comprehensive insurance on all of our properties, including insurance for liability, fire and flood. Insurance companies, however, limit coverage against certain types of losses, such as losses due to terrorist acts, named windstorms and toxic mold. Thus, we may not have insurance coverage, or sufficient insurance coverage, against certain types of losses and/or there may be decreases in the limits of insurance available. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of our insured limits occur, we could lose all or a portion of the capital we have invested in a property or properties, as well as the anticipated future revenue from the property or properties. If any of our properties were to experience a catastrophic loss, it could disrupt our operations, delay revenue and result in large expenses to repair or rebuild the property. Such events could adversely affect our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders. Our existing property and casualty insurance policies are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2006. We are currently in the process of renewing our existing property and casualty insurance policies through June 30, 2007.

Our use of debt to finance our operations could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and ability to make distributions. We are subject to risks normally associated with debt financing, such as the insufficiency of cash flow to meet required payment obligations, difficulty in complying with financial ratios and other covenants and the inability to refinance existing indebtedness. Increases in interest rates on our variable rate debt would increase our interest expense. If we fail to comply with the financial ratios and other covenants under our revolving credit facility, we would likely not be able to borrow any further amounts under the revolving credit facility, which could adversely affect our ability to fund our operations, and our lenders could accelerate outstanding debt.

Further, as of the date of this filing, the Operating Partnership has not yet satisfied its requirement under the indenture governing the outstanding notes to file timely SEC reports. Under the indenture, the notes may be accelerated if the trustee or 25% of the holders provide written notice of a default and such default remains uncured after 60 days. If the Operating Partnership failed to file its delinquent SEC reports prior to expiration of the 60-day cure period after receipt of any such default notice, the lender under our revolving credit facility would also have the ability to accelerate amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. To date, neither the trustee nor any note-holder has sent us any such default notice. The Operating Partnership is in compliance with all other covenants under the indenture and is current on all payments required thereunder.

If our debt cannot be paid, refinanced or extended at maturity or on any such acceleration, in addition to our failure to repay our debt, we may not be able to pay dividends to stockholders at expected levels or at all. Furthermore, if any refinancing is done at higher interest rates, the increased interest expense could adversely affect our cash flow and ability to pay dividends to stockholders. Any such refinancing could also impose tighter financial ratios and other covenants that restrict our ability to take actions that could otherwise be in our stockholders’ best interest, such as funding new development activity, making opportunistic acquisitions, repurchasing our securities or paying distributions. If we do not meet our mortgage financing obligations, any properties securing such indebtedness could be foreclosed on, which would have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and ability to make distributions.

We may be subject to taxation as a regular corporation if we fail to maintain our REIT status. Our failure to qualify as a REIT would have serious adverse consequences to our stockholders. Many of the requirements for taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex and depend upon various factual matters and circumstances that may not be totally within our control. For example, to qualify as a REIT, at least 95.0% of our gross income must come from certain sources that are itemized in the REIT tax laws. We are also required to distribute to stockholders at least 90.0% of our REIT taxable income, excluding capital gains. The fact that we hold our assets through the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries further complicates the application of the REIT requirements. Even a technical or inadvertent mistake could jeopardize our REIT status. Furthermore, Congress and the IRS might change the tax laws and regulations and the courts might issue new rulings that make it more difficult, or impossible, for us to remain qualified as a REIT. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. Also, unless the IRS granted us relief under certain statutory provisions, we would remain disqualified as a REIT for four years following the year we first failed to qualify. If we failed to qualify as a REIT, we would have to pay significant income taxes and would, therefore, have less cash available for investments or to pay dividends to stockholders. This would likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of our securities. In addition, we would no longer be required to pay dividends to stockholders if we lost our REIT status.

 

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Because provisions contained in Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws may have an anti-takeover effect, investors may be prevented from receiving a “control premium” for their shares. Provisions contained in our charter and bylaws as well as Maryland general corporation law may have anti-takeover effects that delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt, and thereby prevent stockholders from receiving a “control premium” for their shares. For example, these provisions may defer or prevent tender offers for our Common Stock or purchases of large blocks of our Common Stock, thus limiting the opportunities for our stockholders to receive a premium for their Common Stock over then-prevailing market prices. These provisions include the following:

 

    Ownership limit. Our charter prohibits direct, indirect or constructive ownership by any person or entity of more than 9.8% of our outstanding capital stock. Any attempt to own or transfer shares of our capital stock in excess of the ownership limit without the consent of our Board of Directors will be void.

 

    Preferred Stock. Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to issue Preferred Stock in one or more classes and to establish the preferences and rights of any class of Preferred Stock issued. These actions can be taken without stockholder approval. The issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of delaying or preventing someone from taking control of us, even if a change in control were in our stockholders’ best interest.

 

    Staggered board. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes. As a result, each director generally serves for a three-year term. This staggering of our Board may discourage offers for us or make an acquisition of us more difficult, even when an acquisition is in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

    Maryland control share acquisition statute. Maryland’s control share acquisition statute applies to us, which means that persons, entities or related groups that acquire more than 20% of our common stock may not be able to vote such excess shares under certain circumstances if such shares were acquired in one or more transactions not approved by at least two-thirds of our outstanding Common Stock held by disinterested stockholders.

 

    Maryland unsolicited takeover statute. Under Maryland law, our Board of Directors could adopt various anti-takeover provisions without the consent of stockholders. The adoption of such measures could discourage offers for us or make an acquisition of us more difficult, even when an acquisition is in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

    Anti-takeover protections of Operating Partnership agreement. Upon a change in control of the Company, the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership requires certain acquirers to maintain an UPREIT structure with terms at least as favorable to the limited partners as are currently in place. For instance, the acquirer would be required to preserve the limited partner’s right to continue to hold tax-deferred partnership interests that are redeemable for capital stock of the acquirer. Some change of control transactions involving the Company could require the approval of two-thirds of the limited partners of the Operating Partnership (other than the Company). These provisions may make a change of control transaction involving the Company more complicated and therefore might limit the possibility of such a transaction occurring, even if such a transaction would be in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders.

 

    Dilutive effect of stockholder rights plan. We have in effect a stockholder rights plan, which is currently scheduled to expire on October 6, 2007, pursuant to which our existing stockholders would have the ability to acquire additional Common Stock at a significant discount in the event a person or group attempts to acquire us on terms of which our Board of Directors does not approve. These rights are designed to deter a hostile takeover by increasing the takeover cost. As a result, such rights could discourage offers for us or make an acquisition of us more difficult, even when an acquisition is in the best interest of our stockholders. The rights plan should not interfere with any merger or other business combination the Board of Directors approves since we may generally terminate the plan at any time at nominal cost.

