10-Q

FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

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 001-36109

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

QualityTech, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland (QTS Realty Trust, Inc.)	46-2809094
Delaware (QualityTech, LP) (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	27-0707288 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
12851 Foster Street, Overland Park, Kansas	66213
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (913) 312-5503

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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.

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.  Yes  ☒     No  ☐ QualityTech, LP   Yes  ☒     No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.  Yes  ☒     No  ☐ QualityTech, LP   Yes  ☒     No  ☐

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

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

QualityTech, LP

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

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

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

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.  Yes  ☐     No  ☒ QualityTech, LP   Yes  ☐     No  ☒

There were 50,300,171 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 128,408 shares of Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. outstanding on October 31, 2017.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This report combines the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (“QTS”) and QualityTech, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, which is our operating partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). This report also includes the financial statements of QTS and those of the Operating Partnership, although it presents only one set of combined notes for QTS’ financial statements and those of the Operating Partnership.

Substantially all of QTS’s assets are held by, and its operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. QTS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and, as of September 30, 2017, its only material asset consisted of its ownership of approximately 88.5% of the Operating Partnership. Management operates QTS and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of QTS consists of the same employees as the management of the Operating Partnership. QTS does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and issuing public equity from time to time. QTS has not issued or guaranteed any indebtedness. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by QTS, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by our business through its operations, the direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness, and the issuance of partnership units. Therefore, as general partner with voting control of the Operating Partnership, QTS consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes.

We believe, therefore, that a combined presentation with respect to QTS and the Operating Partnership, including providing one set of notes for the financial statements of QTS and the Operating Partnership, provides the following benefits:

· enhances investors’ understanding of QTS and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;

· eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure in this report applies to both QTS and the Operating Partnership; and

· creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one presentation instead of two separate presentations.

In addition, in light of these combined disclosures, we believe it is important for investors to understand the few differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership in the context of how QTS and the Operating Partnership operate as a consolidated company. With respect to balance sheets, the presentation of stockholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated balance sheets of QTS and those of the Operating Partnership. On the Operating Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets, partners’ capital includes partnership units that are owned by QTS and other partners. On QTS’ consolidated balance sheets, stockholders’ equity includes common stock, additional paid-in capital, and accumulated dividends in excess of earnings. The remaining equity reflected on QTS’ consolidated balance sheet is the portion of net assets that are retained by partners other than QTS, referred to as noncontrolling interests. With respect to statements of operations, the primary difference in QTS’ Statements of Operations is that for net income, QTS retains its proportionate share of the net income based on its ownership of the Operating Partnership, with the remaining balance being retained by the Operating Partnership.

In order to highlight the few differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership, there are sections and disclosure in this report that discuss QTS and the Operating Partnership separately, including separate financial statements, separate audit reports, separate controls and procedures sections, separate Exhibit 31 and 32 certifications, and separate presentation of certain accompanying notes to the financial statements, including Note 8 – Partners’ Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans. In the sections that combine disclosure for QTS and the Operating Partnership, this report refers to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of “we,” “our,” “us,” “our company” and “the Company.” Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that enters into contracts, holds assets and issues debt, we believe that these general references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “our company” and “the Company” in this context are appropriate because the business is one enterprise operated through the Operating Partnership.

2

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

QualityTech, LP

Form 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2017

INDEX

		Page
PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	Financial Statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	4
	Financial Statements of Quality Tech, LP	10
	Notes to QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and QualityTech, LP Financial Statements	16
ITEM 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	39
ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	62
ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures	62
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	Legal Proceedings	64
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	64
ITEM 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	64
ITEM 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	65
ITEM 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	65
ITEM 5.	Other Information	65
ITEM 6.	Exhibits	65
	Signatures	67

3

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

ITEM 1. Financial Statements 

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except share data)

	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Real Estate Assets
Land	$	86,192	$	74,130
Buildings, improvements and equipment		1,668,503		1,524,767
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(378,883)		(317,834)
		1,375,812		1,281,063
Construction in progress		429,390		365,960
Real Estate Assets, net		1,805,202		1,647,023
Cash and cash equivalents		9,271		9,580
Rents and other receivables, net		47,307		41,540
Acquired intangibles, net		114,286		129,754
Deferred costs, net		38,172		38,507
Prepaid expenses		7,209		6,918
Goodwill		173,843		173,843
Other assets, net		63,156		39,305
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,258,446	$	2,086,470
LIABILITIES
Unsecured credit facility, net	$	775,398	$	634,939
Senior notes, net of discount and debt issuance costs		293,192		292,179
Capital lease, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable		30,725		38,708
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		67,232		86,129
Dividends and distributions payable		22,230		19,634
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		29,210		24,893
Deferred income taxes		9,814		15,185
Deferred income		22,540		21,993
TOTAL LIABILITIES		1,250,341		1,133,660
EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,133,000 shares authorized, 50,424,244 and 47,831,250 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		504		478
Additional paid-in capital		1,032,912		931,783
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,565)		—
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings		(139,740)		(97,793)
Total stockholders’ equity		892,111		834,468
Noncontrolling interests		115,994		118,342
TOTAL EQUITY		1,008,105		952,810
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	2,258,446	$	2,086,470

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

4

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Revenues:
Rental	$	85,831	$	77,005	$	245,741	$	217,101
Recoveries from customers		9,698		8,703		26,833		20,306
Cloud and managed services		16,224		16,243		50,045		52,148
Other		2,014		1,514		4,980		7,365
Total revenues		113,767		103,465		327,599		296,920
Operating Expenses:
Property operating costs		39,743		36,288		112,010		100,715
Real estate taxes and insurance		3,116		2,566		9,209		6,326
Depreciation and amortization		35,309		32,699		103,784		91,693
General and administrative		21,652		19,942		66,411		61,836
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465		1,611		9,385
Total operating expenses		100,934		94,960		293,025		269,955
Operating income		12,833		8,505		34,574		26,965
Other income and expenses:
Interest income		65		1		66		3
Interest expense		(7,958)		(6,179)		(22,474)		(17,034)
Other income/(expense), net		—		1		—		1
Income before taxes		4,940		2,328		12,166		9,935
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		2,454		4,210		5,404		9,269
Net income		7,394		6,538		17,570		19,204
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(887)		(808)		(2,146)		(2,485)
Net income attributable to QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	$	6,507	$	5,730	$	15,424	$	16,719
Net income per share attributable to common shares:
Basic	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.37
Diluted		0.13		0.12		0.31		0.36

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

5

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited and in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	17,570	$	19,204
Other comprehensive loss:
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps		(286)		—		(1,785)		—
Comprehensive income		7,108		6,538		15,785		19,204
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(850)		(808)		(1,926)		(2,485)
Comprehensive income attributable to QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	$	6,258	$	5,730	$	13,859	$	16,719

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

6

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(unaudited and in thousands)

						Accumulated		Accumulated		Total
	Common stock			Additional		other		dividends in		stockholders'		Noncontrolling
	Shares	Amount		paid-in capital		comprehensive loss		excess of earnings		equity		interests		Total
Balance January 1, 2017	47,831	$	478	$	931,783	$	—	$	(97,793)	$	834,468	$	118,342	$	952,810
Net share activity through equity award plan	590		6		1,428		—		—		1,434		200		1,634
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest upon conversion of partnership units to common stock	241		2		8,352		—		—		8,354		(8,354)		—
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps	—		—		—		(1,565)		—		(1,565)		(220)		(1,785)
Equity-based compensation expense	—		—		9,224		—		—		9,224		1,283		10,507
Net proceeds from equity offerings	1,762		18		82,125		—		—		82,143		10,444		92,587
Dividends to shareholders	—		—		—		—		(57,371)		(57,371)		—		(57,371)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	—		—		—		—		—		-		(7,847)		(7,847)
Net income	—		—		—		—		15,424		15,424		2,146		17,570
Balance September 30, 2017	50,424	$	504	$	1,032,912	$	(1,565)	$	(139,740)	$	892,111	$	115,994	$	1,008,105

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

7

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(unaudited and in thousands)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

	2017		2016
			(as adjusted)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$	17,570	$	19,204
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		100,455		88,767
Amortization of above and below market leases		699		337
Amortization of deferred loan costs		2,737		2,424
Amortization of senior notes discount		206		194
Equity-based compensation expense		10,507		7,887
Bad debt expense		1,750		1,201
Deferred tax benefit		(5,371)		(9,298)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Rents and other receivables, net		(7,518)		(9,191)
Prepaid expenses		(291)		(2,854)
Other assets		(367)		(967)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,145)		3,359
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		3,480		984
Deferred income		547		1,448
Net cash provided by operating activities		120,259		103,495
Cash flow from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(47,013)		(122,981)
Additions to property and equipment		(236,971)		(197,751)
Net cash used in investing activities		(283,984)		(320,732)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Credit facility proceeds		221,000		267,000
Debt repayment		(81,000)		(259,002)
Debt proceeds		1,920		—
Payment of deferred financing costs		(200)		(35)
Payment of cash dividends		(54,919)		(45,371)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(7,732)		(7,189)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,948		859
Payment of tax withholdings related to equity based awards		(3,310)		(2,111)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		(9,865)		(9,612)
Mortgage principal debt repayments		(38)		—
Equity proceeds, net of issuance costs		92,612		275,663
Net cash provided by financing activities		163,416		220,202
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(309)		2,965
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,580		8,804
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	9,271	$	11,769

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

8

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (continued)

(unaudited and in thousands)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

	2017		2016
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest (excluding deferred financing costs and amounts capitalized)	$	22,759	$	18,659
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued capital additions	$	28,368	$	40,344
Increase in other liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	$	1,785	$	—
Accrued equity issuance costs	$	26	$	—
Accrued deferred financing costs	$	8	$	—
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired:
Land	$	5,019	$	7,440
Buildings, improvements and equipment		—		80,390
Construction in Progress		41,994		13,900
Rents and other receivables, net		—		(2,033)
Acquired intangibles		—		34,281
Deferred costs		—		4,391
Prepaid expenses		—		479
Goodwill		—		(7,895)
Other assets		—		303
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		—		(922)
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		—		(1,343)
Deferred income		—		35
Deferred income taxes		—		(6,045)
Total acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$	47,013	$	122,981

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

9

QUALITYTECH, LP 

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Real Estate Assets
Land	$	86,192	$	74,130
Buildings, improvements and equipment		1,668,503		1,524,767
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(378,883)		(317,834)
		1,375,812		1,281,063
Construction in progress		429,390		365,960
Real Estate Assets, net		1,805,202		1,647,023
Cash and cash equivalents		9,271		9,580
Rents and other receivables, net		47,307		41,540
Acquired intangibles, net		114,286		129,754
Deferred costs, net		38,172		38,507
Prepaid expenses		7,209		6,918
Goodwill		173,843		173,843
Other assets, net		63,156		39,305
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,258,446	$	2,086,470
LIABILITIES
Unsecured credit facility, net	$	775,398	$	634,939
Senior notes, net of discount and debt issuance costs		293,192		292,179
Capital lease, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable		30,725		38,708
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		67,232		86,129
Dividends and distributions payable		22,230		19,634
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		29,210		24,893
Deferred income taxes		9,814		15,185
Deferred income		22,540		21,993
TOTAL LIABILITIES		1,250,341		1,133,660
PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Partners' capital		1,009,890		952,810
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,785)		—
TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL		1,008,105		952,810
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL	$	2,258,446	$	2,086,470

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

10

QUALITYTECH, LP 

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Revenues:
Rental	$	85,831	$	77,005	$	245,741	$	217,101
Recoveries from customers		9,698		8,703		26,833		20,306
Cloud and managed services		16,224		16,243		50,045		52,148
Other		2,014		1,514		4,980		7,365
Total revenues		113,767		103,465		327,599		296,920
Operating Expenses:
Property operating costs		39,743		36,288		112,010		100,715
Real estate taxes and insurance		3,116		2,566		9,209		6,326
Depreciation and amortization		35,309		32,699		103,784		91,693
General and administrative		21,652		19,942		66,411		61,836
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465		1,611		9,385
Total operating expenses		100,934		94,960		293,025		269,955
Operating income		12,833		8,505		34,574		26,965
Other income and expenses:
Interest income		65		1		66		3
Interest expense		(7,958)		(6,179)		(22,474)		(17,034)
Other income/(expense), net		—		1		—		1
Income before taxes		4,940		2,328		12,166		9,935
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		2,454		4,210		5,404		9,269
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	17,570	$	19,204

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

11

QUALITYTECH, LP

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited and in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	17,570	$	19,204
Other comprehensive loss:
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps		(286)		—		(1,785)		—
Comprehensive income	$	7,108	$	6,538	$	15,785	$	19,204

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

12

QUALITYTECH, LP

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(unaudited and in thousands)

							Accumulated other
	Limited Partners' Capital			General Partner's Capital			comprehensive loss
	Units	Amount		Units	Amount		Amount		Total
Balance January 1, 2017	54,628	$	952,810	1	$	—	$	—	$	952,810
Net share activity through equity award plan	590		1,634	—		—		—		1,634
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps	—		—	—		—		(1,785)		(1,785)
Equity-based compensation expense	—		10,507	—		—		—		10,507
Net proceeds from QTS Realty Trust, Inc. equity offerings	1,762		92,587	—		—		—		92,587
Dividends to QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	—		(57,371)	—		—		—		(57,371)
Partnership distributions	—		(7,847)	—		—		—		(7,847)
Net income	—		17,570	—		—		—		17,570
Balance September 30, 2017	56,980	$	1,009,890	1	$	—	$	(1,785)	$	1,008,105

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

13

QUALITYTECH, LP

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(unaudited and in thousands)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

	2017		2016
			(as adjusted)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$	17,570	$	19,204
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		100,455		88,767
Amortization of above and below market leases		699		337
Amortization of deferred loan costs		2,737		2,424
Amortization of senior notes discount		206		194
Equity-based compensation expense		10,507		7,887
Bad debt expense		1,750		1,201
Deferred tax benefit		(5,371)		(9,298)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Rents and other receivables, net		(7,518)		(9,191)
Prepaid expenses		(291)		(2,854)
Other assets		(367)		(967)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,145)		3,359
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		3,480		984
Deferred income		547		1,448
Net cash provided by operating activities		120,259		103,495
Cash flow from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(47,013)		(122,981)
Additions to property and equipment		(236,971)		(197,751)
Net cash used in investing activities		(283,984)		(320,732)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Credit facility proceeds		221,000		267,000
Debt repayment		(81,000)		(259,002)
Debt proceeds		1,920		—
Payment of deferred financing costs		(200)		(35)
Payment of cash dividends		(54,919)		(45,371)
Partnership distributions		(7,732)		(7,189)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,948		859
Payment of tax withholdings related to equity based awards		(3,310)		(2,111)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		(9,865)		(9,612)
Mortgage principal debt repayments		(38)		—
Equity proceeds, net of issuance costs		92,612		275,663
Net cash provided by financing activities		163,416		220,202
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(309)		2,965
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,580		8,804
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	9,271	$	11,769

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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QUALITYTECH, LP

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (continued)

(unaudited and in thousands)

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

	2017		2016
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest (excluding deferred financing costs and amounts capitalized)	$	22,759	$	18,659
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued capital additions	$	28,368	$	40,344
Increase in other liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	$	1,785	$	—
Accrued equity issuance costs	$	26	$	—
Accrued deferred financing costs	$	8	$	—
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired:
Land	$	5,019	$	7,440
Buildings, improvements and equipment		—		80,390
Construction in Progress		41,994		13,900
Rents and other receivables, net		—		(2,033)
Acquired intangibles		—		34,281
Deferred costs		—		4,391
Prepaid expenses		—		479
Goodwill		—		(7,895)
Other assets		—		303
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		—		(922)
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		—		(1,343)
Deferred income		—		35
Deferred income taxes		—		(6,045)
Total acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$	47,013	$	122,981

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

QUALITYTECH, LP

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

1. Description of Business

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (“QTS”) through its controlling interest in QualityTech, LP (the “Operating Partnership” and collectively with QTS and their subsidiaries, the “Company”) and the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, is engaged in the business of owning, acquiring, redeveloping and managing multi-tenant data centers. The Company’s portfolio consists of 25 wholly-owned and leased properties with data centers located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

QTS has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013. As a REIT, QTS generally is not required to pay federal corporate income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it is currently distributed to its stockholders.

The Operating Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership formed on August 5, 2009 and is QTS’ historical predecessor. As of September 30, 2017, QTS owned approximately 88.5% of the interests in the Operating Partnership. Substantially all of QTS’ assets are held by, and QTS’ operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. QTS’ interest in the Operating Partnership entitles QTS to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the Operating Partnership in proportion to QTS’ percentage ownership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, QTS generally has the exclusive power under the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership to manage and conduct the Operating Partnership’s business and affairs, subject to certain limited approval and voting rights of the limited partners. QTS’ board of directors manages the Company’s business and affairs.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and management’s discussion and analysis included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017. The consolidated balance sheet data included herein as of December 31, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The accompanying financial statements are presented for both QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and QualityTech, LP. References to “QTS” mean QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its controlled subsidiaries and references to the “Operating Partnership” mean QualityTech, LP and its controlled subsidiaries.

In 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This standard amends certain guidance applicable to the consolidation of various legal entities, including variable interest entities (“VIE”). The Company evaluated the application of the ASU and concluded that no change was required to its accounting for its interest in the Operating Partnership. However, under the new guidance, the Operating Partnership now meets the definition and criteria of a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As discussed below, QTS’ only material asset is its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership, and consequently, all of its assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. QTS’ debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership where the creditors may have recourse, under certain circumstances, against the credit of QTS.

QTS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and its only material asset consists of its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership. Management operates QTS and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of QTS consists of the same employees as the management of the Operating Partnership. QTS does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and issuing public equity from time to time. QTS has not issued or guaranteed any indebtedness. Except for net proceeds from public equity

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issuances by QTS, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the business through its operations, the direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness, and the issuance of partnership units. Therefore, as general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, QTS consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes.

The Company believes, therefore, that providing one set of notes for the financial statements of QTS and the Operating Partnership provides the following benefits:

· enhances investors’ understanding of QTS and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;

· eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both QTS and the Operating Partnership; and

· creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one set of notes instead of two separate sets of notes.

In addition, in light of these combined notes, the Company believes it is important for investors to understand the few differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership in the context of how QTS and the Operating Partnership operate as a consolidated company. With respect to balance sheets, the presentation of stockholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated balance sheets of QTS and those of the Operating Partnership. On the Operating Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets, partners’ capital includes partnership units that are owned by QTS and other partners. On QTS’ consolidated balance sheets, stockholders’ equity includes common stock, additional paid in capital, and accumulated dividends in excess of earnings. The remaining equity reflected on QTS’s consolidated balance sheet is the portion of net assets that are retained by partners other than QTS, referred to as noncontrolling interests. With respect to statements of operations, the primary difference in QTS' Statements of Operations is that for net income, QTS retains its proportionate share of the net income based on its ownership of the Operating Partnership, with the remaining balance being retained by the Operating Partnership. These combined notes refer to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of “the Company.” Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that enters into contracts, holds assets and issues debt, management believes that these general references to “the Company” in this context is appropriate because the business is one enterprise operated through the Operating Partnership.

As discussed above, QTS owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. Also, the Operating Partnership owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of its subsidiaries. Obligations under the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the unsecured credit facility, both discussed in Note 6, are fully, unconditionally, and jointly and severally guaranteed by the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries, other than 1) 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, a subsidiary formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations, 2) seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations and 3) with respect to the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 only, QTS Finance Corporation, the co-issuer of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. As such, consolidating financial information for the guarantors is not being presented in the notes to the interim consolidated financial statements. However, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership to make distributions to QTS, subject to certain exceptions, including distributions required in order for QTS to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The interim consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 present the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries. This includes the operating results of the Operating Partnership for all periods presented. 

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the

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reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of fixed assets, allowances for doubtful accounts and deferred tax assets and the valuation of derivatives, real estate assets, acquired intangible assets and certain accruals.

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. include the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of QualityTech, LP include the accounts of QualityTech, LP and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications – The consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflects a reclassification of $0.9 million from  “Payment of Tax Withholdings related to Equity Based Awards” to “Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options” in accordance with the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting as of January 1, 2017 with retrospective application of this provision.

Real Estate Assets – Real estate assets are reported at cost. All capital improvements for the income-producing properties that extend their useful lives are capitalized to individual property improvements and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation for real estate assets is generally provided on a straight-line basis over 40 years from the date the property was placed in service. Property improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the life of the respective improvement ranging from 20 to 40 years from the date the components were placed in service. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of 20 years or through the end of the respective life of the lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $22.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for a total of $25.9 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $20.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for a total of $23.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $66.1 million and $10.3 million, respectively, for a total of $76.4 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $57.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively, for a total of $67.1 million. The Company capitalizes certain development costs, including internal costs incurred in connection with development. The capitalization of costs during the construction period (including interest and related loan fees, property taxes and other direct and indirect costs) begins when development efforts commence and ends when the asset is ready for its intended use. Capitalization of such costs, excluding interest, aggregated to $3.6 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.5 million and $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Interest is capitalized during the period of development by first applying the Company’s actual borrowing rate on the related asset and second, to the extent necessary, by applying the Company’s weighted average effective borrowing rate to the actual development and other costs expended during the construction period. Interest is capitalized until the property is ready for its intended use. Interest costs capitalized totaled $3.6 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.9 million and $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Acquisitions – Acquisitions of real estate and other entities are either accounted for as asset acquisitions or business combinations depending on facts and circumstances. Purchase accounting is applied to the assets and liabilities related to all real estate investments acquired in accordance with the accounting requirements of ASC 805, Business Combinations, which requires the recording of net assets of acquired businesses at fair value. The fair value of the consideration transferred is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting primarily of land, construction in progress, building and improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, value of in-place leases, value of customer relationships, trade names, software intangibles and capital leases. The excess of the fair value of liabilities assumed, common stock issued and cash paid over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired is allocated to goodwill, which is not amortized by the Company.