 

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SEC investigation. As previously disclosed, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement has issued a confidential formal order of investigation in connection with the Company’s previous restatement of its financial results. Even though we are cooperating fully, we cannot assure you that the SEC’s Division of Enforcement will not take any action that would adversely affect us.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Wholly Owned Properties

As of December 31, 2005, we owned 100.0% interests in 378 in-service office, industrial and retail properties, encompassing approximately 29.8 million rentable square feet, and 96 apartment units. The following table sets forth information about our Wholly Owned Properties at December 31, 2005:

 

    

Rentable

Square Feet

   

Occupancy

    Percentage of Annualized Rental Revenue (1)  

Market

       Office     Industrial     Retail     Total  

Raleigh (2)

   4,232,000     87.5 %   15.6 %   0.1 %   —       15.7 %

Atlanta

   6,806,000     87.4     11.7     3.7     —       15.4  

Kansas City

   2,314,000 (3)   92.2     4.3     —       9.6 %   13.9  

Nashville

   2,874,000     94.0     12.9     —       —       12.9  

Tampa

   2,989,000     87.6     12.4     —       —       12.4  

Piedmont Triad (4)

   5,589,000     93.1     6.9     3.7     —       10.6  

Richmond

   1,955,000     94.4     8.3     —       —       8.3  

Memphis

   1,197,000     88.8     4.9     —       —       4.9  

Greenville

   1,105,000     73.0     3.3     0.1     —       3.4  

Orlando

   218,000     100.0     1.2     —       —       1.2  

Columbia

   426,000     59.0     1.0     —       —       1.0  

Other

   100,000     56.3     0.3     —       —       0.3  
                                    

Total (5)

   29,805,000     89.1 %   82.8 %   7.6 %   9.6 %   100.0 %
                                    

(1) Annualized Rental Revenue is rental revenue (base rent plus additional rent based on the level of operating expenses) for the month of December 2005 multiplied by 12.
(2) Raleigh market encompasses the Raleigh, Cary and Durham metropolitan area.
(3) Excludes basement space in the Country Club Plaza property of 430,000 square feet.
(4) Piedmont Triad market encompasses the Greensboro and Winston-Salem metropolitan area.
(5) Excludes one property recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet that was sold but accounted for as a financing under SFAS No. 66. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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The following table sets forth information about our Wholly Owned Properties and our development properties as of December 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     December 31, 2005     December 31, 2004  
     Rentable
Square Feet
   Percent
Leased/
Pre-Leased
    Rentable
Square Feet
   Percent
Leased/
Pre-Leased
 

In-Service:

          

Office (1)

   21,412,000    87.5 %   24,628,000    82.7 %

Industrial

   6,977,000    92.4     7,829,000    90.2  

Retail (2)

   1,416,000    97.5     1,409,000    97.3  
                      

Total or Weighted Average

   29,805,000    89.1 %   33,866,000    85.0 %
                      

Development:

          

Completed—Not Stabilized (3)

          

Industrial

   —      —       353,000    100.0 %

Retail

   9,600    87.0 %   —      —    
                      

Total or Weighted Average

   9,600    87.0 %   353,000    100.0 %
                      

In Process (4)

          

Office (1)

   533,000    37.2 %   358,000    100.0 %

Retail

   —      —       9,600    44.0  
                      

Total or Weighted Average

   533,000    37.2 %   367,600    98.5 %
                      

Total:

          

Office (1)

   21,945,000      24,986,000   

Industrial

   6,977,000      8,182,000   

Retail (2)

   1,425,600      1,418,600   
              

Total or Weighted Average (4) (5)

   30,347,600      34,586,600   
              

(1) Substantially all of our office properties are located in suburban markets.
(2) Excludes basement space in the Country Club Plaza property of 430,000 square feet.
(3) Not stabilized is defined as less than 95.0% occupied or less than a year from completion.
(4) Excludes a 156-unit multi-family residential development that is 50.0% owned and which is consolidated (see Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). This development commenced in late 2004.
(5) Excludes properties recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet that were sold but accounted for as financings under SFAS No. 66. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Development Land

We wholly owned 898 acres of development land as of December 31, 2005. We estimate that we can develop approximately 7.1 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space on the approximately 500 acres that we consider core long term holdings for our future development needs. Our development land is zoned and available for office, industrial or retail development, and nearly all of the land has utility infrastructure in place. We believe that our commercially zoned and unencumbered land in existing business parks gives us a development advantage over other commercial real estate development companies in many of our markets. Any future development, however, is dependent on the demand for office, industrial or retail space in the area, the availability of favorable financing and other factors, and no assurance can be given that any construction will take place on the development land. In addition, if construction is undertaken on the development land, we will be subject to the risks associated with construction activities, including the risks that occupancy rates and rents at a newly completed property may not be sufficient to make the property profitable, construction costs may exceed original estimates and construction and lease-up may not be completed on schedule, resulting in increased debt service expense and construction expense. We may also develop properties other than office, industrial and retail on certain parcels with unrelated joint venture partners. We consider approximately 400 acres of our development land at December 31, 2005 to be non-core assets because this land is not necessary for our foreseeable future development needs. We are actively working to dispose of such non-core development land through sales to other parties or contributions to joint ventures.

 

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Other Properties

As of December 31, 2005, we owned an interest (50.0% or less) in 69 in-service office and industrial properties. We also hold a 20.0% interest in a joint venture that owns an office property located in Tampa Florida; this joint venture is consolidated as a result of our continuing involvement with the property. These properties encompass approximately 7.2 million rentable square feet and 418 apartment units. The following table sets forth information about the stabilized in-service joint venture properties at December 31, 2005:

 

                 Percentage of Annualized Rental Revenue (1)  

Market

   Rentable
Square Feet
    Occupancy     Office     Industrial     Retail     Multi-Family     Total  

Des Moines

   2,315,000 (2)   93.1 %(3)   30.1 %   4.3 %   1.0 %   3.1 %   38.5 %

Orlando

   1,685,000     92.4     26.0     —       —       —       26.0  

Atlanta

   835,000     93.1     11.1     —       —       —       11.1  

Kansas City

   713,000     83.5     8.6     —       —       —       8.6  

Richmond

   413,000     100.0     5.0     —       —       —       5.0  

Piedmont Triad (4)

   364,000     100.0     3.9     —       —       —       3.9  

Raleigh (5)

   455,000     99.6     3.6     —       —       —       3.6  

Tampa (6)

   205,000     100.0     2.0     —       —       —       2.0  

Charlotte

   148,000     100.0     0.8     —       —       —       0.8  

Other

   110,000     100.0     0.5     —       —       —       0.5  
                                          

Total

   7,243,000     93.6 %   91.6 %   4.3 %   1.0 %   3.1 %   100.0 %
                                          

(1) Annualized Rental Revenue is rental revenue (base rent plus additional rent based on the level of operating expenses) for the month of December 2005 multiplied by 12.
(2) Excludes Des Moines’ apartment units.
(3) Excludes Des Moines’ apartment occupancy percentage of 92.8%.
(4) Piedmont Triad market encompasses the Greensboro and Winston-Salem metropolitan area.
(5) Raleigh market encompasses the Raleigh, Cary and Durham metropolitan area.
(6) We own a 20.0% interest in this joint venture, which is consolidated (see Notes 1 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

In addition to the properties described above, as of December 31, 2005, three joint ventures in which we hold 50.0% interests were developing two apartment properties totaling 488 apartment units and had developed a 75,000 square foot office building which was completed but had not yet achieved stabilized occupancy. The following table sets forth information about these properties at December 31, 2005 ($ in thousands):

 

Property

  %
Ownership
    Market  

Rentable

Square
Feet

  Anticipated
Total
Investment
  Investment
at
12/31/2005
  Pre-leasing     Actual or
Estimated
Completion
Date
    Estimated
Stabilization
Date

Sonoma

  50.0 %   Des Moines   75,000   $ 9,364   $ 8,621   65 %   2Q05     2Q06

The Vinings at University Center (1)

  50.0 %   Charlotte   156 units     11,300     9,324   —       1Q06 (2)   3Q06

Weston Lakeside

  50.0 %   Raleigh   332 units     33,200     6,795   —       1Q07 (2)   1Q08
                             

Total or Weighted Average

      75,000   $ 53,864   $ 24,740   65 %(3)    
                             

(1) The Vinings at University Center is currently a 50.0% owned joint venture that is consolidated (see Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
(2) Estimated Completion Date is the date the last unit is expected to be delivered.
(3) Pre-leasing percentage does not include multi-family properties.