In developing estimates of fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, management analyzes a variety of factors including market data, estimated future cash flows of the acquired operations, industry growth rates, current replacement cost for fixed assets and market rate assumptions for contractual obligations. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, particularly with respect to the intangible assets.

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Acquired in-place leases are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the underlying leases. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Acquired customer relationships are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the customer relationship. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Other acquired intangible assets, which includes platform, above or below market leases, and trade name intangibles, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective expected lives. Above or below market leases are amortized as a reduction to or increase in rental revenue as well as a reduction to rent expense over the remaining lease terms in the case of the Company as lessor. The expense associated with above and below market leases and trade name intangibles is accounted for as real estate expense, whereas the expense associated with the amortization of platform intangibles is accounted for as non-real estate expense.

See Note 3 for discussion of the final purchase price allocation for the Piscataway, New Jersey facility (the “Piscataway facility”) that the Company acquired on June 6, 2016 as well as the preliminary purchase price allocation for the Fort Worth, Texas facility (the “Fort Worth facility”) that the Company acquired on December 16, 2016.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill – The Company reviews its long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net cash flows, undiscounted and without interest, expected to be generated by the asset group. If the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the value of the undiscounted cash flows, the fair value of the asset is assessed and may be considered impaired. An impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired asset over its fair value. No impairment losses were recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The fair value of goodwill is the consideration transferred which is not allocable to identifiable intangible and tangible assets. Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment. As a result of the Carpathia Hosting, Inc. (“Carpathia”) acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $173.8 million in goodwill. In connection with the goodwill impairment evaluation that the Company performed on October 1, 2016, the Company determined qualitatively that there were no indicators of impairment, thus it did not perform a quantitative analysis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all demand deposits and money market accounts purchased with a maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s account balances at one or more institutions periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC coverage. The Company mitigates this risk by depositing a majority of its funds with several major financial institutions. The Company also has not experienced any losses and does not believe that the risk is significant.

Deferred Costs – Deferred costs, net, on the Company’s balance sheets include both financing costs and leasing costs.

Deferred financing costs represent fees and other costs incurred in connection with obtaining debt and are amortized over the term of the loan and are included in interest expense. Debt issuance costs related to revolving debt arrangements are deferred and presented as assets on the balance sheet; however, all other debt issuance costs are recorded as a direct offset to the associated liability. Amortization of debt issuance costs, including those costs presented as offsets to the associated liability in the consolidated balance sheet, was $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $2.7 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30,

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2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred financing costs presented as assets on the balance sheet related to revolving debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	7,132	$	7,128
Accumulated amortization		(1,453)		(145)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	5,679	$	6,983

Deferred financing costs presented as offsets to the associated liabilities on the balance sheet related to fixed debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	12,943	$	12,779
Accumulated amortization		(4,089)		(2,660)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	8,854	$	10,119

Deferred leasing costs consist of external fees and internal costs incurred in the successful negotiations of leases and are deferred and amortized over the terms of the related leases on a straight-line basis. If an applicable lease terminates prior to the expiration of its initial term, the carrying amount of the costs are written off to amortization expense. Amortization of deferred leasing costs totaled $4.8 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $13.5 million and $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred leasing costs	$	54,411	$	50,026
Accumulated amortization		(21,918)		(18,502)
Deferred leasing costs, net	$	32,493	$	31,524

Advance Rents and Security Deposits – Advance rents, typically prepayment of the following month’s rent, consist of payments received from customers prior to the time they are earned and are recognized as revenue in subsequent periods when earned. Security deposits are collected from customers at the lease origination and are generally refunded to customers upon lease expiration.

Deferred Income – Deferred income generally results from non-refundable charges paid by the customer at lease inception to prepare their space for occupancy. The Company records this initial payment, commonly referred to as set-up fees, as a deferred income liability which amortizes into rental revenue over the term of the related lease on a straight-line basis. Deferred income was $22.5 million and $22.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Additionally, $2.7 million and $2.4 million of deferred income was amortized into revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7.7 million and $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Equity-based Compensation – All equity-based compensation is measured at fair value on the grant date, and recognized in earnings over the requisite service period. Depending upon the settlement terms of the awards, all or a portion of the fair value of equity-based awards may be presented as a liability or as equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Equity-based compensation costs are measured based upon their estimated fair value on the date of grant or modification. Equity-based compensation expense was $3.7 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended

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September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $10.5 million and $7.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Rental Revenue – The Company, as a lessor, has retained substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership and accounts for its leases as operating leases. For lease agreements that provide for scheduled rent increases, rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable term of the leases, which commences when control of the space has been provided to the customer. The amount of the straight-line rent receivable on the balance sheets included in rents and other receivables, net was $21.1 million and $17.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Rental revenue also includes amortization of set-up fees which are amortized over the term of the respective lease as discussed above.

Cloud and Managed Services Revenue – The Company may provide both its cloud product and use of its managed services to its customers on an individual or combined basis. Service fee revenue is recognized as the revenue is earned, which generally coincides with the services being provided.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable – Rents receivable are recognized when due and are carried at cost, less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company records a provision for losses on rents receivable equal to the estimated uncollectible accounts, which is based on management’s historical experience and a review of the current status of the Company’s receivables. As necessary, the Company also establishes an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts for receivables arising from the straight-lining of rents. The aggregate allowance for doubtful accounts was $5.7 million and $4.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations – The Company evaluates leased real estate to determine whether the lease should be classified as a capital or operating lease in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company periodically enters into capital leases for certain equipment. In addition, through its acquisition of Carpathia Hosting, Inc. on June 16, 2015, the Company is party to capital leases for property and equipment, as well as financing obligations related to a sale-leaseback transaction. The outstanding liabilities for the capital leases were $10.0 million and $18.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The outstanding liabilities for the lease financing obligations were $18.8 million and $20.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The net book value of the assets associated with these leases was approximately $33.2 million and $41.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Depreciation related to the associated assets is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

See Note 6 for further discussion of capital leases and lease financing obligations.

Recoveries from Customers – Certain customer leases contain provisions under which the customers reimburse the Company for a portion of the property’s real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses, which include certain power and cooling-related charges. The reimbursements are included in revenue as recoveries from customers in the Statements of Operations in the period the applicable expenditures are incurred. Certain customer leases are structured to provide a fixed monthly billing amount that includes an estimate of various operating expenses, with all revenue from such leases included in rental revenues.

Segment Information – The Company manages its business as one operating segment and thus one reportable segment consisting of a portfolio of investments in data centers located primarily in the United States with others in Canada, Europe and Asia.

Customer Concentrations – As of September 30, 2017, one of the Company’s customers represented 12.5% of its total monthly rental revenue. No other customers exceeded 5% of total monthly rental revenue.

As of September 30, 2017, five of the Company’s customers exceeded 5% of total accounts receivable. In aggregate, these five customers accounted for approximately 44% of total accounts receivable. Two of these five customers exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable.

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Income Taxes – The Company has elected for two of its existing subsidiaries, Quality Technology Services Holdings, LLC and QTS Finance Corporation, to be taxed as taxable REIT subsidiaries pursuant to the REIT rules of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

For the taxable REIT subsidiaries, income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

As of December 31, 2014, one of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries’ deferred tax assets were primarily the result of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards. A valuation allowance was recorded against its gross deferred tax asset balance as of December 31, 2014. As a result of the acquisition of Carpathia, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that pre-existing deferred tax assets would be realized by the Company, and the valuation allowance was eliminated. The change in the valuation allowance resulting from the change in circumstances was included in income, and recognized as a deferred income tax benefit in the year ended December 31, 2015.

A deferred tax benefit has been recognized in subsequent periods, including in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, in connection with recorded operating losses. As of September 30, 2017, this taxable REIT subsidiary has a net deferred tax liability position primarily due to customer-based intangibles acquired as part of the Carpathia acquisition.

The Company provides for income taxes during interim periods based on the estimated effective tax rate for the year. The effective tax rate is subject to change in the future due to various factors such as the operating performance of the taxable REIT subsidiary, tax law changes and future business acquisitions. The taxable REIT subsidiary’s effective tax rates were 46.4% and 48.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Interest Rate Swaps – On April 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan).

The Company reflects its forward interest rate swap agreements, which are designated as cash flow hedges, at fair value as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The forward interest rate swap agreements currently qualify for hedge accounting whereby the Company records the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instruments as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Any ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is immediately recognized within net income.

Fair Value Measurements – ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy is established that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs

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from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company valued its interest rate swaps which were entered into in April 2017 utilizing Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. There were no financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016. The Company’s purchase price allocations of Piscataway and Fort Worth are fair value estimates that utilized Level 3 inputs and are measured on a non-recurring basis. See Note 3 for further detail on these acquisitions.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the current revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Under this new guidance, entities should recognize revenues to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires enhanced disclosures. In April 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. In May 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance related to the assessment of collectability, the definition of completed contracts at transition, and the measurement of the fair value of non-cash consideration at contract inception. The FASB also added new practical expedients for the presentation of sales taxes collected from customers and the accounting for contract modifications at transition. These amendments are not intended to change the core principles of the standard; however, they are intended to clarify important aspects of the guidance and improve its operability, as well as to address implementation issues. The amendments have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard, which is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Retrospective and modified retrospective application is allowed. The Company will adopt ASC Topic 606 effective January 1, 2018, and expects to elect the modified retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the standard will have on the consolidated financial statements. As leasing arrangements are excluded from the scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company expects that the new revenue standard will primarily affect its accounting policies related to non-lease components and is finalizing its analysis of those impacts but currently does not expect the new standard to materially change the pattern of recognition for the Company’s revenue that will be accounted for under ASC 606. The new revenue standard does require allocation of consideration to lease and non-lease components and, as a result, the Company does anticipate changes to its classification and disclosure of revenues under ASC 606 and is continuing to evaluate the allocation between lease and non lease components required under the new revenue standard. ASC Topic 606 also consolidates and simplifies the accounting for the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company does not expect the new standard to materially change the timing or amounts of revenue recognized related to the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company is continuing to evaluate the other impacts of the revenue standard and related cost guidance on its significant accounting policies and consolidated financial statements. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the current lease guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The core principle of Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from nearly all leases in the statement of financial position. Accounting applied by lessors will remain largely consistent with previous guidance, with additional changes set to align lessor accounting with the revised lessee model and the FASB’s revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, early adoption is permitted. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach. The Company plans to adopt ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, and is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard. As part of this analysis the Company is analyzing its lease portfolio as lessor and lessee and evaluating systems to comply with the standard’s retrospective adoption requirements. The new lease standard more narrowly defines initial direct costs as only costs that are incremental at the signing of a lease. As the Company does not currently capitalize material non-incremental costs, it expects the impact of this change to be immaterial to the financial statements. As lessee the Company does not anticipate the classification of its leases to change but it will recognize a new initial lease liability and right-of-use asset on the consolidated balance sheet for all

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operating leases which is expected to be material to our consolidated balance sheet. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The ASU includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements, including simplified income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, enhanced tax withholding rules, accounting policy options with regard to forfeitures and clarified guidance on statement of cash flow presentation. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this standard in the three months ended March 31, 2017, and provisions of the standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The standard provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification issues including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2018, and subsequent interim periods. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. Under current U.S. GAAP, the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers are deferred until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. The new guidance eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory. As a result, a reporting entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. The new guidance will be effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but the guidance can only be adopted in the first interim period of a fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The standard changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. As a result of this new guidance, acquisitions may now be more likely to result in a transaction being classified as an asset purchase rather than a business combination.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of today’s goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (i.e., measure the charge based on today’s Step 1). The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for calendar year-end public companies in 2020, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The provisions in the update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The guidance seeks to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

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In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12; Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 change the recognition and presentation requirements of hedge accounting, including the elimination of the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and the addition of a requirement to present all items that affect earnings in the same income statement line item as the hedged item. ASU 2017-12 also provides new alternatives for: applying hedge accounting to additional hedging strategies; measuring the hedged item in fair value hedges of interest rate risk; reducing the cost and complexity of applying hedge accounting by easing the requirements for effectiveness testing, hedge documentation and application of the critical terms match method; and reducing the risk of material error correction if a company applies the shortcut method inappropriately. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 18, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

3. Acquisitions

Fort Worth Acquisition

On December 16, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of the Fort Worth facility for approximately $50.1 million. This facility is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and consists of 53 acres and approximately 262,000 gross square feet.This facility has a basis of design of 80,000 square feet, 8 gross MW of current available power with an additional 8 gross MW available for further expansion. This acquisition was funded with a draw on the unsecured revolving credit facility. 

The Company accounted for this acquisition in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, as a business combination. The Company is generally valuing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using Level 3 inputs.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the Fort Worth facility and the preliminary allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands). This allocation is subject to change pending the final valuation of these assets and liabilities:

	Fort Worth Allocation as of September 30, 2017		Original Allocation Reported as of December 31, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	136	$	136	$	—
Buildings and improvements		610		610		—
Construction in progress		48,987		48,984		3
Acquired intangibles		237		240		(3)
Deferred costs		23		23		—
Other assets		7		7		—
Net Working Capital		86		86		—
Total identifiable assets acquired	$	50,086	$	50,086	$	—

No changes were recorded to the preliminary allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Piscataway Acquisition

On June 6, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of the Piscataway facility. This facility is located in the New York metro area on 38 acres and consists of 360,000 gross square feet, including approximately 89,000 square feet of raised floor, and approximately 18 MW of critical power. The Piscataway facility supports future growth with space for an additional approximately 87,000 square feet of raised floor in the existing structure, as well as capacity for over 8 MW of additional critical power. This acquisition was funded with a draw on the unsecured revolving credit facility.

The Company accounted for this acquisition in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, as a business combination. The Company is generally valuing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using Level 3 inputs.

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In June 2017, the Company finalized the Piscataway purchase price allocation. The following table summarizes the Piscataway acquisition and the final allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands):

	Final Piscataway Allocation as of June 30, 2017			Original Allocation Reported as of June 30, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	7,466	$	7,440	$	26
Buildings and improvements		80,366		78,370		1,996
Construction in progress		13,900		13,900		—
Acquired intangibles		19,581		21,668		(2,087)
Deferred costs		4,390		4,084		306
Other assets		106		106		—
Total identifiable assets acquired		125,809		125,568		241
Acquired below market lease		809		568		241
Net working capital		2,019		2,019		—
Total liabilities assumed		2,828		2,587		241
Net identifiable assets acquired	$	122,981	$	122,981	$	—

Land Acquisitions

In August, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 24 acres of land in Ashburn, Virginia for approximately $17 million. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has commenced development of a mega data center facility on the acquired land parcel. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

In July, the Company also completed the acquisition of approximately 84 acres of land in Phoenix, Arizona for $25 million to be used for future development. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

The fair value of the land acquired in both the aforementioned Ashburn and Phoenix purchases, aggregating $42 million, is included within the “Construction in Progress” line item of the consolidated balance sheets.

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4. Acquired Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Summarized below are the carrying values for the major classes of intangible assets and liabilities (unaudited and in thousands):

		September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value
Customer Relationships	1 to 12 years	$	95,705	$	(18,524)	$	77,181	$	95,705	$	(12,358)	$	83,347
In-Place Leases	0.5 to 10 years		32,066		(11,679)		20,387		32,066		(7,197)		24,869
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Platform Intangible	3 years		9,600		(7,333)		2,267		9,600		(4,933)		4,667
Acquired Favorable Leases	0.5 to 8 years		4,649		(2,049)		2,600		4,652		(1,013)		3,639
Tradenames	3 years		3,100		(2,368)		732		3,100		(1,593)		1,507
Total Intangible Assets		$	158,867	$	(44,581)	$	114,286	$	158,870	$	(29,116)	$	129,754
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Acquired Unfavorable Leases
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor	3 to 4 years		809		(316)		493		809		(138)		671
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee	11 to 12 years		2,453		(496)		1,957		2,453		(334)		2,119
Total Intangible Liabilities (2)		$	17,009	$	(3,440)	$	13,569	$	17,009	$	(2,494)	$	14,515

(1) Amortization related to the Solar Power Agreement asset and liability is recorded at the same rate and therefore has no net impact on the statement of operations.

(2) Intangible liabilities are included within the “Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities” line item of the consolidated balance sheets.

Above or below market leases are amortized as a reduction to or increase in rental revenue as well as a reduction to rent expense in the case of the Company as lessee over the remaining lease terms. The net effect of amortization of acquired above‑market and below‑market leases resulted in a net decrease in rental revenue of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The net effect of amortization of acquired above‑market and below‑market leases resulted in a net decrease in rental revenue of $0.7 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

	Net Rental Revenue Decreases		Rental Expense Decreases
2017 (October - December)	$	220	$	54
2018		682		216
2019		479		216
2020		647		216
2021		46		216
Thereafter		33		1,039
Total	$	2,107	$	1,957

Net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities was $4.6 million and $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities was $13.8 million and $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The estimated net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	4,353
2018		14,574
2019		11,965
2020		11,379
2021		10,137
Thereafter		48,159
Total	$	100,567

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5. Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress

The following is a summary of properties owned or leased by the Company as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited):

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	20,416	$	450,128	$	24,269	$	494,813
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		253,346		61,257		316,783
Irving, Texas		8,606		259,999		68,478		337,083
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		169,625		2,876		176,022
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		80,737		125,350		215,487
Leased Facilities *		1,130		123,052		11,000		135,182
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,571		36,250		126,287
Santa Clara, California **		—		100,565		6,909		107,474
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,529		1,868		65,878
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,823		469		53,992
Fort Worth, Texas		9,079		17,587		32,611		59,277
Ashburn, Virginia		—		—		32,829		32,829
Phoenix, Arizona		—		—		25,091		25,091
Other ***		2,213		35,541		133		37,887
	$	86,192	$	1,668,503	$	429,390	$	2,184,085

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS and Overland Park, KS facilities. During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, fixed assets and the associated accumulated depreciation related to the Duluth, GA facility (comprised of $1.9 million of land, $8.7 million of buildings, improvements, and equipment, and $0.1 million of construction in progress) were moved from Real Estate Assets, net to Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the facility was transitioned to corporate office space.

As of December 31, 2016:

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	15,397	$	434,965	$	32,422	$	482,784
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		237,347		70,580		310,107
Irving, Texas		8,606		204,713		69,653		282,972
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		171,376		2,013		176,910
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		45,848		100,623		155,871
Leased Facilities *		1,130		116,290		10,003		127,423
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,210		17,261		106,937
Santa Clara, California **		—		98,708		7,078		105,786
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,102		390		63,973
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,788		538		54,026
Fort Worth, Texas		136		610		49,116		49,862
Other ***		4,113		37,810		6,283		48,206
	$	74,130	$	1,524,767	$	365,960	$	1,964,857

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item, therefore has conformed December 31, 2016 information to comparable categories. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Duluth, GA facilities.

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6.  Debt

Below is a listing of the Company’s outstanding debt, including capital leases and lease financing obligations, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

	Weighted Average
	Coupon Interest Rate at		September 30,		December 31,
	September 30, 2017	Maturities	2017		2016
	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Unsecured Credit Facility
Revolving Credit Facility	2.78%	December 17, 2020	$	279,000	$	139,000
Term Loan I	2.74%	December 17, 2021		300,000		300,000
Term Loan II	2.74%	April 27, 2022		200,000		200,000
Senior Notes	5.88%	August 1, 2022		300,000		300,000
Lenexa Mortgage	4.10%	May 1, 2022		1,882		—
Capital Lease and Lease Financing Obligations	3.87%	2017 - 2025		28,843		38,708
	3.63%			1,109,725		977,708
Less discount and net debt issuance costs				(10,410)		(11,882)
Total outstanding debt, net			$	1,099,315	$	965,826

Credit Facility, Senior Notes and Mortgage Notes Payable

(a) Unsecured Credit Facility – In December 2016, the Company amended and restated its unsecured credit facility, increasing the total capacity to $1.2 billion and extending the term. The unsecured credit facility includes a $300 million term loan which matures on December 17, 2021, a $200 million term loan which matures on April 27, 2022, and a $700 million revolving credit facility which matures on December 17, 2020, with a one year extension option. Amounts outstanding under the amended unsecured credit facility bear interest at a variable rate equal to, at the Company’s election, LIBOR or a base rate, plus a spread that will vary depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio. For revolving credit loans, the spread ranges from 1.55% to 2.15% for LIBOR loans and 0.55% to 1.15% for base rate loans. For term loans, the spread ranges from 1.50% to 2.10% for LIBOR loans and 0.50% to 1.10% for base rate loans. The unsecured credit facility also includes a $300 million accordion feature.

Under the unsecured credit facility, the capacity may be increased from the current capacity of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion subject to certain conditions set forth in the credit agreement, including the consent of the administrative agent and obtaining necessary commitments. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders assessed on the unused portion of the unsecured revolving credit facility. At the Company’s election, it can prepay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium.

The unsecured credit facility requires monthly interest payments and requires the Company to comply with various customary affirmative and negative covenants and quarterly financial covenant requirements relating to the debt service coverage ratio, fixed charge ratio, leverage ratio and tangible net worth and various other operational requirements.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had outstanding $779 million of indebtedness under the unsecured credit facility, consisting of $279 million of outstanding borrowings under the unsecured revolving credit facility and $500 million outstanding under the term loans, exclusive of net debt issuance costs of $3.6 million. In connection with the unsecured credit facility, as of September 30, 2017, the Company had additional letters of credit outstanding aggregating to $2.1 million. As of September 30, 2017, the weighted average interest rate for amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility was 2.75%.

On April 5, 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan). The weighted average effective fixed interest rate on the $400 million notional

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amount of term loan financing, following the execution of these swap agreements, will approximate 3.5%, commencing on January 2, 2018, assuming the current LIBOR spread of 1.5%.

(b) Senior Notes – On July 23, 2014, the Operating Partnership and QTS Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the offering of the notes described below (collectively, the “Issuers”), issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes have an interest rate of 5.875% per annum, were issued at a price equal to 99.211% of their face value and mature on August 1, 2022. The proceeds from the offering were used to repay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, including $75 million outstanding under the term loan. As of September 30, 2017, the discount recorded on the Senior Notes was $1.6 million and the outstanding net debt issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes were $5.3 million.

The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries, receivables entities, 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, which is a Delaware limited liability company formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations and seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations) and future subsidiaries that guarantee any indebtedness of QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the Issuers or any other subsidiary guarantor. QTS Realty Trust, Inc. does not guarantee the Senior Notes and will not be required to guarantee the Senior Notes except under certain circumstances. The offering was conducted pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and on April 23, 2015, all of the outstanding originally issued Senior Notes were tendered in an exchange offer for 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Exchange Notes”). The Exchange Notes did not provide the Company with any additional proceeds and satisfied its obligations under a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes. As described in the Note 14 - Subsequent Events, the Company expects to redeem the Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds from the pending issuance of $400 million of 4.75% senior notes due in 2025 that is expected to close on November 8, 2017.

(c) Lenexa Mortgage – On March 8, 2017, the Company entered into a $1.9 million mortgage loan secured by its Lenexa facility. This mortgage has a fixed rate of 4.1%, with periodic principal payments due monthly and a balloon payment of $1.6 million in May 2022. As of September 30, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Lenexa mortgage was $1.9 million.

The annual remaining principal payment requirements as of September 30, 2017 per the contractual maturities and excluding extension options, capital leases and lease financing obligations, are as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	11
2018		65
2019		68
2020		279,071
2021		300,074
Thereafter		501,593
Total	$	1,080,882

As of September 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.

Capital Leases

The Company has historically entered into capital leases for certain equipment.  In addition, through its acquisition of Carpathia on June 16, 2015, the Company acquired capital leases of both equipment and certain properties. Total outstanding liabilities for capital leases were $10.0 million as of September 30, 2017, of which $7.1 million were assumed through the Carpathia acquisition, all of which was related to the lease of real property.  Carpathia had entered into capital lease arrangements for datacenter space under two lease agreements expiring in 2018 and 2019 at its Harrisonburg, Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia locations. Total recurring monthly payments range from approximately

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$0.2 million to $0.5 million during the terms of the leases, in addition to payments made for utilities. Depreciation related to the associated assets for the capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

Lease Financing Obligations

Through the acquisition of Carpathia, the Company assumed lease financing obligations totaling $18.8 million at September 30, 2017, of which $17.8 million related to a sale-leaseback transaction where Carpathia has continuing involvement. On December 23, 2011, Carpathia sold the shell of a building and the associated land to an unrelated third party. Carpathia leases the property back and is a party to an agreement with the same third party that constructed a new building on the adjoining property for use as a data center. Carpathia is primarily responsible for financing the improvements and outfitting the building with the necessary equipment. The third party leases back the new building in stages to Carpathia as the various stages are completed. In accordance with ASC 840-40, Leases, Carpathia has continuing involvement with the related leased assets; therefore, the Company will continue to account for the existing building shell and the associated land as fixed assets and will capitalize the construction costs of the new building. The financing obligation related to the building and equipment was $16.4 million at September 30, 2017. In addition, due to Carpathia’s continuing involvement, it was required to defer a gain on the sale of the assets. The deferred gain was $1.4 million at September 30, 2017, and is also included in lease financing obligations. The Company purchased the asset related to this financing obligation in October 2017 as described in Note 14 - Subsequent Events.

The financing obligation is reduced as rental payments are made on the existing building, which include amounts attributable to both principal and interest. Depreciation expense on the related asset is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

The Company, through its acquisition of Carpathia, also has a lease financing agreement in connection with a $4.8 million tenant improvement allowance on one of its data center lease agreements. The financing requires monthly payments of principal and interest of less than $0.1 million through February 2019. The outstanding balance on the financing agreement was $1.0 million as of September 30, 2017. Depreciation expense on the related leasehold improvements is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

The following table summarizes the Company’s combined future payment obligations, excluding interest, as of September 30, 2017, on the capital leases and lease financing obligations above (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	3,078
2018		9,370
2019		2,844
2020		2,190
2021		2,388
Thereafter		8,973
Total	$	28,843

7. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various routine legal proceedings and other matters in the ordinary course of business. One of the Company’s subsidiaries, Carpathia Hosting, LLC (“Carpathia”), was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in state court in New York. Carpathia’s customer, Portal Healthcare Solutions (“Portal Ascend”) allegedly had a security breach between November 2012 and March 2013. Portal Ascend has agreed to indemnify Carpathia in this litigation and has provided legal counsel to defend Carpathia. The court denied plaintiffs motion to certify the case as a class action.

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8. Partners’ Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans

QualityTech, LP

QTS has the full power and authority to do all the things necessary to conduct the business of the Operating Partnership.

As of September 30, 2017, the Operating Partnership had two classes of limited partnership units outstanding: Class A units of limited partnership interest (“Class A units”) and Class O LTIP units of limited partnership units (“Class O units”). The Class A units are now redeemable at any time for cash or shares of Class A common stock of QTS. The Company may in its sole discretion elect to assume and satisfy the redemption amount with cash or its shares. Class O units were issued upon grants made under the QualityTech, LP 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Equity Incentive Plan”). Class O units are pari passu with Class A units. Each Class O unit is convertible into Class A units by the Operating Partnership at any time or by the holder at any time following full vesting (if such unit is subject to vesting) based on formulas contained in the partnership agreement.

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

In connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), QTS issued Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Class B common stock entitles the holder to 50 votes per share and was issued to enable the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to exchange 2% of his Operating Partnership units so he may have a vote proportionate to his economic interest in the Company. Also in connection with its IPO, QTS adopted the QTS Realty Trust, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive plan (the “2013 Equity Incentive Plan”), which authorized 1,750,000 shares of Class A common stock to be issued under the plan, including options to purchase Class A common stock, restricted Class A common stock, Class O units, and Class RS LTIP units of limited partnership interest. In May 2015, the total number of shares available for issuance under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan was increased to 4,750,000.

The following is a summary of award activity under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited):  

	2010 Equity Incentive Plan					2013 Equity Incentive Plan
	Number of Class O units	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Options	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Restricted Stock		Weighted average grant date value
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	1,134,811	$	24.06	$	3.62	1,058,297	$	31.72	$	6.51	414,691		$	40.67
Granted	—		—		—	468,875		50.66		10.32	228,576			50.25
Exercised/Vested (1)	(552,146)		24.66		2.14	(154,965)		31.93		6.61	(130,368)			41.22
Cancelled/Expired	—		—		—	(2,000)		37.69		8.77	(69,903)	(2)		40.49
Outstanding at September 30, 2017	582,665	$	23.49	$	5.03	1,370,207	$	38.17	$	7.80	442,996		$	45.48

(1) This represents Class O units which were converted to Class A units and options to purchase Class A common stock which were exercised for their respective columns. This also represents the Class A common stock that has been released from restriction and which was not surrendered by the holder to satisfy the holder’s federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

(2) Includes restricted Class A common stock surrendered by certain employees to satisfy their federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

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The assumptions and fair values for restricted stock and options to purchase shares of Class A common stock granted for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 are included in the following table on a per unit basis (unaudited). Options to purchase shares of Class A common stock were valued using the Black-Scholes model.

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Fair value of restricted stock granted	$48.63 - $51.88
Fair value of options granted	$10.11 - $10.36
Expected term (years)	5.5 - 5.9
Expected volatility	28%
Expected dividend yield	3.08%
Expected risk-free interest rates	2.12% - 2.18%

The following table summarizes information about awards outstanding as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited).

	Operating Partnership Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Class O Units	$	20.00 - 25.00	582,665	—
Total Operating Partnership awards outstanding			582,665

	QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Restricted stock	$	—	442,996	1.8
Options to purchase Class A common stock	$	21.00 - 50.66	1,370,207	0.9
Total QTS Realty Trust, Inc. awards outstanding			1,813,203

As of September 30, 2017, there were no Class RS units outstanding. Any remaining nonvested awards are valued as of the grant date and generally vest ratably over a defined service period. As of September 30, 2017 there were approximately 0.4 million and 0.6 million nonvested restricted Class A common stock and options to purchase Class A common stock outstanding, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 the Company had $21.7 million of unrecognized equity-based compensation expense which will be recognized over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of 1.1 years. The total intrinsic value of the awards outstanding at September 30, 2017 was $59.6 million.

Dividends and Distributions

The following tables present quarterly cash dividends and distributions paid to QTS’ common stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s unit holders for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited):

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Record Date	PaymentDate	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 16, 2017	July 6, 2017	$	0.39	$	21.6
March 16, 2017	April 5, 2017	$	0.39		21.4
December 16, 2016	January 5, 2017	$	0.36		19.7
				$	62.7

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Record Date	Payment Date	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 17, 2016	July 6, 2016	$	0.36	$	19.7
March 18, 2016	April 5, 2016	$	0.36		17.4
December 17, 2015	January 6, 2016	$	0.32		15.4
				$	52.5

Additionally, on October 5, 2017, the Company paid its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per common share and per unit in the Operating Partnership to stockholders and unit holders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2017.

Equity Issuances

In March 2017, the Company established an “at-the-market” equity offering program (the “ATM Program”) pursuant to which the Company may issue, from time to time, up to $300 million of its Class A common stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,015,332 shares of QTS’ Class A common stock under the ATM Program at a weighted average price of $53.65 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $54 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,761,681 shares of QTS’ Class A common stock under the ATM Program at a weighted average price of $53.63 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $93 million.

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In June 2015, the Company established the QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2015 Plan”) to give eligible employees the opportunity to purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in the open market by an independent broker with the Company paying the brokerage commissions and fees associated with such share purchases. The 2015 Plan became effective July 1, 2015. The Company reserved 250,000 shares of its Class A common stock for purchase under the 2015 Plan, which were registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 filed on June 17, 2015.

On May 4, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The 2017 Plan became effective July 1, 2017 and is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors (or by a committee of one or more persons appointed by it or the board of directors). The 2017 Plan permits participants to purchase the Company’s Class A common stock at a discount of up to 10% (as determined by the Compensation Committee). Employees of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries who have been employed for at least thirty days and who perform at least thirty hours of service per week for the Company are eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan, excluding any employee who, after exercising his or her rights to purchase shares under the 2017 Plan, would own shares representing five percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company, or who is a Section 16 officer. Under the 2017 Plan, there are four purchase periods per year, and participants may deduct a minimum of $20 per paycheck and a maximum of $1,000 per paycheck towards the purchase of shares. Shares purchased under the 2017 Plan are subject to a one-year holding period following the purchase date, during which they may not be sold or transferred.

9. Related Party Transactions

The Company periodically executes transactions with entities affiliated with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Such transactions include automobile, furniture and equipment purchases as well as building operating lease payments and receipts, and reimbursement for the use of a private aircraft service by the Company’s officers and directors.

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The transactions which occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are outlined below (unaudited and in thousands): 

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Tax, utility, insurance and other reimbursement	$	118	$	155	$	467	$	527
Rent expense		254		254		762		761
Capital assets acquired		32		24		384		191
Total	$	404	$	433	$	1,613	$	1,479

10. Noncontrolling Interest

Concurrently with the completion of the IPO, QTS consummated a series of transactions pursuant to which QTS became the sole general partner and majority owner of QualityTech, LP, which then became its operating partnership. The previous owners of QualityTech, LP retained 21.2% ownership of the Operating Partnership as of the date of the IPO.

Commencing at any time beginning November 1, 2014, at the election of the holders of the noncontrolling interest, the Class A units of the Operating Partnership are redeemable for cash or, at the election of the Company, Class A common stock of the Company on a one-for-one basis. As a result of approximately 0.5 million redemptions of Class A units into Class A common stock and the issuance of additional common stock, the noncontrolling ownership interest of QualityTech, LP, was 11.5% at September 30, 2017.

11. Earnings per share of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

Basic income per share is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share adjusts basic income per share for the effects of potentially dilutive common shares.

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The computation of basic and diluted net income per share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data, and unaudited):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders - basic	$	6,507	$	5,730	$	15,424	$	16,719
Effect of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and income allocated to participating securities		684		808		1,496		2,485
Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,191	$	6,538	$	16,920	$	19,204
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		48,714		47,855		47,862		45,651
Effect of Class A and Class RS partnership units		6,669		6,767		6,744		6,787
Effect of Class O units and options to purchase Class A common stock and restricted Class A common stock on an "as if" converted basis *		788		1,066		799		982
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		56,171		55,688		55,405		53,420
Basic net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.37
Diluted net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.36

* The Class A units and Class O units represent limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, and are described in more detail in Note 8.

No securities were antidilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and as such, no securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for those periods.

12. Customer Leases, as Lessor

Future minimum lease payments to be received under non-cancelable operating customer leases (inclusive of payments for contracts which have not yet commenced, and exclusive of recoveries of operating costs from customers) are as follows for the years ending December 31 (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	91,771
2018		310,606
2019		222,798
2020		164,134
2021		131,335
Thereafter		168,089
Total	$	1,088,733

13. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC Topic 825 requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon the application of discount rates to estimated future cash flows based upon market yields or by using other valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. Accordingly, fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize on disposition of the financial instruments. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair value amounts.

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Short-term instruments: The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Interest rate swaps: The effective portion of changes in the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps, which are derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statement of comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. There was no ineffectiveness recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, therefore the entire $1.8 million unrealized loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to the interest rate swaps was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. No amounts were recorded in other comprehensive income or loss on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $1.8 million interest rate swap liability as of September 30, 2017 is recorded within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities.

The Company valued its interest rate swaps utilizing Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The majority of the inputs used to determine the fair value of the interest rate swaps fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy while certain credit valuation adjustments to the fair value utilize Level 3 inputs such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties. However, as of September 30, 2017, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any fair value measurements on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

Credit facility and Senior Notes: The Company’s unsecured credit facility did not have interest rates which were materially different than current market conditions and therefore, the fair value approximated the carrying value.  The fair value of the Company’s Senior Notes was estimated using Level 2 “significant other observable inputs,” primarily based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issuances. At September 30, 2017, the fair value of the Senior Notes was approximately $311.1 million.

Other debt instruments: The fair value of the Company’s other debt instruments (including capital leases, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable) were estimated in the same manner as the unsecured credit facility above. Similarly, each of these instruments did not have interest rates which were materially different than current market conditions and therefore, the fair value of each instrument approximated the respective carrying values.

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14. Subsequent Events

On October 5, 2017, the Company paid its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per common share and per unit in the Operating Partnership to stockholders and unit holders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2017.

Additionally, in October 2017, the Company completed the following transactions:

· The Company completed the acquisition of approximately 92 acres of land in Hillsboro, Oregon at a purchase price of approximately $26 million.

· The Company completed the acquisition of approximately 28 acres of land in Ashburn, Virginia for approximately $36 million.

· The Company completed the buyout of its Vault Campus in Dulles, Virginia. The Company previously leased the property under a capital lease agreement of approximately $17.8 million and purchased it for approximately $34.1 million cash, for a net purchase price of $16.3 million.

· The Operating Partnership, Quality Tech, LP, and QTS Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Issuers”), the Company and certain of its other subsidiaries entered into a purchase agreement pursuant to which the Issuers expect to issue $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% senior notes due November 15, 2025 (the “Notes”) in a private offering. The Notes will have an interest rate of 4.750% per annum and will be issued at a price equal to 100% of their face value. The net proceeds from the offering are expected to be used to fund the redemption of, and satisfy and discharge the indenture pursuant to which the Issuers issued, all of their outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and to repay a portion of the amount outstanding under the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.The Notes will be offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in the U.S. pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Company will pay one-time fees in the fourth quarter of 2017 associated with issuance of the Notes, including a call premium to redeem the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. 

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

The following discussion and analysis presents the financial condition and results of operations of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (“QTS”), which includes the operations of QualityTech, LP (the “Operating Partnership”), for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with QTS’ and the Operating Partnership’s accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. We believe it is important for investors to understand the few differences between the financial statements of QTS and the Operating Partnership. See “Explanatory Note” for an explanation of these few differences. Since the financial data presented in this Item 2 does not contain any differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership, all periods presented reflect the operating results of both QTS and the Operating Partnership.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements pertaining to our capital resources, portfolio performance and results of operations contain forward-looking statements. Likewise, all of our statements regarding anticipated growth in our funds from operations and anticipated market conditions are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You also can identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause our actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:

· adverse economic or real estate developments in our markets or the technology industry;

· global, national and local economic conditions;

· risks related to our international operations;

· difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions;

· our failure to successfully develop, redevelop and operate acquired properties or lines of business;

· significant increases in construction and development costs;

· the increasingly competitive environment in which we operate;

· defaults on, or termination or non-renewal of, leases by customers;

· increased interest rates and operating costs, including increased energy costs;

· financing risks, including our failure to obtain necessary outside financing;

· decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates;

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· dependence on third parties to provide Internet, telecommunications and network connectivity to our data centers;

· our failure to qualify and maintain QTS’ qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”);

· environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters;

· financial market fluctuations; and

· changes in real estate and zoning laws, revaluations for tax purposes and increases in real property tax rates.

While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Form 10-Q.

Overview

We are a leading provider of secure, compliant data center solutions, hybrid cloud and fully managed services. We refer to our spectrum of core data center products as our “3Cs,” which consist of Custom Data Center (“C1”), Colocation (“C2”) and Cloud and Managed Services (“C3”).  Our 3C integrated technology platform provides flexible, scalable, secure IT solutions for web and IT applications.

We operate a portfolio of 25 data centers located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Within the United States, we are located in some of the top U.S. data center markets plus other high-growth markets. Our data centers are highly specialized, full-service, mission-critical facilities used by our customers to house, power and cool the networking equipment and computer systems that support their most critical business processes. We believe that our data centers are best-in-class and engineered to adhere to the highest specifications commercially available to customers, providing fully redundant, high-density power and cooling sufficient to meet the needs of major national and international companies and organizations. This is in part reflected by our operating track record of “five-nines” (99.999%) reliability and by our diverse customer base of more than 1,100 customers, including financial institutions, healthcare companies, government agencies, communications service providers, software companies and global Internet companies.

We account for the operations of all of our properties in one reporting segment.

As of September 30, 2017, QTS owned an approximate 88.5% ownership interest in the Operating Partnership. Substantially all of our assets are held by, and our operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership.

The Operating Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership formed on August 5, 2009 and was QTS’ historical predecessor prior to the initial public offering (“IPO”), having operated the Company’s business until the IPO.

We believe that QTS has operated and has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2013. Our qualification as a REIT, and maintenance of such qualification, depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) relating to, among other things, the sources of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distributions to our stockholders and the concentration of ownership of our equity shares.

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Our Customer Base

We provide data center solutions to a diverse set of customers. Our customer base is comprised of companies of all sizes representing an array of industries, each with unique and varied business models and needs. We serve Fortune 1000 companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses, or SMBs, including financial institutions, healthcare companies, government agencies, communications service providers, software companies and global Internet companies.

Our Custom Data Center, or C1, customers typically are large enterprises with significant IT expertise and specific IT requirements, including financial institutions, “Big Four” accounting firms and the world’s largest global Internet companies. Our Colocation, or C2, customers consist of a wide range of organizations, including major healthcare, telecommunications and software and web-based companies. Our C3 Cloud customers include both large organizations and SMBs seeking to reduce their capital expenditures and outsource their IT infrastructure on a flexible basis. Examples of current C3 Cloud customers include a global financial processing company and various U.S. government agencies.

As a result of our diverse customer base, customer concentration in our portfolio is limited. As of September 30, 2017, only five of our more than 1,100 customers individually accounted for more than 3% of our monthly recurring revenue (“MRR”) (as defined below), with the largest customer accounting for approximately 12.5% of our MRR and the next largest customer accounting for only 4.1% of our MRR. In addition, approximately 60% of our MRR was attributable to customers who use more than one of our 3C products.

Our Portfolio

We develop and operate 25 data centers located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia, containing an aggregate of approximately 6.1 million gross square feet of space (approximately 93% of which is wholly owned by us), including approximately 2.7 million “basis-of-design” raised floor square feet, which represents the total data center raised floor potential of our existing data center facilities. This represents the maximum amount of space in our existing buildings that could be leased following full build-out, depending on the configuration that we deploy. We build out our data center facilities for both general use (colocation) and for executed leases that require significant amounts of space and power, depending on the needs of each facility at that time. As of September 30, 2017, this space included approximately 1,403,000 raised floor operating net rentable square feet, or NRSF, plus approximately 1.3 million square feet of additional raised floor in our development pipeline, of which approximately 44,000 NRSF is expected to become operational by December 31, 2017. Of the total 1.3 million NRSF in our development pipeline, approximately 30,000 square feet was related to customer leases which had been executed but not yet commenced. Our facilities collectively have access to over 650 megawatts (“MW”) of gross utility power with 600 MW of available utility power. We believe such access to power gives us a competitive advantage in redeveloping data center space, since access to power is usually the most limiting and expensive component in data center redevelopment.