 

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Table of Contents

Lease Expirations

The following tables set forth scheduled lease expirations for existing leases at our Wholly Owned Properties (excluding apartment units) as of December 31, 2005. The table includes the effects of any early renewals exercised by tenants as of December 31, 2005.

Office Properties (1):

 

Lease Expiring

   Rentable
Square Feet
Subject to
Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Leased
Square Footage
Represented by
Expiring Leases
    Annualized
Rental Revenue
Under Expiring
Leases (2)
   Average
Annual
Rental Rate
Per Square
Foot for
Expirations
   Percent of
Annualized
Rental Revenue
Represented by
Expiring
Leases (2)
 
     ($ in thousands)  

2006 (3)

   2,938,849    15.7 %   $ 53,086    $ 18.06    16.0 %

2007

   1,672,362    8.9       30,805      18.42    9.4  

2008

   2,986,977    16.0       49,609      16.61    15.0  

2009

   2,613,048    14.0       47,625      18.23    14.5  

2010

   2,327,241    12.4       44,141      18.97    13.4  

2011

   1,893,159    10.1       33,506      17.70    10.2  

2012

   1,170,632    6.3       21,593      18.45    6.6  

2013

   566,233    3.0       10,097      17.83    3.1  

2014

   451,009    2.4       9,425      20.90    2.9  

2015

   585,962    3.1       11,559      19.73    3.5  

Thereafter

   1,513,556    8.1       17,921      11.84    5.4  
                               
   18,719,028    100.0 %   $ 329,367    $ 17.57    100.0 %
                               

Industrial Properties:

 

Lease Expiring

   Rentable
Square Feet
Subject to
Expiring
Leases
  

Percentage of

Leased

Square Footage

Represented by

Expiring Leases

   

Annualized

Rental Revenue

Under Expiring

Leases (2)

  

Average

Annual

Rental Rate

Per Square

Foot for

Expirations

  

Percent of

Annualized

Rental Revenue

Represented by

Expiring

Leases (2)

 
     ($ in thousands)  

2006 (4)

   1,772,916    27.6 %   $ 7,336    $ 4.14    23.9 %

2007

   875,152    13.6       5,197      5.94    16.8  

2008

   995,306    15.4       4,902      4.93    16.0  

2009

   710,465    11.0       4,235      5.96    13.8  

2010

   541,555    8.4       1,987      3.67    6.5  

2011

   322,828    5.0       1,249      3.87    4.1  

2012

   225,536    3.5       1,133      5.02    3.7  

2013

   146,784    2.3       750      5.11    2.4  

2014

   206,731    3.2       1,043      5.05    3.4  

2015

   137,882    2.1       673      4.88    2.2  

Thereafter

   511,330    7.9       2,204      4.31    7.2  
                               
   6,446,485    100.0 %   $ 30,709    $ 4.76    100.0 %
                               

(1) Excludes one property recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet that was sold but accounted for as a financing under SFAS No. 66.
(2) Annualized Rental Revenue is rental revenue (base rent plus additional rent based on the level of operating expenses) for the month of December 2005 multiplied by 12.
(3) Includes 170,000 square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis or 0.6% of total annualized rental revenue.
(4) Includes 127,000 square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis or 0.1% of total annualized rental revenue.

 

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Table of Contents

Retail Properties:

 

Lease Expiring

   Rentable
Square Feet
Subject to
Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Leased
Square Footage
Represented by
Expiring Leases
    Annualized
Rental Revenue
Under Expiring
Leases (1)
   Average
Annual
Rental Rate
Per Square
Foot for
Expirations
   Percent of
Annualized
Rental Revenue
Represented by
Expiring
Leases (1)
 
     ($ in thousands)  

2006 (2)

   119,868    8.6 %   $ 2,591    $ 21.62    6.8 %

2007

   75,617    5.4       2,130      28.17    5.6  

2008

   129,441    9.3       3,744      28.92    9.8  

2009

   177,913    12.8       4,875      27.40    12.7  

2010

   105,370    7.6       3,575      33.93    9.3  

2011

   57,974    4.2       1,805      31.13    4.7  

2012

   132,034    9.5       3,904      29.57    10.2  

2013

   109,674    7.9       2,854      26.02    7.4  

2014

   80,159    5.8       1,453      18.13    3.8  

2015

   134,858    9.7       4,266      31.63    11.1  

Thereafter

   266,386    19.2       7,155      26.86    18.6  
                               
   1,389,294    100.0 %   $ 38,352    $ 27.61    100.0 %
                               

Total (3):

 

Lease Expiring

   Rentable
Square Feet
Subject to
Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Leased
Square Footage
Represented by
Expiring Leases
    Annualized
Rental Revenue
Under Expiring
Leases (1)
   Average
Annual
Rental Rate
Per Square
Foot for
Expirations
   Percent of
Annualized
Rental Revenue
Represented by
Expiring
Leases (1)
 
     ($ in thousands)  

2006 (4)

   4,831,633    18.1 %   $ 63,013    $ 13.04    15.8 %

2007

   2,623,131    9.9       38,132      14.54    9.7  

2008

   4,111,724    15.5       58,255      14.17    14.6  

2009

   3,501,426    13.2       56,735      16.20    14.2  

2010

   2,974,166    11.2       49,703      16.71    12.5  

2011

   2,273,961    8.6       36,560      16.05    9.2  

2012

   1,528,202    5.8       26,630      17.23    6.7  

2013

   822,691    3.1       13,701      16.65    3.4  

2014

   737,899    2.8       11,921      16.16    3.0  

2015

   858,702    3.2       16,498      19.21    4.1  

Thereafter

   2,291,272    8.6       27,280      11.91    6.8  
                               
   26,554,807    100.0 %   $ 398,428    $ 14.99    100.0 %
                               

(1) Annualized Rental Revenue is rental revenue (base rent plus additional rent based on the level of operating expenses) for the month of December 2005 multiplied by 12.
(2) Includes 4,000 square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis or less than 0.1% of total annualized rental revenue.
(3) Excludes one property recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet that was sold but accounted for as a financing under SFAS No. 66.
(4) Includes 301,000 square feet of leases that are on a month-to-month basis or 0.7% of total annualized rental revenue.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are from time to time a party to a variety of legal proceedings, claims and assessments arising in the ordinary course of our business. We regularly assess the liabilities and contingencies in connection with these matters based on the latest information available. For those matters where it is probable that we have incurred or will incur a loss and the loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated, reserves are recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements. In other instances, because of the uncertainties related to both the probable outcome and amount or range of loss, a reasonable estimate of liability, if any, cannot be made. Based on the current expected outcome of any such matters, none of these proceedings, claims or assessments is expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Notwithstanding the above, as previously disclosed, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement has issued a confidential formal order of investigation in connection with the Company’s previous restatement of its financial results. Even though we are cooperating fully, we cannot assure you that the SEC’s Division of Enforcement will not take any action that would adversely affect us.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM X. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table sets forth information with respect to our executive officers:

 

Name

   Age   

Position and Background

Edward J. Fritsch

   47    Director, President and Chief Executive Officer.
      Mr. Fritsch became our chief executive officer on July 1, 2004 and our president in December 2003. Prior to that, Mr. Fritsch was our chief operating officer from January 1998 to July 2004 and was a vice president and secretary from June 1994 to January 1998. Mr. Fritsch joined our predecessor in 1982 and was a partner of that entity at the time of our initial public offering in June 1994. Mr. Fritsch serves on the University of North Carolina’s Board of Visitors, the Board of Trustees of St. Timothy’s Episcopal School and the Board of Directors of the YMCA of the Triangle.