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The following table presents an overview of the portfolio of operating properties that we own or lease, based on information as of September 30, 2017:

			Operating Net Rentable Square Feet (Operating NRSF) (3)
Property	Year Acquired (1)	Gross Square Feet (2)	Raised Floor (4)	Office & Other (5)	Supporting Infrastructure (6)	Total	% Occupied (7)		Annualized Rent (8)		Available Utility Power (MW) (9)	Basis of Design ("BOD") NRSF	Current Raised Floor as a % of BOD
Richmond, VA	2010	1,318,353	167,309	51,093	178,854	397,256	86.5	%	$	44,431,764	110	557,309	30.0	%
Atlanta, GA (Metro)	2006	968,695	456,986	36,953	333,186	827,125	96.3	%	$	95,817,300	72	527,186	86.7	%
Irving, TX	2013	698,000	148,160	6,981	141,123	296,264	98.5	%	$	38,971,116	140	275,701	53.7	%
Princeton, NJ	2014	553,930	58,157	2,229	111,405	171,791	100.0	%	$	9,995,820	22	158,157	36.8	%
Chicago, IL	2014	474,979	28,000	-	30,452	58,452	64.9	%	$	6,955,260	8	215,855	13.0	%
Ashburn, VA (10)	2017	445,000	-	-	-	-	-	%	$	-	-	178,000	-	%
Suwanee, GA	2005	369,822	205,608	8,697	107,128	321,433	86.1	%	$	58,595,749	36	205,608	100.0	%
Piscataway, NJ	2016	360,000	88,820	14,311	91,851	194,982	83.3	%	$	13,210,068	111	176,000	50.5	%
Fort Worth, TX	2016	261,836	10,600	-	19,438	30,038	100.0	%	$	1,777,200	50	80,000	13.3	%
Santa Clara, CA*	2007	135,322	55,905	944	45,094	101,943	67.5	%	$	20,600,285	11	80,940	69.1	%
Sacramento, CA	2012	92,644	54,595	2,794	23,916	81,305	46.3	%	$	11,469,456	8	54,595	100.0	%
Leased facilities **	2006 & 2015	287,546	106,692	19,626	74,893	201,211	45.0	%	$	71,778,588	27	145,539	73.3	%
Other ***	Misc.	147,435	22,380	49,337	30,074	101,791	65.5	%	$	5,925,600	5	22,380	100.0	%
Total		6,113,562	1,403,212	192,965	1,187,414	2,783,591	87.4	%	$	379,528,206	600	2,677,270	52.4	%

(1) Represents the year a property was acquired or, in the case of a property under lease, the year our initial lease commenced for the property.

(2) With respect to our owned properties, gross square feet represents the entire building area. With respect to leased properties, gross square feet represents that portion of the gross square feet subject to our lease. Gross square feet includes 347,261 square feet of our office and support space, which is not included in operating NRSF.

(3) Represents the total square feet of a building that is currently leased or available for lease plus developed supporting infrastructure, based on engineering drawings and estimates, but does not include space held for redevelopment or space used for our own office space.

(4) Represents management’s estimate of the portion of NRSF of the facility with available power and cooling capacity that is currently leased or readily available to be leased to customers as data center space based on engineering drawings.

(5) Represents the operating NRSF of the facility other than data center space (typically office and storage space) that is currently leased or available to be leased.

(6) Represents required data center support space, including mechanical, telecommunications and utility rooms, as well as building common areas.

(7) Calculated as data center raised floor that is subject to a signed lease for which space is occupied (971,124 square feet as of September 30, 2017) divided by leasable raised floor based on the current configuration of the properties (1,111,462 square feet as of September 30, 2017), expressed as a percentage. 

(8) We define annualized rent as MRR multiplied by 12. We calculate MRR as monthly contractual revenue under executed contracts as of a particular date, which includes revenue from our C1, C2 and C3 rental and cloud and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues. MRR does not include the impact from booked-not-billed contracts as of a particular date, unless otherwise specifically noted. This amount reflects the annualized cash rental payments. It does not reflect the accounting associated with any free rent, rent abatements or future scheduled rent increases and also excludes operating expense and power reimbursements.

(9) Represents installed utility power and transformation capacity that is available for use by the facility as of September 30, 2017.

(10) Represents expected Basis of Design (“BOD”) NRSF for the initial 24 acre parcel of land purchased in the 3rd Quarter of 2017.

*Subject to long term ground lease.

**Includes 13 facilities.  All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Duluth, GA facilities. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Miami, FL facility to the “Other” line item.

Key Operating Metrics

The following sets forth definitions for our key operating metrics. These metrics may differ from similar definitions used by other companies.

Monthly Recurring Revenue (“MRR”). We calculate MRR as monthly contractual revenue under signed leases as of a particular date, which includes revenue from our C1, C2 and C3 rental and cloud and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time

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revenues. MRR does not include the impact from booked-not-billed leases as of a particular date, unless otherwise specifically noted.

Annualized Rent. We define annualized rent as MRR multiplied by 12.

Rental Churn. We define rental churn as the MRR lost in the period due to a customer intending to fully exit the QTS platform in the near term compared to total MRR at the beginning of the period.

Leasable Raised Floor. We define leasable raised floor as the amount of raised floor square footage that we have leased plus the available capacity of raised floor square footage that is in a leasable format as of a particular date and according to a particular product configuration. The amount of our leasable raised floor may change even without completion of new redevelopment projects due to changes in our configuration of C1, C2 and C3 product space.

Percentage (%) Occupied. We define percentage occupied as the raised floor square footage that is subject to a signed lease for which space is occupied as of a particular date divided by leasable raised floor based on the current configuration of the properties as of that date, expressed as a percentage.

Booked-not-Billed.We define booked-not-billed as our customer leases that have been signed, but for which lease payments have not yet commenced.

Factors That May Influence Future Results of Operations and Cash Flows

Revenue.Our revenue growth will depend on our ability to maintain the historical occupancy rates of leasable raised floor, lease currently available space, lease new capacity that becomes available as a result of our development and redevelopment activities, attract new customers and continue to meet the ongoing technological requirements of our customers. As of September 30, 2017, we had in place customer leases generating revenue for approximately 87% of our leasable raised floor. Our ability to grow revenue also will be affected by our ability to maintain or increase rental, cloud and managed services rates at our properties. Future economic downturns, regional downturns or downturns in the technology industry could impair our ability to attract new customers or renew existing customers’ leases on favorable terms, or at all, and could adversely affect our customers’ ability to meet their obligations to us. Negative trends in one or more of these factors could adversely affect our revenue in future periods, which would impact our results of operations and cash flows. We also at times may elect to reclaim space from customers in a negotiated transaction where we believe that we can redevelop and/or re-lease that space at higher rates, which may cause a decrease in revenue until the space is re-leased.

Leasing Arrangements.As of September 30, 2017, 36% of our MRR came from customers which individually occupied greater than or equal to 6,600 square feet of space (or approximately 1 MW of power), with the remaining 64% attributable to customers utilizing less than 6,600 square feet of space. As of September 30, 2017, approximately 44% of our MRR was attributable to the metered power model, the majority of which is comprised of customers that individually occupy greater than 6,600 square feet of space. Under the metered power model, the customer pays us a fixed monthly rent amount, plus reimbursement of certain other operating costs, including actual costs of sub-metered electricity used to power its data center equipment and an estimate of costs for electricity used to power supporting infrastructure for the data center, expressed as a factor of the customer’s actual electricity usage. Fluctuations in our customers’ utilization of power and the supplier pricing of power do not significantly impact our results of operations or cash flows under the metered power model. These leases generally have a minimum term of five years. As of September 30, 2017, the remaining approximately 56% of our MRR was attributable to the gross lease or managed service model. Under this model, the customer pays us a fixed amount on a monthly basis, and does not separately reimburse us for operating costs, including utilities, maintenance, repair, property taxes and insurance, as reimbursement for these costs is factored into MRR. However, if customers access more utility costs than their leases permit, we are able to charge these customers for overages. For leases under the gross lease or managed service model, fluctuations in our customers’ utilization of power and the prices our utility providers charge us will impact our results of operations and cash flows. These leases generally have a term of three years or less.

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Scheduled Lease Expirations.Our ability to minimize rental churn and customer downgrades at renewal and renew, lease and re-lease expiring space will impact our results of operations and cash flows. Leases which have commenced billing representing approximately 5% and 31% of our total leased raised floor are scheduled to expire during the years ending December 31, 2017 (including all month-to-month leases) and 2018, respectively. These leases also represented approximately 15% and 31%, respectively, of our annualized rent as of September 30, 2017. Given that our average rent for larger contracts tend to be at or below market rent at expiration, as a general matter, based on current market conditions, we expect that expiring rents will be at or below the then-current market rents.

Acquisitions, Redevelopment and Financing.Our revenue growth also will depend on our ability to acquire and redevelop and subsequently lease data center space at favorable rates. We generally fund the cost of data center acquisition and redevelopment from our net cash provided by operations, revolving credit facility, other unsecured and secured borrowings or the issuance of additional equity. We believe that we have sufficient access to capital from our current cash and cash equivalents, and borrowings under our credit facility to fund our redevelopment projects.

Operating Expenses.Our operating expenses generally consist of direct personnel costs, utilities, property and ad valorem taxes, insurance and site maintenance costs and rental expenses on our ground and building leases. In particular, our buildings require significant power to support the data center operations conducted in them. Although substantially all of our long-term leases - leases with a term greater than three years - contain reimbursements for certain operating expenses, we will not in all instances be reimbursed for all of the property operating expenses we incur. We also incur general and administrative expenses, including expenses relating to senior management, our in-house sales and marketing organization, cloud and managed services support personnel and legal, human resources, accounting and other expenses related to professional services. We also incur additional expenses arising from being a publicly traded company, including employee equity-based compensation. Increases or decreases in our operating expenses will impact our results of operations and cash flows. We expect to incur additional operating expenses as we continue to expand.

General Leasing Activity

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we entered into customer leases representing approximately $1.3 million and $2.7 million of incremental MRR, net of downgrades (and representing approximately $15.3 million and $33.0 million of incremental annualized rent, net of downgrades) at $485 and $633 per square foot, respectively. In addition, $6.7 million and $16.3 million of leasing commissions was associated with new and renewal leasing activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we renewed leases with a total annualized rent of $11.4 million and $38.0 million at an average rent per square foot of $660 and $817, respectively, which was 2.1% and 1.7% higher than the annualized rent prior to their respective renewals. Customers that renew with adjustments to square feet are reflected in the net leasing activity discussed above. The rental churn rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 1.3% and 5.6%, respectively, the majority of which was the result of a single customer termination in the first quarter of 2017 in one of our leased facilities in Northern Virginia. Excluding this customer termination, rental churn for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 would be 1.3% and 3.1%, respectively.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we commenced customer leases representing approximately $2.7 million and $7.7 million of MRR (and representing approximately $32.6 million and $92.1 million of annualized rent) at $617 and $587 per square foot, respectively.

As of September 30, 2017, our booked-not-billed MRR balance (which represents customer leases that have been executed, but for which lease payments have not commenced as of September 30, 2017) was approximately $4.7 million, or $56.6 million of annualized rent. The booked-not-billed balance is expected to contribute an incremental $2.7 million to revenue in 2017 (representing $15.5 million in annualized revenues), an incremental $13.1 million in 2018 (representing $19.9 million in annualized revenues) and an incremental $21.1 million in annualized revenues thereafter. 

We estimate the remaining capital cost to provide the space, power, connectivity and other services to the customer contracts which had been booked but not billed as of September 30, 2017 to be approximately $28 million. This estimate

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generally includes C1 customers with newly contracted space of more than 3,300 square feet. The space, power, connectivity and other services provided to customers that contract for smaller amounts of space is generally provided by existing space which was previously developed.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

Changes in revenues and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016 are summarized below (unaudited and in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change
Revenues:
Rental	$	85,831	$	77,005	$	8,826		11%
Recoveries from customers		9,698		8,703		995		11%
Cloud and managed services		16,224		16,243		(19)		0%
Other		2,014		1,514		500		33%
Total revenues		113,767		103,465		10,302		10%
Operating expenses:
Property operating costs		39,743		36,288		3,455		10%
Real estate taxes and insurance		3,116		2,566		550		21%
Depreciation and amortization		35,309		32,699		2,610		8%
General and administrative		21,652		19,942		1,710		9%
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465		(2,351)		-68%
Total operating expenses		100,934		94,960		5,974		6%
Operating income		12,833		8,505		4,328		51%
Other income and expense:
Interest income		65		1		64		6400%
Interest expense		(7,958)		(6,179)		1,779		29%
Other income/(expense), net		—		1		(1)		*
Income before taxes		4,940		2,328		2,612		112%
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		2,454		4,210		(1,756)		-42%
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	856		13%

Revenues.Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $113.8 million compared to $103.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $10.3 million, or 10%, was largely attributable to organic growth in our customer base and placing additional square footage into service in conjunction with the development and expansion of our Irving, Chicago, Atlanta-Suwanee and Atlanta-Metro data centers.

The increase of $8.8 million, or 9%, in combined rental and cloud and managed services revenue was primarily attributable to rents from newly leased space from ongoing expansions in our Irving, Chicago, Atlanta-Suwanee and Atlanta-Metro data centers as well as increases in revenue from previously leased space or service contracts, net of downgrades at renewal and rental churn.

As of September 30, 2017, our data centers were approximately 87% occupied based on leasable raised floor of approximately 1,111,000 square feet, with approximately 971,000 square feet occupied, with an average annualized rent of $391 per leased raised floor square foot including cloud and managed services revenue, or $330 per leased raised floor square foot excluding cloud and managed services revenue. As of September 30, 2017, the average annualized rent for

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our C1 product, including managed services for our C1 product, was $209 per leased raised floor square foot, and the average annualized rent for our C2 product, including cloud and managed services combined was $1,224 per leased raised floor square foot. As of September 30, 2016, our data centers were 89% occupied and billing based on leasable raised floor of approximately 1,021,000 square feet, with approximately 905,000 square feet occupied and paying rent, with an average annualized rent of $397 per leased raised floor square foot including cloud and managed services revenue, or $328 per leased raised floor square foot excluding cloud and managed services revenue. The increase in leasable raised floor between 2016 and 2017 is primarily related to the addition of raised floor square footage from our redevelopment activities primarily in the Irving, Chicago and Atlanta-Suwanee facilities, as well as the acquisition of the Fort Worth facility. The slight decrease in average annualized rent per leased raised floor square foot is primarily due to an increase in mix of C1 customers in our portfolio. As of September 30, 2017, a larger portion of our customers were C1 customers (44% of MRR) compared to September 30, 2016 (40% of MRR). This increase in the proportion of C1 customers has contributed to the reduction in average annualized rent per square foot due to the fact that C1 customers lease larger amounts of space and power for longer periods and lower rates due to economies of scale in addition to separately reimbursing us for utilities and various other operating expenses, and that reimbursement is excluded from the calculation of annualized rent per square foot.

Higher recoveries from customers for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016 were primarily due to increased utility usage associated with the expansion of our Irving data center contributing $0.7 million to the increase as well as increased utility costs generally related to an increase in utility usage at our Atlanta-Metro data center contributing $0.3 million to the increase. Other revenue primarily consists of straight line rent, scrap metal sales, and certain other ancillary revenue.

Property Operating Costs. Property operating costs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $39.7 million compared to property operating costs of $36.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $3.5 million, or 10%. The breakdown of our property operating costs is summarized in the table below (unaudited and in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change
Property operating costs:
Direct payroll	$	5,683	$	5,395	$	288		5%
Rent		3,800		4,105		(305)		-7%
Repairs and maintenance		3,528		3,308		220		7%
Utilities		13,534		11,640		1,894		16%
Management fee allocation		5,502		5,215		287		6%
Other		7,696		6,625		1,071		16%
Total property operating costs	$	39,743	$	36,288	$	3,455		10%

The increase in total property operating costs was primarily attributable to the revenue growth and expansion of our existing facilities, which included increased direct payroll allocation of $0.3 million, increased repair and maintenance expense of $0.2 million which tends to fluctuate from period to period and increase with the expansion and lease-up of our facilities, increased utilities expense of $1.9 million primarily related to the lease-up of our Atlanta-Metro, Chicago, Fort Worth and Irving facilities, increased management fee of $0.3 million and an increase in other expenses of $1.1 million primarily related to certain reserves associated with reimbursement of utility costs, offset by a $0.3 million decrease in rent expense primarily related to the exit of portions of leased facilities as customers churned, downgraded or migrated to owned facilities. Management fee allocation for our leased facilities acquired in 2015 is based on 10% of cash revenues for each facility and reflects an allocation of internal charges to cover back-office and service-related costs associated with the day-to-day operations of our data center facilities, with a corresponding offset to general and administrative expenses.  Management fee allocation for our other facilities is based on 4% of cash revenues for each facility.

Real Estate Taxes and Insurance. Real estate taxes and insurance for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $3.1 million compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $0.6 million, or 21%, was primarily attributable to real estate tax increases at our Irving, Atlanta-Metro and Fort Worth facilities as well

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as increased personal property taxes at our Sacramento facility largely related to tax authorities’ reassessment of current year taxes.

Depreciation and Amortization.Depreciation and amortization for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $35.3 million compared to $32.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $2.6 million, or 8%, was primarily due to additional depreciation expense of $2.2 million relating to an increase in assets placed in service at our Irving and Chicago data centers as well as higher amortization expense of $0.4 million primarily related to a higher level of leasing commissions.

General and Administrative Expenses.General and administrative expenses were $21.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to general and administrative expenses of $19.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $1.7 million, or 9%. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable toincreased net payroll expenses of $2.2 million, of which $0.5 million related to sales and marketing personnel. Additional expenses that increased for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to September 30, 2016 were higher equity-based compensation expense of $1.1 million and higher professional fees of $0.3 million. These aggregate increases were partially offset by increased direct payroll allocation of $0.7 million, increased management fee allocation of $0.3 million, decreased outside services expense of $0.2 million, decreased advertising and marketing expenses of $0.2 million, decreased software licenses of $0.2 million and a reduction in other expenses of $0.3 million.

Transaction, Integration and Other Costs.For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we incurred $1.1 million in transaction, integration and other costs compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The current period costs primarily related to the reassessment of prior years’ personal property taxes at our Sacramento facility. In the prior period, $3.4 million in costs were attributable to integration expenses primarily related to systems integration and duplicate personnel, with the remaining $0.1 million related to transaction costs incurred in the acquisition of the Piscataway facility. Acquisition-related costs for acquisitions accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received.

Interest Expense.Interest expense was $8.0 million and $6.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The increase of $1.8 million, or 29%, was due primarily to an increase in the average debt balance of $251.9 million, primarily as a result of our ongoing developments, expansions and acquisitions as well as an increase in the weighted average interest rate on our floating rate borrowings, partially offset by issuance of additional common shares and higher capitalized interest during the current period due to the growth in construction projects. The average debt balance, exclusive of debt issuance costs, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $1,120.9 million, with a weighted average interest rate, including the effect of amortization of deferred financing costs, of 4.14%. This compared to an average debt balance, exclusive of debt issuance costs, of $869.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, with a weighted average interest rate, including the effect of amortization of deferred financing costs, of 3.98%. Interest capitalized in connection with our redevelopment activities during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $3.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Tax Benefit of Taxable REIT Subsidiaries.The tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $2.5 million compared to $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. This change was primarily attributable to one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries not incurring material integration or transaction costs during the three months ended September 30, 2017, whereas the tax effect of integration and transaction costs was approximately $1.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016.

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Net Income.A summary of the components of the increase in net income of $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows (unaudited and in millions):

	$ Change
Increase in revenues, net of property operating costs, real estate taxes and insurance	$	6.3
Increase in general and administrative expense		(1.7)
Increase in depreciation and amortization		(2.6)
Decrease in transaction, integration and other costs		2.4
Increase in interest expense net of interest income		(1.7)
Decrease in tax benefit		(1.8)
Increase in net income	$	0.9

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

Changes in revenues and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are summarized below (unaudited and in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change
Revenues:
Rental	$	245,741	$	217,101	$	28,640	13%
Recoveries from customers		26,833		20,306		6,527	32%
Cloud and managed services		50,045		52,148		(2,103)	-4%
Other		4,980		7,365		(2,385)	-32%
Total revenues		327,599		296,920		30,679	10%
Operating expenses:
Property operating costs		112,010		100,715		11,295	11%
Real estate taxes and insurance		9,209		6,326		2,883	46%
Depreciation and amortization		103,784		91,693		12,091	13%
General and administrative		66,411		61,836		4,575	7%
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,611		9,385		(7,774)	-83%
Total operating expenses		293,025		269,955		23,070	9%
Operating income		34,574		26,965		7,609	28%
Other income and expense:
Interest income		66		3		63	2100%
Interest expense		(22,474)		(17,034)		5,440	32%
Other income/(expense), net		—		1		(1)	*
Income before taxes		12,166		9,935		2,231	22%
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		5,404		9,269		(3,865)	-42%
Net income	$	17,570	$	19,204	$	(1,634)	-9%

Revenues.Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $327.6 million compared to $296.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $30.7 million, or 10%, was largely attributable to organic growth in our customer base and placing additional square footage into service in conjunction with the development and expansion of our Irving, Chicago, Richmond, Atlanta-Suwanee and Atlanta-Metro data centers as well as the acquisition of the Piscataway facility on June 6, 2016, which contributed $9.0 million in incremental revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

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The increase of $26.5 million, or 10%, in combined rental and cloud and managed services revenue was primarily attributable to rents from newly leased space from ongoing expansions in our Irving, Chicago, Richmond, Atlanta-Suwanee and Atlanta-Metro data centers as well as increases in rents from previously leased space or service contracts, net of downgrades at renewal and rental churn. Additionally, the acquisition of the Piscataway facility on June 6, 2016 contributed $6.3 million in incremental revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The decrease in cloud and managed service revenue is due to reductions in revenue at certain leased facilities that is partially offset by a reduction in rent (see Property Operating Costs below), renewal of certain customers that continue to utilize existing equipment which was fully funded in pre renewal rental rates as well as the conversion of certain customers from C3 to C2 upon renewal.

Higher recoveries from customers for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were primarily due to reimbursements associated with the acquisition of the Piscataway facility which contributed $2.5 million to the increase. The remaining increase of $4.0 million in recoveries revenue was primarily attributable to increased utility costs generally related to an increase in utility usage at our Atlanta-Metro data center contributing $1.8 million to the increase, the expansion of our Irving data center contributing $2.0 million to the increase and increased reimbursements of $0.2 million at various other facilities. The $2.4 million decrease in other revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily due to lower straight line rent.

Property Operating Costs. Property operating costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $112.0 million compared to property operating costs of $100.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $11.3 million, or 11%. The breakdown of our property operating costs is summarized in the table below (unaudited and in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change
Property operating costs:
Direct payroll	$	17,224	$	15,320	$	1,904	12%
Rent		11,674		13,681		(2,007)	-15%
Repairs and maintenance		11,634		9,662		1,972	20%
Utilities		35,978		28,516		7,462	26%
Management fee allocation		15,987		15,331		656	4%
Other		19,513		18,204		1,309	7%
Total property operating costs	$	112,010	$	100,715	$	11,296	11%

The acquisition of Piscataway contributed $3.5 million to the total increase in property operating costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, of which $1.2 million related to increased direct payroll, $0.6 million related to increased repairs and maintenance, $1.8 million related to increased utilities, $0.3 million related to increased management fee allocation, offset by a $0.4 million reduction in other property operating costs. The remaining $7.8 million increase in total property operating costs was primarily attributable to the revenue growth and expansion of our existing facilities, which included increased direct payroll allocation of $0.8 million (exclusive of the increase attributable to Piscataway as discussed above), increased repair and maintenance expense of $1.4 million which tends to fluctuate from period to period and increase with the expansion and lease-up of our facilities, increased utilities expense of $5.7 million and an increase in other expenses of $1.6 million primarily related to certain reserves associated with reimbursement of utility costs, offset by a $2.0 million decrease in rent expense primarily related to the exit of portions of leased facilities as customers churned, downgraded or migrated to owned facilities. In addition, management fee allocation increased $0.3 million (exclusive of the increase attributable to Piscataway as discussed above). Management fee allocation for our leased facilities acquired in 2015 is based on 10% of cash revenues for each facility and reflects an allocation of internal charges to cover back-office and service-related costs associated with the day-to-day operations of our data center facilities, with a corresponding offset to general and administrative expenses.  Management fee allocation for our other facilities is based on 4% of cash revenues for each facility. 

Real Estate Taxes and Insurance.Real estate taxes and insurance for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $9.2 million compared to $6.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $2.9 million, or

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46%, was primarily attributable to the acquisition of the Piscataway facility which contributed $1.1 million as well as the acquisition of the Fort Worth facility which contributed $0.5 million. The remaining increase of $1.3 million was primarily related to increased real estate taxes at our Irving and Atlanta-Metro facilities as well as increased real estate taxes at our Sacramento facility largely related to tax authorities’ reassessment of current year taxes.

Depreciation and Amortization.Depreciation and amortization for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $103.8 million compared to $91.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $12.1 million, or 13%, was primarily due to depreciation expense of $1.1 million and amortization expense of $1.9 million associated with the Piscataway acquisition. The remaining increase of $9.1 million was primarily due to additional depreciation of $8.3 million, which was primarily due to additional depreciation of the Irving, Chicago, and Atlanta-Suwanee data centers as well as higher amortization expense of $0.8 million primarily related to a higher level of leasing commissions.

General and Administrative Expenses.General and administrative expenses were $66.4 million for nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to general and administrative expenses of $61.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $4.6 million, or 7%, which included a reduction of $0.9 million of general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 associated with the receipt of litigation settlement proceeds. Excluding this settlement, general and administrative expenses increased $3.7 million or 6%. The remaining $3.7 million increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to increased net payroll expenses of $5.2 million, of which $2.2 million related to sales and marketing personnel, higher equity-based compensation expense of $2.6 million as well as higher professional fees of $0.8 million and an increase in other costs of $0.3 million. These increases were partially offset by increased direct payroll allocation of $2.8 million, decreased outside services expense of $1.7 million primarily related to lower consulting fees and increased management fee allocation of $0.7 million.

Transaction, Integration and Other Costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we incurred $1.6 million in transaction, integration and other costs compared to $9.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In the current period, $0.6 million in costs were attributable totransaction and integration costs and $1.0 million was related to the reassessment of prior years’ personal property taxes at our Sacramento facility. In the prior period, $8.4 million in costs were attributable to integration expenses primarily related to systems integration and duplicate personnel, with the remaining $1.0 million primarily related to transaction costs incurred in the acquisition of the Piscataway facility. Acquisition-related costs for acquisitions accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received.

Interest Expense. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $22.5 million compared to $17.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase of $5.4 million, or 32%, was due primarily to an increase in the average debt balance of $224.7 million, primarily as a result of our ongoing developments, expansions and acquisitions as well as a slight increase in the weighted average interest rate on floating rate borrowings, partially offset by issuance of additional common shares and higher capitalized interest during the current period due to the growth in construction projects. The average debt balance, exclusive of debt issuance costs, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $1,075.2 million, with a weighted average interest rate, including the effect of amortization of deferred financing costs, of 4.02%. This compared to an average debt balance of $850.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, with a weighted average interest rate, including the effect of amortization of deferred financing costs, of 3.99%. Interest capitalized in connection with our redevelopment activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was $9.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively.

Tax Benefit of Taxable REIT Subsidiaries.Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $5.4 million compared to $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  This change was driven by the fact that one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries did not incur material integration or transaction costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, whereas the tax effect of integration and transaction costs was approximately $3.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

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Net Income. A summary of the components of the decrease in net income of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows (unaudited and in millions):

	$ Change
Increase in revenues, net of property operating costs, real estate taxes and insurance	$	16.5
Increase in general and administrative expense		(4.6)
Increase in depreciation and amortization		(12.0)
Decrease in transaction, integration and other costs		7.8
Increase in interest expense net of interest income		(5.4)
Decrease in tax benefit		(3.9)
Decrease in net income	$	(1.6)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We consider the following non-GAAP financial measures to be useful to investors as key supplemental measures of our performance: (1) FFO; (2) Operating FFO; (3) Adjusted Operating FFO; (4) MRR; (5) NOI; (6) EBITDA; and (7) Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss and cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our operating performance. FFO, Operating FFO, Adjusted Operating FFO, MRR, NOI, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by us, may not be comparable to FFO, Operating FFO, Adjusted Operating FFO, MRR, NOI, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other companies that do not use the same definition or implementation guidelines or interpret the standards differently from us.

We do not, nor do we suggest investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP financial information. We believe the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information to both management and investors that is indicative of our operations. We have included a reconciliation of this additional information to the most comparable GAAP measure in the selected financial information below.

FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO

We consider funds from operations (“FFO”) to be a supplemental measure of our performance which should be considered along with, but not as an alternative to, net income (loss) and cash provided by operating activities as a measure of operating performance. We calculate FFO in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”). FFO represents net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), adjusted to exclude gains (or losses) from sales of property, real estate-related depreciation and amortization and similar adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. Our management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because, in excluding real estate-related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs.

Due to the volatility and nature of certain significant charges and gains recorded in our operating results that management believes are not reflective of our core operating performance, management computes an adjusted measure of FFO, which we refer to as Operating FFO. We generally calculate Operating FFO as FFO excluding certain non-routine charges and gains and losses that management believes are not indicative of the results of our operating real estate portfolio. We believe that Operating FFO provides investors with another financial measure that may facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and, to the extent they calculate Operating FFO on a comparable basis, between REITs.

Adjusted Operating Funds From Operations (“Adjusted Operating FFO”) is a non-GAAP measure that is used as a supplemental operating measure and to provide additional information to users of the financial statements. We calculate Adjusted Operating FFO by adding or subtracting from Operating FFO items such as: maintenance capital investment, paid leasing commissions, amortization of deferred financing costs and bond discount, non-real estate depreciation, straight line rent adjustments, deferred taxes and non-cash compensation.

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We offer these measures because we recognize that FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO exclude real estate depreciation and amortization and capture neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions, nor the level of capital expenditures and capitalized leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effect and could materially impact our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, the utility of FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as measures of our operating performance is limited. Our calculation of FFO may not be comparable to measures calculated by other companies who do not use the NAREIT definition of FFO or do not calculate FFO in accordance with NAREIT guidance. In addition, our calculations of FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO are not necessarily comparable to FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO as calculated by other REITs that do not use the same definition or implementation guidelines or interpret the standards differently from us. FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered a measure of our results of operations or liquidity or as a substitute for, or an alternative to, net income (loss), cash provided by operating activities or any other performance measure determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

A reconciliation of net income to FFO, Operating FFO and Adjusted Operating FFO is presented below (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017			2016
FFO
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538		$	17,570	$	19,204
Real estate depreciation and amortization		31,237		28,493			91,016		79,771
FFO		38,631		35,031			108,586		98,975
Operating FFO
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465			1,611		9,385
Tax benefit associated with transaction and integration costs		—		(1,136)			—		(3,067)
Operating FFO		39,745		37,360			110,197		105,293
Maintenance Capex		(2,193)		(1,731)			(4,161)		(2,446)
Leasing commissions paid		(5,592)		(4,402)			(13,816)		(13,597)
Amortization of deferred financing costs and bond discount		992		879			2,943		2,633
Non real estate depreciation and amortization		4,071		4,207			12,768		11,923
Straight line rent revenue and expense and other		(1,149)		(957)			(2,913)		(5,810)
Tax benefit from operating results		(2,454)		(3,075)			(5,404)		(6,203)
Equity-based compensation expense		3,693		2,637			10,507		7,887
Adjusted Operating FFO	$	37,113	$	34,918		$	110,121	$	99,680

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) and Recognized MRR

We calculate MRR as monthly contractual revenue under signed leases as of a particular date, which includes revenue from our C1, C2 and C3 rental and cloud and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues. MRR does not include the impact from booked-not-billed leases as of a particular date, unless otherwise specifically noted.

Separately, we calculate recognized MRR as the recurring revenue recognized during a given period, which includes revenue from our C1, C2 and C3 rental and cloud and managed services activities, but excludes customer recoveries, deferred set-up fees, variable related revenues, non-cash revenues and other one-time revenues.

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Management uses MRR and recognized MRR as supplemental performance measures because they provide useful measures of increases in contractual revenue from our customer leases. MRR and recognized MRR should not be viewed by investors as alternatives to actual monthly revenue, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may not calculate MRR or recognized MRR in the same manner. Accordingly, our MRR and recognized MRR may not be comparable to other companies’ MRR and recognized MRR. MRR and recognized MRR should be considered only as supplements to total revenues as a measure of our performance. MRR and recognized MRR should not be used as measures of our results of operations or liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to meet our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

A reconciliation of total GAAP revenues to recognized MRR in the period and MRR at period end is presented below (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Recognized MRR in the period
Total period revenues (GAAP basis)	$	113,767	$	103,465	$	327,599	$	296,920
Less: Total period recoveries		(9,698)		(8,703)		(26,833)		(20,306)
Total period deferred setup fees		(2,659)		(2,377)		(7,711)		(6,536)
Total period straight line rent and other		(6,982)		(3,697)		(13,406)		(13,722)
Recognized MRR in the period	$	94,428	$	88,688	$	279,649	$	256,356
MRR at period end
Total period revenues (GAAP basis)	$	113,767	$	103,465	$	327,599	$	296,920
Less: Total revenues excluding last month		(76,912)		(69,427)		(290,744)		(262,882)
Total revenues for last month of period		36,855		34,038		36,855		34,038
Less: Last month recoveries		(2,631)		(2,398)		(2,631)		(2,398)
Last month deferred setup fees		(893)		(828)		(893)		(828)
Last month straight line rent and other		(1,704)		(1,034)		(1,704)		(1,034)
MRR at period end *	$	31,627	$	29,778	$	31,627	$	29,778

*Does not include our booked-not-billed MRR balance, which was $4.7 million and $4.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Net Operating Income (NOI)

We calculate net operating income (“NOI”), as net income (loss), excluding: interest expense, interest income, tax expense (benefit) of taxable REIT subsidiaries, depreciation and amortization, write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, transaction and integration costs, gain (loss) on sale of real estate, restructuring costs and general and administrative expenses. We allocate a management fee charge of 4% of cash revenues for all facilities, with the exception of the leased facilities acquired in 2015 which are allocated a charge of 10% of cash revenues, as a property operating cost and a corresponding reduction to general and administrative expense to cover the day-to-day administrative costs to operate our data centers.  The management fee charge is reflected as a reduction to net operating income.

Management uses NOI as a supplemental performance measure because it provides a useful measure of the operating results from our customer leases. In addition, we believe it is useful to investors in evaluating and comparing the operating performance of our properties and to compute the fair value of our properties. Our NOI may not be comparable to other REITs’ NOI as other REITs may not calculate NOI in the same manner. NOI should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance and should not be used as a measure of our results of operations or liquidity or as an indication of funds available to meet our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. NOI is a measure of the operating performance of our properties and not of our performance as a whole. NOI is therefore not a substitute for net income as computed in accordance with GAAP.

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A reconciliation of net income to NOI is presented below (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Net Operating Income (NOI)
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	17,570	$	19,204
Interest expense		7,958		6,179		22,474		17,034
Interest income		(65)		(1)		(66)		(3)
Depreciation and amortization		35,309		32,699		103,784		91,693
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		(2,454)		(4,210)		(5,404)		(9,269)
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465		1,611		9,385
General and administrative expenses		21,652		19,942		66,411		61,836
NOI (1)	$	70,908	$	64,612	$	206,380	$	189,880
Breakdown of NOI by facility:
Atlanta-Metro data center	$	18,588	$	20,030	$	59,803	$	60,887
Atlanta-Suwanee data center		12,206		11,051		35,587		33,823
Leased data centers (2)		8,278		10,751		25,696		33,134
Richmond data center		11,687		7,850		28,306		22,428
Irving data center		8,707		5,118		23,204		11,656
Santa Clara data center		2,741		2,961		8,725		10,378
Piscataway data center		2,427		2,086		7,109		2,756
Princeton data center		2,415		2,468		7,207		7,180
Sacramento data center		1,525		1,780		5,140		5,842
Chicago data center		1,285		(157)		3,207		(157)
Fort Worth data center		94		—		275		—
Other facilities (3)		955		674		2,121		1,953
NOI (1)	$	70,908	$	64,612	$	206,380	$	189,880

(1) Includes facility level general and administrative expense allocation charges of 4% of cash revenue for all facilities, with the exception of the leased facilities acquired in 2015, which include general and administrative expense allocation charges of 10% of cash revenue.  These allocated charges aggregated to $5.5 million and $5.2 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $16.0 million and $15.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

(2) Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased data centers” line item. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

(3) Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Duluth, GA facilities.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA

We calculate EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude interest expense and interest income, provision (benefit) for income taxes (including income taxes applicable to sale of assets) and depreciation and amortization. Management believes that EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating and facilitating comparisons of our operating performance between periods and between REITs by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense) and asset base charges (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results.

In addition to EBITDA, we calculate an adjusted measure of EBITDA, which we refer to as Adjusted EBITDA, as EBITDA excluding write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt, transaction and integration costs, equity-based compensation expense, restructuring costs and gain (loss) on sale of real estate. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with another financial measure that can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and between REITs.

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Management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental performance measures as they provide useful measures of assessing our operating results. Other companies may not calculate EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. Accordingly, our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to others. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as supplements to net income (loss) as measures of our performance and should not be used as substitutes for net income (loss), as measures of our results of operations or liquidity or as indications of funds available to meet our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is presented below (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Net income	$	7,394	$	6,538	$	17,570	$	19,204
Interest expense		7,958		6,179		22,474		17,034
Interest income		(65)		(1)		(66)		(3)
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries		(2,454)		(4,210)		(5,404)		(9,269)
Depreciation and amortization		35,309		32,699		103,784		91,693
EBITDA		48,142		41,205		138,358		118,659
Equity-based compensation expense		3,693		2,637		10,507		7,887
Transaction, integration and other costs		1,114		3,465		1,611		9,385
Adjusted EBITDA	$	52,949	$	47,307	$	150,476	$	135,931

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Short-Term Liquidity

Our short-term liquidity needs include funding capital expenditures for the redevelopment of data center space (a significant portion of which is discretionary), meeting debt service and debt maturity obligations, funding payments for capital lease and lease financing obligations, funding distributions to our stockholders and unit holders, utility costs, site maintenance costs, real estate and personal property taxes, insurance, rental expenses, general and administrative expenses and certain recurring and non-recurring capital expenditures.

In addition to the $284.0 million of capital expenditures incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 we expect that we will incur approximately $88 million to $138 million in additional capital expenditures through December 31, 2017, excluding acquisitions, in connection with the redevelopment of our data center facilities. We expect to spend approximately $70 million to $100 million of capital expenditures with vendors on redevelopment, and the remainder on other capital expenditures and capitalized overhead costs (including capitalized interest, commissions, payroll and other similar costs), personal property and other less material capital projects. We expect to fund these costs using operating cash flows, draws on our credit facility and additional equity issuances through our ATM program. A significant portion of these expenditures are discretionary in nature and we may ultimately determine not to make these expenditures or the timing of such expenditures may vary.

We expect to meet our short-term liquidity needs through operating cash flow, cash and cash equivalents and borrowings under our credit facility.

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Our cash paid for capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are summarized in the table below (unaudited and in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2017		2016
Development	$	168,286	$	143,249
Acquisitions		47,013		122,981
Maintenance capital expenditures		4,161		2,446
Other capital expenditures (1)		64,524		52,056
Total capital expenditures	$	283,984	$	320,732

(1) Represents capital expenditures for capitalized interest, commissions, personal property, overhead costs and corporate fixed assets. Corporate fixed assets primarily relate to construction of corporate offices, leasehold improvements and product related assets.

Long-Term Liquidity

Our long-term liquidity needs primarily consist of funds for property acquisitions, scheduled debt maturities, payment of principal at maturity of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2025 that we expect to issue on November 8, 2017 at the closing of a private offering (which we will use to refinance our Senior Notes), funding payments for capital lease and lease financing obligations, and recurring and non-recurring capital expenditures. We may also pursue new developments and additional redevelopment of our data centers and future redevelopment of other space in our portfolio. We may also pursue development on land which QTS currently owns that is adjacent to our data center properties in Atlanta-Metro, Atlanta-Suwanee, Richmond, Irving, Fort Worth, Princeton and Chicago, as well as newly acquired land in Ashburn, Phoenix and Hillsboro. The development and/or redevelopment of this space, including timing, is at our discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including availability of capital and our estimate of the demand for data center space in the applicable market. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity needs with net cash provided by operations, incurrence of additional long-term indebtedness, borrowings under our credit facility and issuance of additional equity or debt securities, subject to prevailing market conditions, as discussed below.

In March 2016, QTS filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC. Effective upon filing, the shelf provides for the potential sale of an unspecified amount of our Class A common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares representing preferred stock, warrants and rights to purchase our common stock or any combination thereof, subject to the ability of QTS to effect offerings on satisfactory terms based on prevailing conditions. The shelf registration statement is intended to allow us to have the flexibility to raise such funds in one or more offerings should we perceive market conditions to be favorable. Pursuant to this shelf registration, on April 1, 2016, we issued 6,325,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price of $45.50 per share in an underwritten public offering, including the exercise in full of the underwriter’s option to purchase an additional 825,000 shares. We used substantially all of the net proceeds of approximately $276 million to repay amounts outstanding under our unsecured revolving credit facility.

In March 2017, we established an “at-the-market” equity offering program (the “ATM Program”) pursuant to which we may issue, from time to time, up to $300 million of our Class A common stock. Pursuant to this ATM Program, during the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,015,332 shares of Class A common stock at a weighted average price of $53.65 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $54 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,761,681 shares of Class A common stock at a weighted average price of $53.63 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $93 million.

Cash

As of September 30, 2017, we had $9.3 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.

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The following tables present quarterly cash dividends and distributions paid to QTS’ common stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s unit holders for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Record Date	PaymentDate	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 16, 2017	July 6, 2017	$	0.39	$	21.6
March 16, 2017	April 5, 2017	$	0.39		21.4
December 16, 2016	January 5, 2017	$	0.36		19.7
				$	62.7

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Record Date	Payment Date	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 17, 2016	July 6, 2016	$	0.36	$	19.7
March 18, 2016	April 5, 2016	$	0.36		17.4
December 17, 2015	January 6, 2016	$	0.32		15.4
				$	52.5

Additionally, on October 5, 2017 we paid our regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per common share and per unit in the Operating Partnership to stockholders and unit holders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2017.

Indebtedness

As of September 30, 2017, we had approximately $1,109.7 million of indebtedness, including capital leases and lease financing obligations, and excluding discounts and debt issuance costs.

Unsecured Credit Facility. In December 2016, we amended and restated our unsecured credit facility, increasing the total capacity to $1.2 billion and extending the term. The unsecured credit facility includes a $300 million term loan which matures on December 17, 2021, a $200 million term loan which matures on April 27, 2022, and a $700 million revolving credit facility which matures on December 17, 2020, with a one year extension option. Amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility bear interest at a variable rate equal to, at our election, LIBOR or a base rate, plus a spread that will vary depending upon our leverage ratio. For revolving credit loans, the spread ranges from 1.55% to 2.15% for LIBOR loans and 0.55% to 1.15% for base rate loans. For term loans, the spread ranges from 1.50% to 2.10% for LIBOR loans and 0.50% to 1.10% for base rate loans. The unsecured credit facility also includes a $300 million accordion feature.