Michael E. Harris

   56    Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
      Mr. Harris became chief operating officer in July 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Harris was a senior vice president and was responsible for our operations in Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas and Charlotte. Mr. Harris was executive vice president of Crocker Realty Trust prior to its merger with us in 1996. Before joining Crocker Realty Trust, Mr. Harris served as senior vice president, general counsel and chief financial officer of Towermarc Corporation, a privately owned real estate development firm. Mr. Harris is a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of SouthTrust Bank of Memphis and Allen & Hoshall, Inc.

Terry L. Stevens

   57    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
      Prior to joining us in December 2003, Mr. Stevens was executive vice president, chief financial officer and trustee for Crown American Realty Trust, a public company. Before joining Crown American Realty Trust, Mr. Stevens was director of financial systems development at AlliedSignal, Inc., a large multi-national manufacturer. Mr. Stevens was also an audit partner with Price Waterhouse for approximately seven years. Mr. Stevens currently serves as trustee, chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Finance Committee of First Potomac Realty Trust, a public company.

Gene H. Anderson

   60    Director, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager.
      Mr. Anderson has been a senior vice president since our combination with Anderson Properties, Inc. in February 1997. Mr. Anderson manages our Atlanta operations and oversees our Triad operations. Mr. Anderson served as president of Anderson Properties, Inc. from 1978 to February 1997. Mr. Anderson was past president of the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and is a national board member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Michael F. Beale

   52    Senior Vice President and Regional Manager.
      Mr. Beale manages our Orlando and oversees our Tampa operations. Prior to joining us in 2000, Mr. Beale served as vice president of Koger Equity, Inc., where he was responsible for Koger’s acquisitions and developments throughout the Southeast. Mr. Beale is currently the president of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and also serves on various committees for the Mid-Florida Economic Development Commission. Mr. Beale is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).

 

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Table of Contents

Name

   Age   

Position and Background

Mack D. Pridgen III

   56    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
      Prior to joining us in 1997, Mr. Pridgen was a partner with Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, L.L.P. and prior to that a partner with Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Pridgen is an attorney and a certified public accountant.

W. Brian Reames

   42    Senior Vice President and Regional Manager.
      Mr. Reames became senior vice president and regional manager in August 2004. Mr. Reames manages our Nashville and oversees our Memphis, Greenville and Columbia operations. Prior to that, Mr. Reames was vice president responsible for the Nashville division, a position he held since 1996. Mr. Reames was a partner and owner at Eakin & Smith, Inc., a Nashville-based office real estate firm, from 1989 until its merger with us in 1996.

 

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Table of Contents

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “HIW.” The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low stock prices per share reported on the NYSE for the quarters indicated and the dividends paid per share during such quarter.

 

     2005    2004

Quarter Ended

   High    Low    Dividend    High    Low    Dividend

March 31

   $ 27.82    $ 24.27    $ .425    $ 27.64    $ 25.40    $ .425

June 30

     30.54      26.15      .425      26.25      20.85      .425

September 30

     31.86      28.43      .425      25.08      22.67      .425

December 31

     29.91      26.72      .425      27.95      24.81      .425

On April 30, 2006, the last reported stock price of the Common Stock on the NYSE was $31.54 per share and the Company had 1,537 stockholders of record.

The Company intends to continue to pay quarterly dividends to holders of shares of Common Stock and make distributions to holders of Common Units. Future dividends and distributions will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on the actual funds from operations of the Company, its financial condition, capital requirements, the annual dividend requirements under the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources –Stockholder Dividends.”

During 2005, Common Stock dividends totaled $1.70 per share, $0.05 of which represented return of capital for income tax purposes. The minimum dividend per share of Common Stock required for the Company to maintain its REIT status (excluding any net capital gains) was $0.24 per share in 2005 and $0.00 per share in 2004.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company did not issue any Common Stock that was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 nor did it repurchase any Common Stock or Preferred Stock.

The Company has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan under which holders of Common Stock may elect to automatically reinvest their dividends in additional shares of Common Stock and may make optional cash payments for additional shares of Common Stock. The administrator of the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan has been instructed by the Company to purchase Common Stock in the open market for purposes of satisfying the Company’s obligations thereunder. However, the Company may in the future elect to satisfy such obligations by issuing additional shares of Common Stock.

The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan for all active employees, under which participants may contribute up to 25.0% of their pay for the purchase of Common Stock. Generally, at the end of each three-month offering period, each participant’s account balance is applied to acquire newly issued shares of Common Stock at a cost that is calculated at 85.0% of the lower of the average closing price on the NYSE on the five consecutive days preceding the first day of the quarter or the five days preceding the last day of the quarter. SEC rules have prohibited us from issuing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the plan under our Form S-8 registration statement since the beginning of 2005 because of the delay in the filing of our SEC reports. As a result, no shares were issued during 2005 under the plan. The administrator for the plan and the Company held $638,657 in cash at December 31, 2005 representing the participants’ deferrals that will be used in the future to acquire newly issued shares for the participants’ accounts in accordance with the terms of the plan when such shares can be issued under our Form S-8 registration statement.

The section under the heading entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected financial data as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 is derived from the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2002 is derived from previously issued financial statements. The information in the following table should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included herein ($ in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Year Ended December 31,
     2005     2004     2003     2002    2001

Rental and other revenues

   $ 410,701     $ 404,131     $ 430,047     $ 440,836    $ 448,441

Income from continuing operations

   $ 31,171     $ 24,637     $ 13,004     $ 37,178    $ 67,219

(Loss)/Income from continuing operations available for common stockholders

   $ (339 )   $ (6,215 )   $ (17,848 )   $ 6,326    $ 36,731

Net income

   $ 62,458     $ 41,577     $ 42,649     $ 80,052    $ 109,792

Net income available for common stockholders

   $ 30,948     $ 10,725     $ 11,797     $ 49,200    $ 79,304

Net income per common share – basic:

           

(Loss)/Income from continuing operations

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.12    $ 0.68

Net income

   $ 0.58     $ 0.20     $ 0.22     $ 0.93    $ 1.47

Net income per common share – diluted:

           

(Loss)/Income from continuing operations

   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.34 )   $ 0.12    $ 0.68

Net income

   $ 0.58     $ 0.20     $ 0.22     $ 0.93    $ 1.46

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 1.70     $ 1.70     $ 1.86     $ 2.34    $ 2.31
     Year Ended December 31,
     2005     2004     2003     2002    2001

Balance Sheet Data:

           

Total assets

   $ 2,908,978     $ 3,239,658     $ 3,513,224     $ 3,745,269    $ 3,950,918

Total mortgages and notes payable

   $ 1,471,616     $ 1,572,574     $ 1,718,274     $ 1,796,167    $ 1,964,312

Financing obligations

   $ 34,154     $ 65,309     $ 125,777     $ 122,666    $ 77,687

Co-venture obligation

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 43,511    $ 40,482

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information in this Annual Report may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects under this section and under the heading “Business.” 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:

 

    speculative development activity by our competitors in our existing markets could result in an excessive supply of office, industrial and retail properties relative to tenant demand;

 

    the financial condition of our tenants could deteriorate;

 

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

 

    we may not be able to lease or release space quickly or on as favorable terms as old leases;

 

    increases in interest rates would increase our debt service costs;

 

    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 to repay or refinance outstanding debt upon maturity;

 

    we could lose key executive officers; and

 

    our southeastern and midwestern markets may suffer unexpected declines in economic growth.

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 elsewhere in this Annual Report.

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 that may be made to reflect any future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

OVERVIEW

We are a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed equity REIT that provides leasing, management, development, construction and other customer-related services for our properties and for third parties. As of December 31, 2005, we owned or had an interest in 447 in-service office, industrial and retail properties, encompassing approximately 37.0 million square feet and 514 apartment units and two in-service office and retail development properties that had not yet reached 95% stabilized occupancy aggregating approximately 85,000 square feet. As of that date, we also owned development land and other properties under development as described under ITEM 1 – BUSINESS above. We are based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and our properties and development land are located in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

 

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Results of Operations

Approximately 83% of our rental and other revenue in 2005 was derived from our office properties. As a result, while we own and operate a limited number of industrial, retail and apartment properties, our operating results depend heavily on successfully leasing our office properties. Furthermore, since approximately 60% of our office properties are located in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, economic growth in those states is and will continue to be an important determinative factor in predicting our future operating results. Accordingly, most of the analysis and comments below focus on our office properties.

The key components affecting our rental revenue stream are dispositions, acquisitions, new developments placed in service, average occupancy and rental rates. 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, while 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 percentage 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 leases on expiring space. For more information regarding our lease expirations, see “Properties – Lease Expirations.”

Whether or not our rental revenue tracks average occupancy proportionally depends upon whether rents under new leases signed are higher or lower than the rents under the previous leases. During 2005, the average rental rate per square foot on new leases signed in our Wholly Owned Properties was 2.2% lower than the rent under the previous leases (based on straight line rental rates).

Our expenses primarily consist of rental property expenses, depreciation and amortization, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. Rental property expenses are expenses associated with our ownership and operation of rental properties and include variable expenses, such as common area maintenance and utilities, and fixed expenses, such as property taxes and insurance. Some of these variable expenses may be lower when our average occupancy declines, while fixed expenses remain constant regardless of average occupancy. 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 or sell assets, since we depreciate our properties on a straight-line basis over a fixed life. General and administrative expenses, net of amounts capitalized, consist primarily of management and employee salaries and other personnel costs, corporate overhead and long-term incentive compensation. Interest expense depends upon the amount of our borrowings, the weighted average interest rates on our debt and the amount of interest capitalized on development projects.

We record in “equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates” our proportionate share of net income or loss, adjusted for purchase accounting effects, of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

Additionally, SFAS No. 144 requires us to record net income received from properties sold or held for sale that qualify as discontinued operations under SFAS No. 144 separately as “income from discontinued operations.” As a result, we separately record revenues and expenses from these qualifying properties. As also required by SFAS No. 144, prior period results are reclassified to reflect the operations for such properties in discontinued operations.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We incur capital expenditures to lease space to our customers and to maintain the quality of our properties to successfully compete against other properties. Tenant improvements are the costs required to customize the space for the specific needs of the customer. Lease commissions are costs incurred to find the customer for the space. Lease incentives are costs paid to or on behalf of tenants to induce them to enter into leases and which do not relate to customizing the space for the tenant’s specific needs. Building improvements are recurring capital costs not related to a customer to maintain the buildings. As leases expire, we either attempt to relet the space to an existing customer or attract a new customer to occupy the space. Generally, customer renewals require lower leasing capital expenditures than reletting to new customers. However, market conditions such as supply of available space on the market, as well as demand for space, drive not only customer rental rates but also tenant improvement costs. Leasing capital expenditures are amortized over the term of the lease and building improvements are depreciated over the appropriate useful life of the assets acquired. Both are included in depreciation and amortization in results of operations.

Because we are a REIT, we are required under the federal tax laws to distribute at least 90.0% of our REIT taxable income, excluding capital gains, to our stockholders. We generally use rents received from customers and proceeds from sales of non-core development land to fund our operating expenses, recurring capital expenditures and stockholder dividends. To fund property acquisitions, development activity or building renovations, we may sell other assets and may incur debt from time to time. As of December 31, 2005, we had $721.1 million of secured debt outstanding and $750.5 million of unsecured debt outstanding. Our debt generally consists of mortgage debt, unsecured debt securities and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As of May 1, 2006, we had approximately $76 million of additional borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility (excluding the $100.0 million expansion option) and we had approximately $8.0 million in available cash and short-term investments.

Our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our outstanding long-term unsecured debt securities require us to satisfy various operating and financial covenants and performance ratios. As a result, to ensure that we do not violate the provisions of these debt instruments, we may from time to time be limited in undertaking certain activities that may otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders, such as repurchasing capital stock, acquiring additional assets, increasing the total amount of our debt or increasing stockholder dividends. We review our current and expected operating results, financial condition and planned strategic actions on an ongoing basis for the purpose of monitoring our continued compliance with these covenants and ratios. Any unwaived event of default could result in an acceleration of some or all of our debt, severely restrict our ability to incur additional debt to fund short- and long-term cash needs or result in higher interest expense.

In May, July, August and September 2005 and February 2006, we obtained waivers from the lenders under our previous revolving credit facility and our previous bank term loans related to timely reporting to the lenders of annual and quarterly financial statements and to covenant violations that could arise from future redemptions of Preferred Stock due to the reclassification of the Preferred Stock from equity to a liability during the period of time from the announcement of the redemption until the redemption is completed. The aforementioned modifications did not change the economic terms of the loans. In connection with these modifications, we incurred certain loan costs that are capitalized and amortized over the remaining terms of the loans. In November 2005, we amended the $100.0 million bank term loan to extend the maturity date to July 17, 2006 and reduce the spread over the LIBOR interest rate from 130 basis points to 100 basis points. Both of these loans were paid off in May 2006 in connection with our closing of a new revolving credit facility.

 

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To generate additional capital to fund our growth and other strategic initiatives and to lessen the ownership risks typically associated with owning 100.0% of a property, we may sell some of our properties or contribute them to joint ventures. When we create a joint venture with a strategic partner, we usually contribute one or more properties that we own and/or vacant land to a newly formed entity in which we retain an interest of 50.0% or less. In exchange for our equal or minority interest in the joint venture, we generally receive cash from the partner and retain some or all of the management income relating to the properties in the joint venture. The joint venture itself will frequently borrow money on its own behalf to finance the acquisition of, and/or leverage the return upon, the properties being acquired by the joint venture or to build or acquire additional buildings. Such borrowings are typically on a non-recourse or limited recourse basis. We generally are not liable for the debts of our joint ventures, except to the extent of our equity investment, unless we have directly guaranteed any of that debt. In most cases, we and/or our strategic partners are required to guarantee customary exceptions to non-recourse liability in non-recourse loans. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on certain debt guarantees.