Under the unsecured credit facility, the capacity may be increased from the current capacity of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion subject to certain conditions set forth in the credit agreement, including the consent of the administrative agent and obtaining necessary commitments. As of September 30, 2017, the weighted average interest rate for amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility was 2.75%. We are also required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders assessed on the unused portion of the unsecured revolving credit facility. At our election, we can prepay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium.

Our ability to borrow under the unsecured credit facility is subject to ongoing compliance with a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations on liens, mergers, consolidations, investments, distributions, asset sales and affiliate transactions, as well as the following financial covenants: (i) the Operating Partnership's and its subsidiaries' consolidated total unsecured debt plus any capitalized lease obligations with respect to the unencumbered asset pool properties may not exceed 60% of the unencumbered asset pool value (or 65% of the unencumbered asset pool value for up to two consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition for which the Operating Partnership has provided written notice to the Agent; provided the two fiscal quarter period includes the quarter in which the material acquisition was consummated); (ii) the unencumbered asset pool debt yield cannot be less than 14% (or 12.5% for the two consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition for which the Operating

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Partnership has provided written notice to the Agent; provided the two fiscal quarter period includes the quarter in which the material acquisition was consummated); (iii) QTS must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (defined as the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, subject to certain adjustments, to consolidated fixed charges) for the prior two most recently-ended calendar quarters of 1.70 to 1.00; (iv) QTS must maintain a maximum debt to gross asset value (as defined in the amended and restated agreement) ratio of 60% (or 65% for the two consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition for which the Operating Partnership has provided written notice to the Agent; provided the two fiscal quarter period includes the quarter in which the material acquisition was consummated); (v) QTS must maintain tangible net worth (as defined in the amended and restated agreement) cannot be less than the sum of $1,179,931,500 plus 75% of the net proceeds from any future equity offerings; and (vi) a maximum distribution payout ratio of the greater of (i) 95% of the Funds from Operations (as defined in the amended and restated agreement) and (ii) the amount required for the Company to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

The availability under the revolving credit facility is the lesser of (i) $700 million, (ii) 60% of the unencumbered asset pool capitalized value (or 65% of the unencumbered asset pool capitalized value for the two consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition for which the Operating Partnership has provided written notice to the Agent; provided the two fiscal quarter period includes the quarter in which the material acquisition was consummated) and (iii) the amount resulting in an unencumbered asset pool debt yield of 14% (or 12.5% for the two consecutive fiscal quarters immediately following a material acquisition for which the Operating Partnership has provided written notice to the Agent; provided the two fiscal quarter period includes the quarter in which the material acquisition was consummated). In the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of the preceding sentence, the amount available under the revolving credit facility is adjusted to take into account any other unsecured debt and certain capitalized leases. A material acquisition is an acquisition of properties or assets with a gross purchase price equal to or in excess of 15% of the Operating Partnership’s gross asset value (as defined in the amended and restated agreement) as of the end of the most recently ended quarter for which financial statements are publicly available. The availability of funds under our unsecured credit facility depends on compliance with our covenants.

As of September 30, 2017, we had outstanding $779 million of indebtedness under the unsecured credit facility, consisting of $279 million of outstanding borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility and $500 million outstanding under the term loans, exclusive of net debt issuance costs of $3.6 million. In connection with the unsecured credit facility, as of September 30, 2017, we had additional letters of credit outstanding aggregating to $2.1 million.

On April 5, 2017, we entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan). The weighted average effective fixed interest rate on the $400 million notional amount of term loan financing, following the execution of these swap agreements, will approximate 3.5%, commencing on January 2, 2018, assuming the current LIBOR spread of 1.5%.

5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. On July 23, 2014, the Operating Partnership and QTS Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the offering of the Senior Notes described below (collectively, the “Issuers”), issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. The Senior Notes have an interest rate of 5.875% per annum and were issued at a price equal to 99.211% of their face value. The proceeds from the offering were used to repay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, including $75 million outstanding under the term loan. As of September 30, 2017, the discount recorded on the Senior Notes was $1.6 million and the outstanding net debt issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes were $5.3 million. 

The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries, receivables entities, 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, which is a Delaware limited liability company formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations and seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations) and future subsidiaries that guarantee any indebtedness of QTS, the Issuers or any other subsidiary guarantor. QTS Realty Trust, Inc. does not guarantee the Senior Notes and will

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not be required to guarantee the Senior Notes except under certain circumstances. The offering was conducted pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of July 23, 2014, among QTS, the Operating Partnership, QTS Finance Corporation, the guarantors named therein, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “Indenture”). The Company expects to redeem the issued and outstanding Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2025 that the Issuers expect to issue on November 8, 2017 at the closing of a private offering.

On March 23, 2015, the SEC declared effective the Operating Partnership and QTS Finance Corporation’s registration statement on Form S-4 pursuant to which the Issuers exchanged the originally issued Senior Notes for $300 million of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Exchange Notes”) that are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The exchange offer was completed on April 23, 2015, and all outstanding originally issued Senior Notes were tendered. The Exchange Notes did not provide the Company with any additional proceeds and satisfied its obligations under a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes. 

The Indenture contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict the Operating Partnership’s ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries (“Restricted Subsidiaries”) to: incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends; make certain investments or other restricted payments; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into agreements limiting the ability of the Operating Partnership’s restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends; engage in sales of assets; and engage in mergers, consolidations or sales of substantially all of their assets. However, certain of these covenants will be suspended if and for so long as the Senior Notes are rated investment grade by specified debt rating services and there is no default under the Indenture. The Operating Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries also are required to maintain total unencumbered assets (as defined in the Indenture) of at least 150% of their unsecured debt on a consolidated basis.

The Senior Notes may be redeemed by the Issuers, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2017 at a redemption price equal to (i) 100% of principal amount, plus (ii) accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, and (iii) a make-whole premium. Thereafter, the Issuers may redeem the Senior Notes prior to maturity at 104.406% of the principal amount at August 1, 2017 and declining ratably to par at August 1, 2020 and thereafter, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. At any time prior to August 1, 2017, the Issuers may, subject to certain conditions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at 105.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings consummated by us or the Operating Partnership. Also, upon the occurrence of a change of control of us or the Operating Partnership, holders of the Senior Notes may require the Issuers to repurchase all or a portion of the Senior Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. As noted above, the Company expects to redeem the issued and outstanding Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2025 that the Issuers expect to issue on November 8, 2017 at the closing of a private offering.

Lenexa Mortgage. On March 8, 2017, we entered into a $1.9 million mortgage loan secured by our Lenexa facility. This mortgage has a fixed rate of 4.1%, with periodic principal payments due monthly and a balloon payment of $1.6 million in May 2022. As of September 30, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Lenexa mortgage was $1.9 million.

Contingencies

We are subject to various routine legal proceedings and other matters in the ordinary course of business. While resolution of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes, based upon information currently available, that the final outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

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Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2017, including the future non-cancellable minimum rental payments required under operating leases and the maturities and scheduled principal repayments of indebtedness and other agreements (unaudited and in thousands):

Obligations	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
Operating Leases	$	4,309	$	12,611	$	9,968	$	9,720	$	9,931	$	74,801	$	121,340
Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations (1)		3,078		9,370		2,844		2,190		2,388		8,973		28,843
Future Principal Payments of Indebtedness (2)		11		65		68		279,071		300,074		501,593		1,080,882
Total (3)	$	7,398	$	22,046	$	12,880	$	290,981	$	312,393	$	585,367	$	1,231,065

(1) In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, Virginia, that was subject to a capital lease agreement that aggregated $17.8 million as of September 30, 2017. The facility was acquired for approximately $34.1 million cash using proceeds from a draw on our unsecured revolving credit facility. 

(2) Does not include the related debt issuance costs and discount on Senior Notes nor the related debt issuance costs on the term loans reflected at September 30, 2017. Also does not include letters of credit outstanding aggregating to $2.1 million as of September 30, 2017 under our unsecured credit facility. 

(3) Total obligations does not include contractual interest that we are required to pay on our long-term debt obligations. Contractual interest payments on our credit facility, Senior Notes, capital leases, lease financing obligations and other financing arrangements through the scheduled maturity date, assuming no prepayment of debt and inclusive of the effects of interest rate swaps, are shown below. Interest payments were estimated based on the principal amount of debt outstanding and the applicable interest rate as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited and in thousands):

2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		Thereafter		Total
$	10,318	$	44,215	$	44,030	$	43,551	$	34,579	$	13,327	$	190,020

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements (unaudited and in thousands).

Cash Flows

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2017		2016
			(as adjusted)
Cash flow provided by (used for):
Operating activities	$	120,259	$	103,495
Investing activities		(283,984)		(320,732)
Financing activities		163,416		220,202

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

Cash flow provided by operating activities was $120.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $103.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. There was an increase in cash operating income of $17.8 million from the prior period primarily related to our expansion and leasing activity as well as an increase in cash flow associated with net changes in working capital of $1.0 million primarily related to changes in prepaid expenses, advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities and rents and other receivables, net.

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Cash flow used for investing activities decreased by $36.7 million to $284.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $320.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in cash paid for acquisitions of $76.0 million, primarily attributable to the cash paid for the acquisition of Piscataway in the prior year, partially offset by an increase in cash paid for development capital expenditures of $39.2 million.

Cash flow provided by financing activities was $163.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $220.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in net equity proceeds of $183.1 million as well as higher payments of cash dividends to common stockholders of $9.5 million which was primarily due to the increase in shares outstanding primarily related to the April 2016 equity issuance and to a lesser extent the ATM equity issuances during the second and third quarter of 2017. Partially offsetting these decreases in cash provided by financing activities was higher net proceeds of $132.0 million under our unsecured credit facility due to additional proceeds being utilized for the acquisitions and capital expenditures.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company applies those accounting policies that management believes best reflect the underlying business and economic events, consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Inherent in such policies are certain key assumptions and estimates made by management. Management periodically updates its estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements based on its latest assessment of the current and projected business and general economic environment. Information regarding the Company’s Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates is included in Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. There have been no changes in the Company’s Critical Accounting Policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Inflation

Substantially all of our long-term leases - leases with a term greater than three years - contain rent increases and reimbursement for certain operating costs. As a result, we believe that we are largely insulated from the effects of inflation over periods greater than three years. Leases with terms of three years or less will be replaced or renegotiated within three years and should adjust to reflect changed conditions, also mitigating the effects of inflation. Moreover, to the extent that there are material increases in utility costs, we generally reserve the right to renegotiate the rental rate to incorporate significant utility rate increases. However, any increases in the costs of redevelopment of our properties will generally result in a higher cost of the property, which will result in increased cash requirements to redevelop our properties and increased depreciation and amortization expense in future periods, and, in some circumstances, we may not be able to directly pass along the increase in these redevelopment costs to our customers in the form of higher rental rates.

Distribution Policy

To satisfy the requirements to qualify as a REIT, and to avoid paying tax on our income, QTS intends to continue to make regular quarterly distributions of all, or substantially all, of its REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains) to its stockholders.

All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our historical and projected results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, QTS’ REIT qualification, our debt service requirements, operating expenses and capital expenditures, prohibitions and other restrictions under financing arrangements and applicable law and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We anticipate that our estimated cash available for distribution will exceed the annual distribution requirements applicable to REITs and the amount necessary to avoid the payment of tax on undistributed income. However, under some circumstances, we may be required to make distributions in excess of cash available for distribution in order to meet these distribution requirements and we may need to borrow funds to make certain distributions. If we borrow to fund distributions, our future interest costs would increase, thereby reducing our earnings and cash available for distribution from what they otherwise would have been.

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The Operating Partnership also includes certain partners that are subject to a taxable income allocation, however, not entitled to receive recurring distributions. The partnership agreement does stipulate however, to the extent that taxable income is allocated to these partners that the partnership will make a distribution to these partners equal to the lesser of the actual per unit distributions made to Class A partners or an estimated amount to cover federal, state and local taxes on the allocated taxable income. No distributions related to allocated taxable income were made to these partners for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

Our future income, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments are dependent upon prevailing market interest rates. Market risk refers to the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. The primary market risk to which we believe we are exposed is interest rate risk. Many factors, including governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic and political considerations and other factors that are beyond our control, contribute to interest rate risk.

As of September 30, 2017, we had outstanding $779 million of consolidated indebtedness that bore interest at variable rates.

We monitor our market risk exposures using a sensitivity analysis. Our sensitivity analysis estimates the exposure to market risk sensitive instruments assuming a hypothetical 1% change in year-end interest rates. A 1% increase in interest rates would increase the interest expense on the $779 million of variable indebtedness outstanding as of September 30, 2017 by approximately $7.8 million annually. Conversely, a decrease in the LIBOR rate to 0.23% would decrease the interest expense on this $779 million of variable indebtedness outstanding by approximately $7.8 million annually based on the one month LIBOR rate of approximately 1.23% as of September 30, 2017.

On April 5, 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan). The Company's weighted average interest rate on floating rate debt as of September 30, 2017 was approximately 2.75%. The weighted average effective fixed interest rate on the $400 million notional amount of term loan financing, following the commencement of these swap agreements, will approximate 3.5%, effective January 2, 2018, assuming the current LIBOR spread of 1.5%. 

The above analyses do not consider the effect of any change in overall economic activity that could impact interest rates or expected changes associated with future indebtedness. Further, in the event of a change of that magnitude, we may take actions to further mitigate our exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, these analyses assume no changes in our financial structure.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures for the period ended September 30, 2017, conducted by the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that QTS’ disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by QTS in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in QTS’ internal control over financial reporting during the period ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, QTS’ internal control over financial reporting.

QualityTech, LP

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures for the period ended September 30, 2017, conducted by the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Operating Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Operating Partnership in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting during the period ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Operating Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings 

In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to claims and administrative proceedings, none of which we believe are material or would be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on us.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 1, 2017, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

QTS did not sell any securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

QTS from time to time issues shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the QTS Realty Trust, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Equity Incentive Plan”), upon exercise of stock options issued under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, upon redemption of Class A units of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership (either through Class A units previously held or those received from conversion of Class O units from the QualityTech, LP 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) and under the ATM Program. Pursuant to the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, each time QTS issues shares of common stock, the Operating Partnership issues to QTS, its general partner, an equal number of Class A units. The units issued to QTS are not registered under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act due to the fact that Class A units were issued only to QTS and therefore, did not involve a public offering. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Operating Partnership issued approximately 675,000 Class A units to QTS in connection with Class A unit redemptions and stock option exercises and issuances pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, with a value aggregating approximately $37.0 million based on the respective dates of the redemptions and option exercises, as applicable. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Operating Partnership issued 1,761,681 Class A units to QTS in connection with equity issuances under the ATM Program with a value of approximately $94.5 million, excluding equity issuance costs.

Repurchases of Equity Securities

During the three months ended September 30, 2017, certain of our employees surrendered Class A common stock owned by them to satisfy their federal and state tax obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted common stock under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. 

The following table summarizes all of these repurchases during the three months ended September 30, 2017:

Period	Total number of shares purchased		Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs	Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
July 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017	—			N/A	N/A	N/A
August 1, 2017 through August 31, 2017	—			N/A	N/A	N/A
September 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017	14,918	(1)	$	52.36	N/A	N/A
Total	14,918	(1)	$	52.36

(1) The number of shares purchased represents shares of Class A common stock surrendered by certain of our employees to satisfy their federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.  With respect to these shares, the price paid per share is based on the closing price of our Class A common stock as of the date of the determination of the federal income tax.

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ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 

None.

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. Other Information 

None.

ITEM 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description
2.1	Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May 6, 2015, by and among Quality Technology Services Holding, LLC, Carpathia Holdings, LLC and Carpathia Acquisition, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 12, 2015)
2.2	First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement, effective as of June 12, 2015, by and among Quality Technology Services Holding, LLC, Carpathia Holdings, LLC and Carpathia Acquisition, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 19, 2015)
3.1	Articles of Amendment and Restatement of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 17, 2013)
3.2	Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2017)
4.1	Form of Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11/A filed with the SEC on September 26, 2013)
4.2	Indenture, dated July 23, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP, QTS Finance Corporation, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., certain subsidiaries of QualityTech, LP and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2014)
4.3	Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 22, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP, QTS Finance Corporation, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the entities identified therein as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the entities identified therein as Subsidiary Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, to the Indenture dated, as of July 23, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP and QTS Finance Corporation, as issuers, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (Filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 23, 2015)
4.4	Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 28, 2015, by and among QualityTech, LP, QTS Finance Corporation, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the entities identified therein as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the entities identified therein as Subsidiary Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, to the Indenture dated, as of July 23, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP and QTS Finance Corporation, as issuers, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on November 6, 2015)

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4.5	Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 23, 2016, by and among QualityTech, LP, QTS Finance Corporation, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the entities identified therein as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the entities identified therein as Subsidiary Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, to the Indenture dated, as of July 23, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP and QTS Finance Corporation, as issuers, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (Filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on August 5, 2016)
4.6	Form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto)
4.7	Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 20, 2016, by and among QualityTech, LP, QTS Finance Corporation, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the entities identified therein as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, the entities identified therein as Subsidiary Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, to the Indenture dated, as of July 23, 2014, by and among QualityTech, LP and QTS Finance Corporation, as issuers, QTS Realty Trust, Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QTS Realty Trust, Inc.)
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QTS Realty Trust, Inc.)
31.3	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QualityTech, LP)
31.4	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QualityTech, LP)
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QTS Realty Trust, Inc.)
32.2	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (QualityTech, LP)
101	The following materials from QTS Realty Trust, Inc.’s and QualityTech, LP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), (iii) condensed consolidated statements of equity and partners’ capital, (iv) condensed consolidated statements of cash flow, and (v) the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

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SIGNATURES

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

	QTS Realty Trust, Inc.
DATE: November 2, 2017	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
DATE: November 2, 2017	/s/ William H. Schafer
	William H. Schafer
	Executive Vice President – Finance and Accounting
	(Principal Accounting Officer)
	QualityTech, LP
	By: QTS Realty Trust, Inc.,
	its general partner
DATE: November 2, 2017	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
DATE: November 2, 2017	/s/ William H. Schafer
	William H. Schafer
	Executive Vice President – Finance and Accounting
	(Principal Accounting Officer)

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EX-4.7

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of December 20, 2016, among QTS Investment Properties Fort Worth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Quality Technology Services Fort Worth II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Guaranteeing Subsidiaries,” and each, a “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), each a subsidiary of QualityTech, LP (or its permitted successor), a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), the Co-Issuer, the REIT, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Operating Partnership has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of July 23, 2014, as amended by that certain supplemental indenture dated as of December 22, 2014, as further amended by that certain supplemental indenture dated as of September 28, 2015, and as further amended by that certain supplemental indenture dated as of June 23, 2016 (the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which each Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Operating Partnership’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, each Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

3. Notices. All notices or other communications to the Guaranteeing Subsidiaries shall be given as provided in Section 12.07 of the Indenture.

4. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest, if any, on any of the Notes or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the REIT, any Issuer or any of the Guarantors in this Indenture, or in any of the Notes or because of the creation of any Indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any past, present or future incorporator, general partner (including the REIT), limited partner, stockholder, member, officer, director, employee or controlling person in their capacity as such of the REIT, any Issuer, the Guarantors or of any successor Person thereof. Each Holder of Notes, by accepting a Note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

5. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

1

6. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

7. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

9. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by each Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Operating Partnership.

[Signature pages follow]

2

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

QUALITYTECH, LP, as Issuer

By:  QTS Realty Trust, Inc., as the sole General Partner

By:  /s/ William H. Schafer
Name: William H. Schafer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

QTS FINANCE CORPORATION, as Issuer

By:  /s/ William H. Schafer
Name: William H. Schafer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

QTS REALTY TRUST, INC.