We have historically also sold additional Common Stock or Preferred Stock or issued Common Units to fund additional growth or to reduce our debt, but we have limited those efforts since 1998 because funds generated from our capital recycling program in recent years have provided sufficient funds to satisfy our liquidity needs. In addition, we have recently used funds from our capital recycling program to redeem Common Units and Preferred Stock for cash.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of 2005 to 2004

The following table sets forth information regarding our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 ($ in millions). As noted above and as more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as required by SFAS No. 144, results for the year ended December 31, 2004 were reclassified from previously reported amounts to reflect in discontinued operations the operations for those properties sold or held for sale in 2005 which qualified for discontinued operations presentation.

 

     Year Ended December 31,    

2005

to 2004

$ Change

   

%
Change

 
     2005     2004      

Rental and other revenues

   $ 410.7     $ 404.1     $ 6.6     1.6 %

Operating expenses:

        

Rental property and other expenses

     146.9       143.2       3.7     2.6  

Depreciation and amortization

     114.5       113.4       1.1     1.0  

Impairment of assets held for use

     7.6       —         7.6     100.0  

General and administrative

     33.1       41.5       (8.4 )   (20.2 )
                              

Total operating expenses

     302.1       298.1       4.0     1.3  
                              

Interest expense:

        

Contractual

     99.3       105.5       (6.2 )   (5.9 )

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     3.4       3.7       (0.3 )   (8.1 )

Financing obligations

     5.0       9.9       (4.9 )   (49.5 )
                              
     107.7       119.1       (11.4 )   (9.6 )
                              

Other income/expense:

        

Interest and other income

     7.1       6.1       1.0     16.4  

Settlement of bankruptcy claim

     —         14.4       (14.4 )   (100.0 )

Loss on debt extinguishments

     (0.5 )     (12.4 )     11.9     96.0  
                              
     6.6       8.1       (1.5 )   (18.5 )
                              

Income (loss) before disposition of property, minority interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     7.5       (5.0 )     12.5     250.0  

Gains and impairments on disposition of property, net

     14.2       21.6       (7.4 )   (34.3 )

Minority interest in the Operating Partnership

     0.1       0.6       (0.5 )   (83.3 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     9.3       7.4       1.9     25.7  
                              

Income from continuing operations

     31.1       24.6       6.5     26.4  

Discontinued operations:

        

Income from discontinued operations, net of minority interest

     8.1       14.2       (6.1 )   (43.1 )

Gains and impairments of discontinued operations, net of minority interest

     23.2       2.8       20.4     728.6  
                              
     31.3       17.0       14.3     84.0  
                              

Net income

     62.4       41.6       20.8     50.0  

Dividends on preferred stock

     (27.2 )     (30.9 )     3.7     12.0  

Excess of preferred stock redemption value over carrying value

     (4.3 )     —         (4.3 )   (100.0 )
                              

Net income available for common stockholders

   $ 30.9     $ 10.7     $ 20.2     188.8 %
                              

Rental and Other Revenues

The $6.6 million increase in rental and other revenues from continuing operations was primarily the result of higher average occupancy in 2005 compared to 2004, revenues contributed from new development properties placed in service during the second half of 2005, and higher termination fee income in 2005. These positive increases were partially offset by a reduction in revenues from sold properties that were not classified as discontinued operations.

As of the date of this filing, we continue to see modest improvements in employment trends in several of our markets and an improving economic climate in the Southeast. There has been modest positive absorption of office space in most of our markets during the past year. Also, we expect to deliver approximately 920,000 square feet of new office, industrial and retail development properties by the end of 2006, which are 38.0% pre-leased as of May 1, 2006. We expect rental and other revenues to decrease slightly in 2006 due to the disposition of certain properties in 2005 and 2006, partially offset by rental and other revenues from the development properties placed in service during the second half of 2005 and those expected to be delivered by the end of 2006.

 

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Operating Expenses

Rental and other operating expenses from continuing operations (real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance and other property-related expenses) increased $3.7 million in 2005 compared to 2004, primarily as a result of higher average occupancy in 2005 and general inflationary increases in certain operating expenses, such as salaries, benefits, utility costs and real estate taxes. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in operating expenses from sold properties that were not classified as discontinued operations.

Our operating margin, defined as rental and other revenue less rental property and other expenses expressed as a percentage of rental and other revenues, decreased from 64.7% in 2004 to 64.3% in 2005. This decrease in margin was primarily caused by operating expenses increasing from inflationary pressures at a higher rate than our rental revenues and operating cost recoveries.

We expect rental and other operating expenses to decrease slightly in 2006 due to the disposition of certain properties in 2005 and 2006. This decrease will be partly offset by inflationary increases in certain fixed operating expenses, particularly higher utility costs and by operating expenses of the development properties placed in service during the second half of 2005 and those expected to be delivered by the end of 2006.

Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations increased slightly in 2005. This slight increase primarily resulted from a relatively higher proportion in 2005 of leasing assets (tenant improvements and deferred leasing costs) which have shorter lives compared to buildings which are depreciated over 40 years. This was partially offset by a reduction in depreciation and amortization from sold properties that were not classified as discontinued operations. We expect depreciation and amortization to decrease slightly in 2006 due to a further net reduction of our Wholly Owned portfolio.

Impairments on assets held for use were $7.6 million in 2005 compared to none in 2004. In 2005 one land parcel and one office property, which are classified as held for use, had indicators of impairment where the carrying value exceeded the sum of projected undiscounted future cash flows. Accordingly, we recognized impairment losses of $7.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2005.

The $8.4 million decrease in general and administrative expenses in 2005 as compared to 2004 primarily relates to (1) $4.6 million recognized in 2004 in connection with a retirement package for our former chief executive officer (see Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and (2) a $5.4 million decrease in 2005 compared to 2004 primarily relating to costs of personnel, consultants and our independent auditors in connection with (a) the initial implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2004, (b) evaluation of a strategic transaction in 2004, and (c) the preparation and audit of the restated Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10K. These decreases were partially offset by $1.6 million net increase primarily related to higher long-term incentive compensation costs, salary and fringe benefit costs and other costs.

In 2006, general and administrative expenses are expected to increase slightly primarily from inflationary increases in compensation, benefits and other costs.

Interest Expense

The $6.2 million decrease in contractual interest was primarily due to a decrease in average borrowings from $1,657 million in 2004 to $1,508 million in 2005, partially offset by an increase in weighted average interest rates on outstanding debt from 6.46% in 2004 to 6.76% in 2005. The decrease in average debt balances outstanding in 2005 was primarily due to the debt reductions made during 2005 as described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, capitalized interest in 2005 was approximately $1.9 million higher compared to 2004 due to increased development activity and higher average construction and development costs.

The $4.9 million decrease in interest expense on financing obligations was primarily a result of the purchase of our partner’s interest in the Orlando City Group properties in MG-HIW, LLC on March 2, 2004 which eliminated the requirement to record financing obligation interest expense with respect to the Orlando City Group properties after that date (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

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Total interest expense is expected to decline in 2006 primarily due to the reduction in our outstanding debt as discussed under ‘Liquidity and Capital Resources.” In addition, an increase in capitalized interest due to additional development activity is expected to further decrease net interest expense. These declines will be partly offset by expected increases in average interest rates on our variable rate debt in 2006.

Other Income/Expense

In 2004, we received net proceeds of $14.4 million as a result of the settlement of the bankruptcy of WorldCom (See Note 19 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on this settlement).

Loss on debt extinguishments decreased $11.9 million from $12.4 million in 2004 to $0.5 million in 2005. In 2004, a $12.3 million loss was recorded related to the retirement of the Exercisable Put Option Notes described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The $0.5 million of loss in 2005 relates to certain of the loans that were paid off early in 2005 from proceeds raised from disposition activities.