By:  /s/ William H. Schafer
Name: William H. Schafer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signatures continue on next page]

3

THE FOLLOWING PARTY AS TRUSTEE:

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent

By:  Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

By:  /s/ Jeffrey SchoenfeldName: Jeffrey Schoenfeld
Title:   Vice President


By:  /s/ Chris Niesz
Name:  Chris Niesz
Title:    Assistant Vice President

[Signatures continue on next page]

4

THE FOLLOWING PARTIES AS GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARIES

QTS INVESTMENT PROPERTIES FORT WORTH, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FORT WORTH II, LLC

By:  /s/ William H. Schafer
Name: William H. Schafer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

5

THE FOLLOWING PARTIES AS SUBSIDIARY

GUARANTORS:

Carpathia Acquisition, LLC

Carpathia Hosting, LLC

ServerVault, LLC

QTS Investment Properties Carpathia, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES IRVING, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES JERSEY CITY, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, N.J., LLC

QTS INVESTMENT PROPERTIES PRINCETON, LLC

QTS INVESTMENT PROPERTIES CHICAGO, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES GATEWAY, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LENEXA, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES LENEXA, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES RICHMOND, LLC

QAE ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES IRVING II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, N.J. II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES PRINCETON II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES CHICAGO II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, LLC

QTS CRITICAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LENEXA II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES RICHMOND II, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES IRVING II, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, NORTHEAST, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES HOLDING, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES METRO, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES METRO II, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, SUWANEE, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, SUWANEE II, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES SACRAMENTO, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES SACRAMENTO II,  LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES SANTA CLARA, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES SANTA CLARA II, LLC

QUALITY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES MIAMI, LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES MIAMI II, LLC

QTS INVESTMENT PROPERTIES PISCATAWAY, LLC

WHALE VENTURES LLC

QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES PISCATAWAY II, LLC

By:  /s/ William H. Schafer
Name: William H. Schafer
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

6

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Chad L. Williams, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

7
Date: November  2, 2017
	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Jeffrey H. Berson, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 2, 2017
	/s/ Jeffrey H. Berson
	Jeffrey H. Berson
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-31.3

Exhibit 31.3

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Chad L. Williams, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QualityTech, LP;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 2, 2017
	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.4

Exhibit 31.4

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Jeffrey H. Berson, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QualityTech, LP;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

7
Date:  November 2, 2017
	/s/ Jeffrey H. Berson
	Jeffrey H. Berson
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Chad L. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and I, Jeffrey H. Berson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

7
Date: November 2, 2017
	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ Jeffrey H. Berson
	Jeffrey H. Berson
	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification Pursuant To

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of QualityTech, LP (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Chad L. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and I, Jeffrey H. Berson, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:  November 2, 2017
	/s/ Chad L. Williams
	Chad L. Williams
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
	/s/ Jeffrey H. Berson
	Jeffrey H. Berson
	Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	QTS Realty Trust, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001577368
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		50,300,171
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		128,408
Qualitytech, LP
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	QualityTech, LP
Entity Central Index Key	0001561164
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31

XML

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Real Estate Assets
Land	$ 86,192	$ 74,130
Buildings, improvements and equipment	1,668,503	1,524,767
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(378,883)	(317,834)
Total real estate assets	1,375,812	1,281,063
Construction in progress	429,390	365,960
Real Estate Assets, net	1,805,202	1,647,023
Cash and cash equivalents	9,271	9,580
Rents and other receivables, net	47,307	41,540
Acquired intangibles, net	114,286	129,754
Deferred costs, net	38,172	38,507
Prepaid expenses	7,209	6,918
Goodwill	173,843	173,843
Other assets, net	63,156	39,305
TOTAL ASSETS	2,258,446	2,086,470
LIABILITIES
Unsecured credit facility, net	775,398	634,939
Senior notes, net of discount and debt issuance costs	293,192	292,179
Capital lease, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable	30,725	38,708
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	67,232	86,129
Dividends and distributions payable	22,230	19,634
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities	29,210	24,893
Deferred income taxes	9,814	15,185
Deferred income	22,540	21,993
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,250,341	1,133,660
EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,133,000 shares authorized, 50,424,244 and 47,831,250 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	504	478
Additional paid-in capital	1,032,912	931,783
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,565)
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(139,740)	(97,793)
Total stockholders' equity	892,111	834,468
Noncontrolling interests	115,994	118,342
TOTAL EQUITY	1,008,105	952,810
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	2,258,446	2,086,470
Qualitytech, LP
Real Estate Assets
Land	86,192	74,130
Buildings, improvements and equipment	1,668,503	1,524,767
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(378,883)	(317,834)
Total real estate assets	1,375,812	1,281,063
Construction in progress	429,390	365,960
Real Estate Assets, net	1,805,202	1,647,023
Cash and cash equivalents	9,271	9,580
Rents and other receivables, net	47,307	41,540
Acquired intangibles, net	114,286	129,754
Deferred costs, net	38,172	38,507
Prepaid expenses	7,209	6,918
Goodwill	173,843	173,843
Other assets, net	63,156	39,305
TOTAL ASSETS	2,258,446	2,086,470
LIABILITIES
Unsecured credit facility, net	775,398	634,939
Senior notes, net of discount and debt issuance costs	293,192	292,179
Capital lease, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable	30,725	38,708
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	67,232	86,129
Dividends and distributions payable	22,230	19,634
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities	29,210	24,893
Deferred income taxes	9,814	15,185
Deferred income	22,540	21,993
TOTAL LIABILITIES	1,250,341	1,133,660
EQUITY
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,785)
TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL	1,008,105	952,810
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	2,258,446	2,086,470
Limited Partner | Qualitytech, LP
EQUITY
TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL	$ 1,009,890	$ 952,810

XML

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BALANCE SHEETS
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	450,133,000	450,133,000
Common stock, shares issued	50,424,244	47,831,250
Common stock, shares outstanding	50,424,244	47,831,250

XML

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Rental	$ 85,831	$ 77,005	$ 245,741	$ 217,101
Recoveries from customers	9,698	8,703	26,833	20,306
Cloud and managed services	16,224	16,243	50,045	52,148
Other	2,014	1,514	4,980	7,365
Total revenues	113,767	103,465	327,599	296,920
Operating Expenses:
Property operating costs	39,743	36,288	112,010	100,715
Real estate taxes and insurance	3,116	2,566	9,209	6,326
Depreciation and amortization	35,309	32,699	103,784	91,693
General and administrative	21,652	19,942	66,411	61,836
Transaction, integration and other costs	1,114	3,465	1,611	9,385
Total operating expenses	100,934	94,960	293,025	269,955
Operating income	12,833	8,505	34,574	26,965
Other income and expenses:
Interest income	65	1	66	3
Interest expense	(7,958)	(6,179)	(22,474)	(17,034)
Other income/(expense), net		1		1
Income before taxes	4,940	2,328	12,166	9,935
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries	2,454	4,210	5,404	9,269
Net income	7,394	6,538	17,570	19,204
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(887)	(808)	(2,146)	(2,485)
Net income attributable to QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	$ 6,507	$ 5,730	$ 15,424	$ 16,719
Net income per share attributable to common shares:
Basic	$ 0.13	$ 0.12	$ 0.31	$ 0.37
Diluted	$ 0.13	$ 0.12	$ 0.31	$ 0.36
Qualitytech, LP
Revenues:
Rental	$ 85,831	$ 77,005	$ 245,741	$ 217,101
Recoveries from customers	9,698	8,703	26,833	20,306
Cloud and managed services	16,224	16,243	50,045	52,148
Other	2,014	1,514	4,980	7,365
Total revenues	113,767	103,465	327,599	296,920
Operating Expenses:
Property operating costs	39,743	36,288	112,010	100,715
Real estate taxes and insurance	3,116	2,566	9,209	6,326
Depreciation and amortization	35,309	32,699	103,784	91,693
General and administrative	21,652	19,942	66,411	61,836
Transaction, integration and other costs	1,114	3,465	1,611	9,385
Total operating expenses	100,934	94,960	293,025	269,955
Operating income	12,833	8,505	34,574	26,965
Other income and expenses:
Interest income	65	1	66	3
Interest expense	(7,958)	(6,179)	(22,474)	(17,034)
Other income/(expense), net		1		1
Income before taxes	4,940	2,328	12,166	9,935
Tax benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries	2,454	4,210	5,404	9,269
Net income	$ 7,394	$ 6,538	$ 17,570	$ 19,204

XML

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net income	$ 7,394	$ 6,538	$ 17,570	$ 19,204
Other comprehensive loss:
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps	(286)		(1,785)
Comprehensive income	7,108	6,538	15,785	19,204
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(850)	(808)	(1,926)	(2,485)
Comprehensive income attributable to QTS Realty Trust, Inc.	6,258	5,730	13,859	16,719
Qualitytech, LP
Net income	7,394	6,538	17,570	19,204
Other comprehensive loss:
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps	(286)		(1,785)
Comprehensive income	$ 7,108	$ 6,538	$ 15,785	$ 19,204

XML

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2017 - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Qualitytech, LP Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Qualitytech, LP General Partner	Qualitytech, LP Limited Partner	Qualitytech, LP	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Dividends in Excess of Earnings	Total stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016					$ 478	$ 931,783		$ (97,793)	$ 834,468	$ 118,342	$ 952,810
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016			$ 952,810
Partners' Capital, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016			$ 952,810	$ 952,810
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016					47,831
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			54,628
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		1
Net share activity through equity award plan			$ (1,634)	(1,634)	$ (6)	(1,428)			(1,434)	(200)	(1,634)
Issuance of shares through equity award plan, shares			590		590
Other comprehensive loss	$ (1,785)			(1,785)			$ (1,565)		(1,565)	(220)	(1,785)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest upon conversion of partnership units to common stock					$ 2	8,352			8,354	(8,354)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest upon conversion of partnership units to common stock, shares					241
Net proceeds from equity offering			$ 92,587	92,587	$ 18	82,125			82,143	10,444	92,587
Shares issued			1,762		1,762
Equity-based compensation expense			$ 10,507	10,507		9,224			9,224	1,283	10,507
Dividend to shareholder			(57,371)	(57,371)				(57,371)	(57,371)		(57,371)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(7,847)	(7,847)
Partnership distributions			(7,847)	(7,847)
Net income			17,570	17,570				15,424	15,424	2,146	17,570
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017					$ 504	$ 1,032,912	$ (1,565)	$ (139,740)	$ 892,111	$ 115,994	$ 1,008,105
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ (1,785)		1,009,890
Partners' Capital, Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017			$ 1,009,890	$ 1,008,105
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2017					50,424
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2017			56,980
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2017		1

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INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$ 6,538	$ 17,570	$ 19,204
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		100,455	88,767
Amortization of above and below market leases	300	699	337
Amortization of deferred loan costs		2,737	2,424
Amortization of senior notes discount		206	194
Equity-based compensation expense		10,507	7,887
Bad debt expense		1,750	1,201
Deferred tax benefit		(5,371)	(9,298)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Rents and other receivables, net		(7,518)	(9,191)
Prepaid expenses		(291)	(2,854)
Other assets		(367)	(967)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,145)	3,359
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		3,480	984
Deferred income		547	1,448
Net cash provided by operating activities		120,259	103,495
Cash flow from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		47,013	122,981
Additions to property and equipment		(236,971)	(197,751)
Net cash used in investing activities		(283,984)	(320,732)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Credit facility proceeds		221,000	267,000
Debt repayment		(81,000)	(259,002)
Debt proceeds		1,920
Payment of deferred financing costs		(200)	(35)
Payment of cash dividends		(54,919)	(45,371)
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(7,732)	(7,189)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,948	859
Payment of tax withholdings related to equity based awards		(3,310)	(2,111)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		(9,865)	(9,612)
Mortgage principal debt repayments		(38)
Equity proceeds, net of issuance costs		92,612	275,663
Net cash provided by financing activities		163,416	220,202
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(309)	2,965
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,580	8,804
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,769	9,271	11,769
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest (excluding deferred financing costs and amounts capitalized)		22,759	18,659
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued capital additions		28,368	40,344
Accrued deferred financing costs		8
Increase in other liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps		1,785
Accrued equity issuance costs		26
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired:
Land	7,440	5,019	7,440
Buildings, improvements and equipment	80,390		80,390
Construction in Progress	13,900	41,994	13,900
Rents and other receivables, net	(2,033)		(2,033)
Acquired intangibles	34,281		34,281
Deferred costs	4,391		4,391
Prepaid expenses	479		479
Goodwill			(7,895)
Other assets	303		303
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(922)		(922)
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities	(1,343)		(1,343)
Deferred income	35		35
Deferred income taxes	(6,045)		(6,045)
Total acquisitions, net of cash acquired		47,013	122,981
Qualitytech, LP
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	6,538	17,570	19,204
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		100,455	88,767
Amortization of above and below market leases		699	337
Amortization of deferred loan costs		2,737	2,424
Amortization of senior notes discount		206	194
Equity-based compensation expense		10,507	7,887
Bad debt expense		1,750	1,201
Deferred tax benefit		(5,371)	(9,298)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Rents and other receivables, net		(7,518)	(9,191)
Prepaid expenses		(291)	(2,854)
Other assets		(367)	(967)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,145)	3,359
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities		3,480	984
Deferred income		547	1,448
Net cash provided by operating activities		120,259	103,495
Cash flow from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		47,013	122,981
Additions to property and equipment		(236,971)	(197,751)
Net cash used in investing activities		(283,984)	(320,732)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Credit facility proceeds		221,000	267,000
Debt repayment		(81,000)	(259,002)
Debt proceeds		1,920
Payment of deferred financing costs		(200)	(35)
Payment of cash dividends		(54,919)	(45,371)
Partnership distributions		(7,732)	(7,189)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,948	859
Payment of tax withholdings related to equity based awards		(3,310)	(2,111)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		(9,865)	(9,612)
Mortgage principal debt repayments		(38)
Equity proceeds, net of issuance costs		92,612	275,663
Net cash provided by financing activities		163,416	220,202
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(309)	2,965
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		9,580	8,804
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	11,769	9,271	11,769
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest (excluding deferred financing costs and amounts capitalized)		22,759	18,659
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued capital additions		28,368	40,344
Accrued deferred financing costs		8
Increase in other liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps		1,785
Accrued equity issuance costs		26
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired:
Land	7,440	5,019	7,440
Buildings, improvements and equipment	80,390		80,390
Construction in Progress	13,900	41,994	13,900
Rents and other receivables, net	(2,033)		(2,033)
Acquired intangibles	34,281		34,281
Deferred costs	4,391		4,391
Prepaid expenses	479		479
Goodwill			(7,895)
Other assets	303		303
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(922)		(922)
Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities	(1,343)		(1,343)
Deferred income	35		35
Deferred income taxes	$ (6,045)		(6,045)
Total acquisitions, net of cash acquired		$ 47,013	$ 122,981

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Description of Business

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Description of Business [Abstract]

Description of Business

1. Description of Business

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (“QTS”) through its controlling interest in QualityTech, LP (the “Operating Partnership” and collectively with QTS and their subsidiaries, the “Company”) and the subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, is engaged in the business of owning, acquiring, redeveloping and managing multi-tenant data centers. The Company’s portfolio consists of 25 wholly-owned and leased properties with data centers located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

QTS has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013. As a REIT, QTS generally is not required to pay federal corporate income taxes on its taxable income to the extent it is currently distributed to its stockholders.

The Operating Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership formed on August 5, 2009 and is QTS’ historical predecessor. As of September 30, 2017, QTS owned approximately 88.5% of the interests in the Operating Partnership. Substantially all of QTS’ assets are held by, and QTS’ operations are conducted through, the Operating Partnership. QTS’ interest in the Operating Partnership entitles QTS to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the Operating Partnership in proportion to QTS’ percentage ownership. As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, QTS generally has the exclusive power under the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership to manage and conduct the Operating Partnership’s business and affairs, subject to certain limited approval and voting rights of the limited partners. QTS’ board of directors manages the Company’s business and affairs.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and management’s discussion and analysis included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017. The consolidated balance sheet data included herein as of December 31, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The accompanying financial statements are presented for both QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and QualityTech, LP. References to “QTS” mean QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its controlled subsidiaries and references to the “Operating Partnership” mean QualityTech, LP and its controlled subsidiaries.

In 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This standard amends certain guidance applicable to the consolidation of various legal entities, including variable interest entities (“VIE”). The Company evaluated the application of the ASU and concluded that no change was required to its accounting for its interest in the Operating Partnership. However, under the new guidance, the Operating Partnership now meets the definition and criteria of a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As discussed below, QTS’ only material asset is its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership, and consequently, all of its assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. QTS’ debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership where the creditors may have recourse, under certain circumstances, against the credit of QTS.

QTS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and its only material asset consists of its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership. Management operates QTS and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of QTS consists of the same employees as the management of the Operating Partnership. QTS does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and issuing public equity from time to time. QTS has not issued or guaranteed any indebtedness. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by QTS, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the business through its operations, the direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness, and the issuance of partnership units. Therefore, as general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, QTS consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes.

The Company believes, therefore, that providing one set of notes for the financial statements of QTS and the Operating Partnership provides the following benefits:

· enhances investors’ understanding of QTS and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;

· eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both QTS and the Operating Partnership; and

· creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one set of notes instead of two separate sets of notes.

In addition, in light of these combined notes, the Company believes it is important for investors to understand the few differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership in the context of how QTS and the Operating Partnership operate as a consolidated company. With respect to balance sheets, the presentation of stockholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated balance sheets of QTS and those of the Operating Partnership. On the Operating Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets, partners’ capital includes partnership units that are owned by QTS and other partners. On QTS’ consolidated balance sheets, stockholders’ equity includes common stock, additional paid in capital, and accumulated dividends in excess of earnings. The remaining equity reflected on QTS’s consolidated balance sheet is the portion of net assets that are retained by partners other than QTS, referred to as noncontrolling interests. With respect to statements of operations, the primary difference in QTS' Statements of Operations is that for net income, QTS retains its proportionate share of the net income based on its ownership of the Operating Partnership, with the remaining balance being retained by the Operating Partnership. These combined notes refer to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of “the Company.” Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that enters into contracts, holds assets and issues debt, management believes that these general references to “the Company” in this context is appropriate because the business is one enterprise operated through the Operating Partnership.

As discussed above, QTS owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. Also, the Operating Partnership owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of its subsidiaries. Obligations under the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the unsecured credit facility, both discussed in Note 6, are fully, unconditionally, and jointly and severally guaranteed by the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries, other than 1) 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, a subsidiary formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations, 2) seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations and 3) with respect to the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 only, QTS Finance Corporation, the co-issuer of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. As such, consolidating financial information for the guarantors is not being presented in the notes to the interim consolidated financial statements. However, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership to make distributions to QTS, subject to certain exceptions, including distributions required in order for QTS to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The interim consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 present the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries. This includes the operating results of the Operating Partnership for all periods presented.    

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of fixed assets, allowances for doubtful accounts and deferred tax assets and the valuation of derivatives, real estate assets, acquired intangible assets and certain accruals.

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. include the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of QualityTech, LP include the accounts of QualityTech, LP and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. 

Reclassifications – The consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflects a reclassification of $0.9 million from  “Payment of Tax Withholdings related to Equity Based Awards” to “Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options” in accordance with the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting as of January 1, 2017 with retrospective application of this provision.

Real Estate Assets – Real estate assets are reported at cost. All capital improvements for the income-producing properties that extend their useful lives are capitalized to individual property improvements and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation for real estate assets is generally provided on a straight-line basis over 40 years from the date the property was placed in service. Property improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the life of the respective improvement ranging from 20 to 40 years from the date the components were placed in service. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of 20 years or through the end of the respective life of the lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $22.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for a total of $25.9 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $20.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for a total of $23.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $66.1 million and $10.3 million, respectively, for a total of $76.4 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $57.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively, for a total of $67.1 million. The Company capitalizes certain development costs, including internal costs incurred in connection with development. The capitalization of costs during the construction period (including interest and related loan fees, property taxes and other direct and indirect costs) begins when development efforts commence and ends when the asset is ready for its intended use. Capitalization of such costs, excluding interest, aggregated to $3.6 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.5 million and $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Interest is capitalized during the period of development by first applying the Company’s actual borrowing rate on the related asset and second, to the extent necessary, by applying the Company’s weighted average effective borrowing rate to the actual development and other costs expended during the construction period. Interest is capitalized until the property is ready for its intended use. Interest costs capitalized totaled $3.6 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.9 million and $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

Acquisitions – Acquisitions of real estate and other entities are either accounted for as asset acquisitions or business combinations depending on facts and circumstances. Purchase accounting is applied to the assets and liabilities related to all real estate investments acquired in accordance with the accounting requirements of ASC 805, Business Combinations, which requires the recording of net assets of acquired businesses at fair value. The fair value of the consideration transferred is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting primarily of land, construction in progress, building and improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, value of in-place leases, value of customer relationships, trade names, software intangibles and capital leases. The excess of the fair value of liabilities assumed, common stock issued and cash paid over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired is allocated to goodwill, which is not amortized by the Company.

In developing estimates of fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, management analyzes a variety of factors including market data, estimated future cash flows of the acquired operations, industry growth rates, current replacement cost for fixed assets and market rate assumptions for contractual obligations. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, particularly with respect to the intangible assets.

Acquired in-place leases are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the underlying leases. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Acquired customer relationships are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the customer relationship. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Other acquired intangible assets, which includes platform, above or below market leases, and trade name intangibles, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective expected lives. Above or below market leases are amortized as a reduction to or increase in rental revenue as well as a reduction to rent expense over the remaining lease terms in the case of the Company as lessor. The expense associated with above and below market leases and trade name intangibles is accounted for as real estate expense, whereas the expense associated with the amortization of platform intangibles is accounted for as non-real estate expense.

See Note 3 for discussion of the final purchase price allocation for the Piscataway, New Jersey facility (the “Piscataway facility”) that the Company acquired on June 6, 2016 as well as the preliminary purchase price allocation for the Fort Worth, Texas facility (the “Fort Worth facility”) that the Company acquired on December 16, 2016.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill – The Company reviews its long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net cash flows, undiscounted and without interest, expected to be generated by the asset group. If the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the value of the undiscounted cash flows, the fair value of the asset is assessed and may be considered impaired. An impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired asset over its fair value. No impairment losses were recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The fair value of goodwill is the consideration transferred which is not allocable to identifiable intangible and tangible assets. Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment. As a result of the Carpathia Hosting, Inc. (“Carpathia”) acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $173.8 million in goodwill. In connection with the goodwill impairment evaluation that the Company performed on October 1, 2016, the Company determined qualitatively that there were no indicators of impairment, thus it did not perform a quantitative analysis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all demand deposits and money market accounts purchased with a maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s account balances at one or more institutions periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC coverage. The Company mitigates this risk by depositing a majority of its funds with several major financial institutions. The Company also has not experienced any losses and does not believe that the risk is significant. 

Deferred Costs – Deferred costs, net, on the Company’s balance sheets include both financing costs and leasing costs.