Gains and Impairments on Disposition of Property; Minority Interest; Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Gains net of impairments on dispositions of properties not classified as discontinued operations were $14.2 million in 2005 compared to $21.6 million in 2004; the components of net gains are set out in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Gains and impairments are dependent on the specific assets sold, their historical cost basis and other factors, and can vary significantly from period to period. Most of the net gains in 2005 primarily related to two transactions described in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in which we sold (1) an office building in Raleigh, North Carolina to an owner/user and (2) all of our operating properties and certain vacant land in Charlotte, North Carolina and certain operating properties in Tampa, Florida. The largest amount of the net gains in 2004 primarily related to the transaction described in Notes 2 and 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in which we contributed operating properties located in Orlando, Florida to HIW–KC Orlando, LLC.

Minority interest in the continuing operations of the Operating Partnership, after Preferred Unit distributions, decreased from $0.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2004 to $0.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2005 due to a corresponding decrease in the Operating Partnership’s loss from continuing operations after Preferred Unit distributions.

The $1.9 million increase in equity in earnings from continuing operations of unconsolidated affiliates was primarily a result of an increase related to the formation of the HIW-KC Orlando, LLC joint venture in late June 2004, which contributed approximately $1.4 million of additional equity in earnings from continuing operations of unconsolidated affiliates in 2005. In addition, the Plaza Colonnade, LLC joint venture, which was placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2004, contributed approximately $0.3 million more to equity in earnings in 2005 compared to 2004.

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, we classified net income of $31.3 million and $17.0 million, net of minority interest, as discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. These amounts pertained to 5.9 million square feet of property and 117 apartment units sold during 2005 and 2004 and 1.9 million square feet of property held for sale at December 31, 2005. These amounts include gains, net of impairments, of discontinued operations of $23.2 million and $2.8 million, net of minority interest, in the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively; the components of net gains are set out in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Preferred Stock Dividends and Excess of Preferred Stock Redemption Costs in Excess of Carrying Value

We recorded $27.2 million and $30.9 million in Preferred Stock dividends in 2005 and 2004, respectively. The reduction was due to the redemption of $130.0 million of Preferred Stock in the third quarter of 2005. In connection with the redemption of Preferred Stock, the $4.3 million excess of the redemption cost over the net carrying amount of the redeemed shares was recorded as a reduction to net income available for common shareholders in 2005 in accordance with EITF Topic D-42.

 

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Net Income and Net Income Allocable to Common Stockholders

We recorded net income of $62.4 million in 2005 compared to $41.6 million in 2004, and net income allocable to common stockholders of $30.9 million in 2005 compared to $10.7 million in 2004; these changes resulted from the various factors described above.

Comparison of 2004 to 2003

The following table sets forth information regarding our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 ($ in millions). As noted above and as more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as required by SFAS No. 144, results for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 were reclassified from previously reported amounts to reflect in discontinued operations the operations for those properties sold or held for sale in 2005 which qualified for discontinued operations presentation.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
   

2004

to 2003

$ Change

   

%
Change

 
     2004     2003      

Rental and other revenues

   $ 404.1     $ 430.0     $ (25.9 )   (6.0 )%

Operating expenses:

        

Rental property and other expenses

     143.2       148.2       (5.0 )   (3.4 )

Depreciation and amortization

     113.4       119.8       (6.4 )   (5.3 )

General and administrative

     41.5       25.7       15.8     61.5  
                              

Total operating expenses

     298.1       293.7       4.4     1.5  
                              

Interest expense:

        

Contractual

     105.5       118.8       (13.3 )   (11.2 )

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     3.7       4.4       (0.7 )   (15.9 )

Financing obligations

     9.9       17.7       (7.8 )   (44.1 )
                              
     119.1       140.9       (21.8 )   (15.5 )
                              

Other income/expense:

        

Interest and other income

     6.1       5.3       0.8     15.1  

Settlement of bankruptcy claim

     14.4       —         14.4     100.0  

Loss on debt extinguishments

     (12.4 )     (14.7 )     2.3     15.6  

Gain on extinguishment of co-venture obligation

     —         14.0       (14.0 )   (100.0 )
                              
     8.1       4.6       3.5     76.1  
                              

Income before disposition of property, co-venture expense, minority interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     (5.0 )     0.0       (5.0 )   (100.0 )

Gains and impairments on disposition of property, net

     21.6       9.6       12.0     125.0  

Co-venture expense

     —         (3.4 )     3.4     100.0  

Minority interest in the Operating Partnership

     0.6       2.0       (1.4 )   (70.0 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     7.4       4.8       2.6     54.2  
                              

Income from continuing operations

     24.6       13.0       11.6     89.5  

Discontinued operations:

        

Income from discontinued operations, net of minority interest

     14.2       19.8       (5.6 )   (28.4 )

Gains and impairments of discontinued operations, net of minority interest

     2.8       9.8       (7.0 )   (71.4 )
                              
     17.0       29.6       (12.6 )   (42.6 )
                              

Net income

     41.6       42.6       (1.0 )   (2.3 )

Dividends on preferred stock

     (30.9 )     (30.9 )     —       —    
                              

Net income available for common stockholders

   $ 10.7     $ 11.7     $ (1.0 )   (8.4 )%
                              

Rental and Other Revenues

The $25.9 million decrease in rental and other revenues from continuing operations in 2004 compared to 2003 was primarily the result of the disposition of certain properties in 2003 and 2004 that were not included in discontinued operations and a decrease of approximately $2.2 million in lease termination fees paid in 2004 from 2003. Partly offsetting these decreases was an increase of approximately $1.2 million in property management fees in 2004 from 2003 due to increased efforts in our third-party management services and the contribution of certain properties to joint ventures in 2004 where we retained the management of the properties and received customary fees.

 

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Operating Expenses

Rental and other operating expenses from continuing operations (real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance and other property-related expenses) decreased $5.0 million in 2004 compared to 2003, primarily as a result of the disposition of certain properties in 2003 and 2004 that were not included in discontinued operations. This decrease was offset by general inflationary increases in certain operating expenses, such as salaries, benefits, utility costs and real estate taxes.

Our operating margin, defined as rental and other revenue less rental property and other expenses expressed as a percentage of rental and other revenues, decreased from 65.6% in 2003 to 64.7% in 2004. This decrease in margin was primarily caused by operating expenses increasing from inflationary pressure and other factors at a higher rate than rental revenues.

The $6.4 million decrease in depreciation and amortization from continuing operations is primarily related to the disposition of certain properties in 2003 and 2004, which were not included in discontinued operations. In addition, the contribution of certain properties to a joint venture in 2004 reduced depreciation and amortization by $1.1 million.

The $15.8 million increase in general and administrative expenses in 2004 as compared to 2003 primarily related to (1) $4.6 million recognized in 2004 in connection with a retirement package for our former chief executive officer, as described in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements; (2) a $7.8 million increase primarily related to costs of personnel, consultants and our independent auditors in connection with (a) the initial implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (b) evaluation of a strategic transaction in 2004, and (c) the preparation and audit of the restated Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10K; and (3) $3.3 million in higher long-term incentive compensation costs, salary, fringe benefit and employee relocation costs and other costs.

Interest Expense

The $13.3 million decrease in contractual interest was primarily due to a decrease in average borrowings from $1,821 million in 2003 to $1,657 million in 2004, primarily due to debt refinancings completed in December 2003 and June 2004 and a decrease in average interest rates on outstanding debt from 6.63% in 2003 to 6.46% in 2004.

The $7.8 million decrease in interest expense on financing obligations was primarily a result of the purchase of our partner’s interest in the Orlando City Group properties in MG-HIW, LLC on March 2, 2004 which eliminated the requirement to record financing obligation interest expense with respect to the Orlando City Group properties after that date (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Other Income/Expense

In 2004, we received net proceeds of $14.4 million as a result of the settlement of the bankruptcy of WorldCom (See Note 19 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion on this settlement).

Loss on debt extinguishments decreased $2.3 million from $14.7 million in 2003 to $12.4 million in 2004. In 2004, a $12.3 million loss was recorded related to the retirement of the Exercisable Put Option Notes described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In 2003, a $14.7 million loss was recorded related to the retirement of the $125.0 million of MandatOry Par Put Remarketed Securities (“MOPPRS”) described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2003, we recorded a $16.3 million gain on extinguishment of co-venture obligation ($2.4 million of which is included in discontinued operations as a result of reclassifying the prior period presentation of the operations of properties sold in 2005 under FAS No. 144), which relates to the operations of the MG-HIW, LLC non-Orlando City Group properties which were accounted for as a profit-sharing arrangement until July 2003, at which time we acquired our partner’s interest in the non-Orlando City Group properties, as described in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Gains on Disposition of Property; Co-Venture Expense; Minority Interest; Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Gains, net of impairments, on dispositions of properties not classified as discontinued operations were $21.6 million in 2004 compared to $9.6 million in 2003; the components of net gains are set out in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Gains are dependent on the specific assets sold, their historical cost basis and other factors, and can vary significantly from period to period. Most of the net gains in 2004 primarily related to the transaction described in Notes 2 and 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in which we contributed operating properties located in Orlando, Florida to HIW-KC Orlando, LLC.

The $3.4 million decrease in co-venture expense was due to our acquisition of our partner’s interest in the non-Orlando City Group properties in July 2003 and the resultant elimination of recording co-venture expense as of that date.

Minority interest in the continuing operations of the Operating Partnership, after Preferred Unit distributions, decreased from $2.0 million in 2003 to $0.6 million in 2004 due to a corresponding decrease in the Operating Partnership’s loss from continuing operations, after Preferred Unit distributions.

The $2.6 million increase in equity in earnings from continuing operations of unconsolidated affiliates was primarily a result of (1) a gain of $1.1 million recognized in 2004 by a certain joint venture related to the disposition of land, of which our portion was $0.5 million; (2) an increase related to the formation of the HIW-KC Orlando, LLC joint venture in 2004, which contributed approximately $1.1 million to equity in earnings from continuing operations of unconsolidated affiliates in 2004; and (3) an increase of $0.9 million related to the addition of three office properties in 2004 to the Highwoods-Markel Associates, LLC joint venture. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in average occupancy of buildings owned by certain joint ventures and a land sale by one of our joint ventures in 2003, which resulted in a $0.4 million decrease in equity in earnings from continuing operations of unconsolidated affiliates in 2004 as compared to 2003.

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, we classified net income of $17.0 million and $29.6 million, net of minority interest, as discontinued operations for 2004 and 2003, respectively. These amounts pertained to 6.6 million square feet of property, 121 apartment units and 122.8 acres of revenue-producing land sold during 2005, 2004 and 2003 and 1.9 million square feet of property held for sale at December 31, 2005. These amounts include gains, net of impairments, of discontinued operations of $2.8 million and $9.8 million, net of minority interest, in 2004 and 2003, respectively; the components of net gains are set out in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net Income and Net Income Allocable to Common Stockholders

We recorded net income $41.6 million in 2004 compared to $42.6 million in 2003, and net income allocable to common stockholders of $10.7 million in 2004 compared to $11.8 million in 2003; these changes resulted from the various factors described above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Statement of Cash Flows

As required by GAAP, we report and analyze our cash flows based on operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. The following table sets forth the changes in our cash flows from 2004 to 2005 ($ in thousands):

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     Change  

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

   $ 154,133     $ 172,582     $ (18,449 )

Cash Provided by Investing Activities

     200,925       48,188       152,737  

Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (378,328 )     (217,984 )     (160,344 )
                        

Total Cash Flows

   $ (23,270 )   $ 2,786     $ (26,056 )
                        

 

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In calculating cash flow from operating activities, GAAP requires us to add depreciation and amortization, which are non-cash expenses, back to net income. As a result, we have historically generated a significant 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 above under “Results of Operations,” changes in receivables and payables and net additions or decreases in our overall portfolio, which affect the amount of depreciation and amortization expense.

Cash provided by or used in investing activities generally relates to capitalized costs incurred for leasing and major building improvements and our acquisition, development, disposition and joint venture 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. During 2005 and 2004, since our disposition activity outpaced our investment, development and acquisition activity, we recorded positive cash flow from investing activities in both years.

Cash used in financing activities generally relates to stockholder dividends, distributions on Common Units, incurrence and repayment of debt and sales, repurchases or redemptions of Common Stock, Common Units and Preferred Stock. As discussed previously, we use a significant amount of our cash to fund stockholder dividends and Common Unit distributions. Whether or not we incur significant new debt during a period depends generally upon the net effect of our acquisition, disposition, development and joint venture activity. We use our revolving credit facility for working capital purposes, which means that during any given period, in order to minimize interest expense associated with balances outstanding under our revolving credit facility, we will likely record significant repayments and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

The decrease of $18.5 million in cash provided by operating activities was primarily a result of the timing of receipt of revenues and payment of expenses and from lower cash flows from operating activities after adjusting net income for non-cash depreciation and amortization, gains and impairments on disposition of properties, and loss on debt extinguishment.

The increase of $152.7 million in cash provided by investing activities was primarily a result of $196.8 million higher sales of non-core properties in 2005 compared to 2004 offset by $40.8 million in higher additions for real estate assets, largely from new development projects in 2005, and by an $11.8 million decrease in other investing activities which represented an increase in restricted cash caused by a cash escrow established to un-encumber a secured property that was sold.

Cash used in financing activities increased $160.3 million from 2004 to 2005. In 2005 compared to 2004, net repayments on our revolving credit facility, mortgages and notes payable increased by $98.4 million, cash paid for the repurchase of Common Stock and Common Units increased by $10.2 million, and cash used to redeem Preferred Stock increased $130.0 million. Offsetting these increased uses of cash were a reduction in cash paid on financing obligations of $62.4 million (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and a $12.2 million reduction in cash paid for debt extinguishments.

During 2006, we expect to have positive cash flows from operating activities. The net cash flows from investing activities in 2006 are expected to be positive based on our expected level of property dispositions, net of cash used for development, capitalized leasing and tenant improvement costs. Positive cash flows from operating and investing activities in 2006 are expected to be used to pay stockholder and unitholder distributions, scheduled debt maturities, principal amortization payments and pay-down of debt and redemption of Preferred Stock (see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

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Capitalization

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     December 31,
2005
   December 31,
2004

Mortgages and notes payable, at recorded book value

   $ 1,471,616    $ 1,572,574

Financing obligations

   $ 34,154    $ 65,309

Preferred Stock, at liquidation value

   $ 247,445    $ 377,445

Common Stock and Common Units outstanding

     59,479      59,915