Deferred financing costs represent fees and other costs incurred in connection with obtaining debt and are amortized over the term of the loan and are included in interest expense. Debt issuance costs related to revolving debt arrangements are deferred and presented as assets on the balance sheet; however, all other debt issuance costs are recorded as a direct offset to the associated liability. Amortization of debt issuance costs, including those costs presented as offsets to the associated liability in the consolidated balance sheet, was $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $2.7 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred financing costs presented as assets on the balance sheet related to revolving debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	7,132	$	7,128
Accumulated amortization		(1,453)		(145)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	5,679	$	6,983

Deferred financing costs presented as offsets to the associated liabilities on the balance sheet related to fixed debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	12,943	$	12,779
Accumulated amortization		(4,089)		(2,660)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	8,854	$	10,119

Deferred leasing costs consist of external fees and internal costs incurred in the successful negotiations of leases and are deferred and amortized over the terms of the related leases on a straight-line basis. If an applicable lease terminates prior to the expiration of its initial term, the carrying amount of the costs are written off to amortization expense. Amortization of deferred leasing costs totaled $4.8 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $13.5 million and $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred leasing costs	$	54,411	$	50,026
Accumulated amortization		(21,918)		(18,502)
Deferred leasing costs, net	$	32,493	$	31,524

Advance Rents and Security Deposits – Advance rents, typically prepayment of the following month’s rent, consist of payments received from customers prior to the time they are earned and are recognized as revenue in subsequent periods when earned. Security deposits are collected from customers at the lease origination and are generally refunded to customers upon lease expiration. 

Deferred Income – Deferred income generally results from non-refundable charges paid by the customer at lease inception to prepare their space for occupancy. The Company records this initial payment, commonly referred to as set-up fees, as a deferred income liability which amortizes into rental revenue over the term of the related lease on a straight-line basis. Deferred income was $22.5 million and $22.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Additionally, $2.7 million and $2.4 million of deferred income was amortized into revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7.7 million and $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Equity-based Compensation – All equity-based compensation is measured at fair value on the grant date, and recognized in earnings over the requisite service period. Depending upon the settlement terms of the awards, all or a portion of the fair value of equity-based awards may be presented as a liability or as equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Equity-based compensation costs are measured based upon their estimated fair value on the date of grant or modification. Equity-based compensation expense was $3.7 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $10.5 million and $7.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Rental Revenue – The Company, as a lessor, has retained substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership and accounts for its leases as operating leases. For lease agreements that provide for scheduled rent increases, rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable term of the leases, which commences when control of the space has been provided to the customer. The amount of the straight-line rent receivable on the balance sheets included in rents and other receivables, net was $21.1 million and $17.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Rental revenue also includes amortization of set-up fees which are amortized over the term of the respective lease as discussed above. 

Cloud and Managed Services Revenue – The Company may provide both its cloud product and use of its managed services to its customers on an individual or combined basis. Service fee revenue is recognized as the revenue is earned, which generally coincides with the services being provided. 

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable – Rents receivable are recognized when due and are carried at cost, less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company records a provision for losses on rents receivable equal to the estimated uncollectible accounts, which is based on management’s historical experience and a review of the current status of the Company’s receivables. As necessary, the Company also establishes an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts for receivables arising from the straight-lining of rents. The aggregate allowance for doubtful accounts was $5.7 million and $4.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations – The Company evaluates leased real estate to determine whether the lease should be classified as a capital or operating lease in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company periodically enters into capital leases for certain equipment. In addition, through its acquisition of Carpathia Hosting, Inc. on June 16, 2015, the Company is party to capital leases for property and equipment, as well as financing obligations related to a sale-leaseback transaction. The outstanding liabilities for the capital leases were $10.0 million and $18.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The outstanding liabilities for the lease financing obligations were $18.8 million and $20.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The net book value of the assets associated with these leases was approximately $33.2 million and $41.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Depreciation related to the associated assets is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

See Note 6 for further discussion of capital leases and lease financing obligations. 

Recoveries from Customers – Certain customer leases contain provisions under which the customers reimburse the Company for a portion of the property’s real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses, which include certain power and cooling-related charges. The reimbursements are included in revenue as recoveries from customers in the Statements of Operations in the period the applicable expenditures are incurred. Certain customer leases are structured to provide a fixed monthly billing amount that includes an estimate of various operating expenses, with all revenue from such leases included in rental revenues. 

Segment Information – The Company manages its business as one operating segment and thus one reportable segment consisting of a portfolio of investments in data centers located primarily in the United States with others in Canada, Europe and Asia. 

Customer Concentrations – As of September 30, 2017, one of the Company’s customers represented 12.5% of its total monthly rental revenue. No other customers exceeded 5% of total monthly rental revenue.

As of September 30, 2017, five of the Company’s customers exceeded 5% of total accounts receivable. In aggregate, these five customers accounted for approximately 44% of total accounts receivable. Two of these five customers exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable.

Income Taxes – The Company has elected for two of its existing subsidiaries, Quality Technology Services Holdings, LLC and QTS Finance Corporation, to be taxed as taxable REIT subsidiaries pursuant to the REIT rules of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

For the taxable REIT subsidiaries, income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

As of December 31, 2014, one of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries’ deferred tax assets were primarily the result of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards. A valuation allowance was recorded against its gross deferred tax asset balance as of December 31, 2014. As a result of the acquisition of Carpathia, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that pre-existing deferred tax assets would be realized by the Company, and the valuation allowance was eliminated. The change in the valuation allowance resulting from the change in circumstances was included in income, and recognized as a deferred income tax benefit in the year ended December 31, 2015.

A deferred tax benefit has been recognized in subsequent periods, including in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, in connection with recorded operating losses. As of September 30, 2017, this taxable REIT subsidiary has a net deferred tax liability position primarily due to customer-based intangibles acquired as part of the Carpathia acquisition.

The Company provides for income taxes during interim periods based on the estimated effective tax rate for the year. The effective tax rate is subject to change in the future due to various factors such as the operating performance of the taxable REIT subsidiary, tax law changes and future business acquisitions. The taxable REIT subsidiary’s effective tax rates were 46.4% and 48.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

Interest Rate Swaps – On April 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan).

The Company reflects its forward interest rate swap agreements, which are designated as cash flow hedges, at fair value as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The forward interest rate swap agreements currently qualify for hedge accounting whereby the Company records the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instruments as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Any ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is immediately recognized within net income.

Fair Value Measurements – ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy is established that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company valued its interest rate swaps which were entered into in April 2017 utilizing Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. There were no financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016. The Company’s purchase price allocations of Piscataway and Fort Worth are fair value estimates that utilized Level 3 inputs and are measured on a non-recurring basis. See Note 3 for further detail on these acquisitions.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the current revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Under this new guidance, entities should recognize revenues to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires enhanced disclosures. In April 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. In May 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance related to the assessment of collectability, the definition of completed contracts at transition, and the measurement of the fair value of non-cash consideration at contract inception. The FASB also added new practical expedients for the presentation of sales taxes collected from customers and the accounting for contract modifications at transition. These amendments are not intended to change the core principles of the standard; however, they are intended to clarify important aspects of the guidance and improve its operability, as well as to address implementation issues. The amendments have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard, which is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Retrospective and modified retrospective application is allowed. The Company will adopt ASC Topic 606 effective January 1, 2018, and expects to elect the modified retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the standard will have on the consolidated financial statements. As leasing arrangements are excluded from the scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company expects that the new revenue standard will primarily affect its accounting policies related to non-lease components and is finalizing its analysis of those impacts but currently does not expect the new standard to materially change the pattern of recognition for the Company’s revenue that will be accounted for under ASC 606. The new revenue standard does require allocation of consideration to lease and non-lease components and, as a result, the Company does anticipate changes to its classification and disclosure of revenues under ASC 606 and is continuing to evaluate the allocation between lease and non lease components required under the new revenue standard. ASC Topic 606 also consolidates and simplifies the accounting for the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company does not expect the new standard to materially change the timing or amounts of revenue recognized related to the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company is continuing to evaluate the other impacts of the revenue standard and related cost guidance on its significant accounting policies and consolidated financial statements. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the current lease guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The core principle of Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from nearly all leases in the statement of financial position. Accounting applied by lessors will remain largely consistent with previous guidance, with additional changes set to align lessor accounting with the revised lessee model and the FASB’s revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, early adoption is permitted. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach. The Company plans to adopt ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, and is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard. As part of this analysis the Company is analyzing its lease portfolio as lessor and lessee and evaluating systems to comply with the standard’s retrospective adoption requirements. The new lease standard more narrowly defines initial direct costs as only costs that are incremental at the signing of a lease. As the Company does not currently capitalize material non-incremental costs, it expects the impact of this change to be immaterial to the financial statements. As lessee the Company does not anticipate the classification of its leases to change but it will recognize a new initial lease liability and right-of-use asset on the consolidated balance sheet for all operating leases which is expected to be material to our consolidated balance sheet. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The ASU includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements, including simplified income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, enhanced tax withholding rules, accounting policy options with regard to forfeitures and clarified guidance on statement of cash flow presentation. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this standard in the three months ended March 31, 2017, and provisions of the standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The standard provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification issues including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2018, and subsequent interim periods. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. Under current U.S. GAAP, the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers are deferred until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. The new guidance eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory. As a result, a reporting entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. The new guidance will be effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but the guidance can only be adopted in the first interim period of a fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The standard changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. As a result of this new guidance, acquisitions may now be more likely to result in a transaction being classified as an asset purchase rather than a business combination.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of today’s goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (i.e., measure the charge based on today’s Step 1). The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for calendar year-end public companies in 2020, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The provisions in the update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The guidance seeks to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12; Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 change the recognition and presentation requirements of hedge accounting, including the elimination of the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and the addition of a requirement to present all items that affect earnings in the same income statement line item as the hedged item. ASU 2017-12 also provides new alternatives for: applying hedge accounting to additional hedging strategies; measuring the hedged item in fair value hedges of interest rate risk; reducing the cost and complexity of applying hedge accounting by easing the requirements for effectiveness testing, hedge documentation and application of the critical terms match method; and reducing the risk of material error correction if a company applies the shortcut method inappropriately. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 18, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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Acquisitions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

3. Acquisitions

Fort Worth Acquisition

On December 16, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of the Fort Worth facility for approximately $50.1 million. This facility is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and consists of 53 acres and approximately 262,000 gross square feet.This facility has a basis of design of 80,000 square feet, 8  gross MW of current available power with an additional 8 gross MW available for further expansion. This acquisition was funded with a draw on the unsecured revolving credit facility. 

The Company accounted for this acquisition in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, as a business combination. The Company is generally valuing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using Level 3 inputs.

The following table summarizes the consideration for the Fort Worth facility and the preliminary allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands). This allocation is subject to change pending the final valuation of these assets and liabilities:

	Fort Worth Allocation as of September 30, 2017		Original Allocation Reported as of December 31, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	136	$	136	$	—
Buildings and improvements		610		610		—
Construction in progress		48,987		48,984		3
Acquired intangibles		237		240		(3)
Deferred costs		23		23		—
Other assets		7		7		—
Net Working Capital		86		86		—
Total identifiable assets acquired	$	50,086	$	50,086	$	—

No changes were recorded to the preliminary allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Piscataway Acquisition

On June 6, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of the Piscataway facility. This facility is located in the New York metro area on 38 acres and consists of 360,000 gross square feet, including approximately 89,000 square feet of raised floor, and approximately 18 MW of critical power. The Piscataway facility supports future growth with space for an additional approximately 87,000 square feet of raised floor in the existing structure, as well as capacity for over 8 MW of additional critical power. This acquisition was funded with a draw on the unsecured revolving credit facility.

The Company accounted for this acquisition in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, as a business combination. The Company is generally valuing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using Level 3 inputs.

In June 2017, the Company finalized the Piscataway purchase price allocation. The following table summarizes the Piscataway acquisition and the final allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands):

	Final Piscataway Allocation as of June 30, 2017			Original Allocation Reported as of June 30, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	7,466	$	7,440	$	26
Buildings and improvements		80,366		78,370		1,996
Construction in progress		13,900		13,900		—
Acquired intangibles		19,581		21,668		(2,087)
Deferred costs		4,390		4,084		306
Other assets		106		106		—
Total identifiable assets acquired		125,809		125,568		241
Acquired below market lease		809		568		241
Net working capital		2,019		2,019		—
Total liabilities assumed		2,828		2,587		241
Net identifiable assets acquired	$	122,981	$	122,981	$	—

Land Acquisitions

In August, the Company completed the acquisition of approximately 24 acres of land in Ashburn, Virginia for approximately $17 million. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has commenced development of a mega data center facility on the acquired land parcel. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

In July, the Company also completed the acquisition of approximately 84 acres of land in Phoenix, Arizona for $25 million to be used for future development. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

The fair value of the land acquired in both the aforementioned Ashburn and Phoenix purchases, aggregating $42 million, is included within the “Construction in Progress” line item of the consolidated balance sheets.

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Acquired Intangibles Assets and Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Acquired Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Acquired Intangibles Assets and Liabilities

4. Acquired Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Summarized below are the carrying values for the major classes of intangible assets and liabilities (unaudited and in thousands):

		September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value
Customer Relationships	1 to 12 years	$	95,705	$	(18,524)	$	77,181	$	95,705	$	(12,358)	$	83,347
In-Place Leases	0.5 to 10 years		32,066		(11,679)		20,387		32,066		(7,197)		24,869
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Platform Intangible	3 years		9,600		(7,333)		2,267		9,600		(4,933)		4,667
Acquired Favorable Leases	0.5 to 8 years		4,649		(2,049)		2,600		4,652		(1,013)		3,639
Tradenames	3 years		3,100		(2,368)		732		3,100		(1,593)		1,507
Total Intangible Assets		$	158,867	$	(44,581)	$	114,286	$	158,870	$	(29,116)	$	129,754
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Acquired Unfavorable Leases
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor	3 to 4 years		809		(316)		493		809		(138)		671
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee	11 to 12 years		2,453		(496)		1,957		2,453		(334)		2,119
Total Intangible Liabilities (2)		$	17,009	$	(3,440)	$	13,569	$	17,009	$	(2,494)	$	14,515

(1) Amortization related to the Solar Power Agreement asset and liability is recorded at the same rate and therefore has no net impact on the statement of operations.

(2) Intangible liabilities are included within the “Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities” line item of the consolidated balance sheets.

Above or below market leases are amortized as a reduction to or increase in rental revenue as well as a reduction to rent expense in the case of the Company as lessee over the remaining lease terms. The net effect of amortization of acquired above‑market and below‑market leases resulted in a net decrease in rental revenue of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The net effect of amortization of acquired above‑market and below‑market leases resulted in a net decrease in rental revenue of $0.7 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

	Net Rental Revenue Decreases		Rental Expense Decreases
2017 (October - December)	$	220	$	54
2018		682		216
2019		479		216
2020		647		216
2021		46		216
Thereafter		33		1,039
Total	$	2,107	$	1,957

Net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities was $4.6 million and $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities was $13.8 million and $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The estimated net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	4,353
2018		14,574
2019		11,965
2020		11,379
2021		10,137
Thereafter		48,159
Total	$	100,567

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Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress [Abstract]

Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress

5. Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress

The following is a summary of properties owned or leased by the Company as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited):

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	20,416	$	450,128	$	24,269	$	494,813
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		253,346		61,257		316,783
Irving, Texas		8,606		259,999		68,478		337,083
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		169,625		2,876		176,022
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		80,737		125,350		215,487
Leased Facilities *		1,130		123,052		11,000		135,182
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,571		36,250		126,287
Santa Clara, California **		—		100,565		6,909		107,474
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,529		1,868		65,878
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,823		469		53,992
Fort Worth, Texas		9,079		17,587		32,611		59,277
Ashburn, Virginia		—		—		32,829		32,829
Phoenix, Arizona		—		—		25,091		25,091
Other ***		2,213		35,541		133		37,887
	$	86,192	$	1,668,503	$	429,390	$	2,184,085

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS and Overland Park, KS facilities. During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, fixed assets and the associated accumulated depreciation related to the Duluth, GA facility (comprised of $1.9 million of land, $8.7 million of buildings, improvements, and equipment, and $0.1 million of construction in progress) were moved from Real Estate Assets, net to Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the facility was transitioned to corporate office space.

As of December 31, 2016:

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	15,397	$	434,965	$	32,422	$	482,784
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		237,347		70,580		310,107
Irving, Texas		8,606		204,713		69,653		282,972
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		171,376		2,013		176,910
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		45,848		100,623		155,871
Leased Facilities *		1,130		116,290		10,003		127,423
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,210		17,261		106,937
Santa Clara, California **		—		98,708		7,078		105,786
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,102		390		63,973
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,788		538		54,026
Fort Worth, Texas		136		610		49,116		49,862
Other ***		4,113		37,810		6,283		48,206
	$	74,130	$	1,524,767	$	365,960	$	1,964,857

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item, therefore has conformed December 31, 2016 information to comparable categories. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Duluth, GA facilities.

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Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

Debt

6.  Debt

Below is a listing of the Company’s outstanding debt, including capital leases and lease financing obligations, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

	Weighted Average
	Coupon Interest Rate at		September 30,		December 31,
	September 30, 2017	Maturities	2017		2016
	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Unsecured Credit Facility
Revolving Credit Facility	2.78%	December 17, 2020	$	279,000	$	139,000
Term Loan I	2.74%	December 17, 2021		300,000		300,000
Term Loan II	2.74%	April 27, 2022		200,000		200,000
Senior Notes	5.88%	August 1, 2022		300,000		300,000
Lenexa Mortgage	4.10%	May 1, 2022		1,882		—
Capital Lease and Lease Financing Obligations	3.87%	2017 - 2025		28,843		38,708
	3.63%			1,109,725		977,708
Less discount and net debt issuance costs				(10,410)		(11,882)
Total outstanding debt, net			$	1,099,315	$	965,826

Credit Facility, Senior Notes and Mortgage Notes Payable

(a) Unsecured Credit Facility – In December 2016, the Company amended and restated its unsecured credit facility, increasing the total capacity to $1.2 billion and extending the term. The unsecured credit facility includes a $300 million term loan which matures on December 17, 2021, a $200 million term loan which matures on April 27, 2022, and a $700 million revolving credit facility which matures on December 17, 2020, with a one year extension option. Amounts outstanding under the amended unsecured credit facility bear interest at a variable rate equal to, at the Company’s election, LIBOR or a base rate, plus a spread that will vary depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio. For revolving credit loans, the spread ranges from 1.55% to 2.15% for LIBOR loans and 0.55% to 1.15% for base rate loans. For term loans, the spread ranges from 1.50% to 2.10% for LIBOR loans and 0.50% to 1.10% for base rate loans. The unsecured credit facility also includes a $300 million accordion feature.

Under the unsecured credit facility, the capacity may be increased from the current capacity of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion subject to certain conditions set forth in the credit agreement, including the consent of the administrative agent and obtaining necessary commitments. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders assessed on the unused portion of the unsecured revolving credit facility. At the Company’s election, it can prepay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, in whole or in part, without penalty or premium.

The unsecured credit facility requires monthly interest payments and requires the Company to comply with various customary affirmative and negative covenants and quarterly financial covenant requirements relating to the debt service coverage ratio, fixed charge ratio, leverage ratio and tangible net worth and various other operational requirements.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had outstanding $779 million of indebtedness under the unsecured credit facility, consisting of $279 million of outstanding borrowings under the unsecured revolving credit facility and $500 million outstanding under the term loans, exclusive of net debt issuance costs of $3.6 million. In connection with the unsecured credit facility, as of September 30, 2017, the Company had additional letters of credit outstanding aggregating to $2.1 million. As of September 30, 2017, the weighted average interest rate for amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility was 2.75%.  

On April 5, 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan). The weighted average effective fixed interest rate on the $400 million notional amount of term loan financing, following the execution of these swap agreements, will approximate 3.5%, commencing on January 2, 2018, assuming the current LIBOR spread of 1.5%.

(b) Senior Notes – On July 23, 2014, the Operating Partnership and QTS Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the offering of the notes described below (collectively, the “Issuers”), issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Notes”). The Senior Notes have an interest rate of 5.875% per annum, were issued at a price equal to 99.211% of their face value and mature on August 1, 2022. The proceeds from the offering were used to repay amounts outstanding under the unsecured credit facility, including $75 million outstanding under the term loan. As of September 30, 2017, the discount recorded on the Senior Notes was $1.6 million and the outstanding net debt issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes were $5.3 million.

The Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries, receivables entities, 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, which is a Delaware limited liability company formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations and seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations) and future subsidiaries that guarantee any indebtedness of QTS Realty Trust, Inc., the Issuers or any other subsidiary guarantor. QTS Realty Trust, Inc. does not guarantee the Senior Notes and will not be required to guarantee the Senior Notes except under certain circumstances. The offering was conducted pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and on April 23, 2015, all of the outstanding originally issued Senior Notes were tendered in an exchange offer for 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Exchange Notes”). The Exchange Notes did not provide the Company with any additional proceeds and satisfied its obligations under a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes. As described in the Note 14 - Subsequent Events, the Company expects to redeem the Senior Notes with a portion of the net proceeds from the pending issuance of $400 million of 4.75% senior notes due in 2025 that is expected to close on November 8, 2017.

(c) Lenexa Mortgage – On March 8, 2017, the Company entered into a $1.9 million mortgage loan secured by its Lenexa facility. This mortgage has a fixed rate of 4.1%, with periodic principal payments due monthly and a balloon payment of $1.6 million in May 2022. As of September 30, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Lenexa mortgage was $1.9 million.

The annual remaining principal payment requirements as of September 30, 2017 per the contractual maturities and excluding extension options, capital leases and lease financing obligations, are as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	11
2018		65
2019		68
2020		279,071
2021		300,074
Thereafter		501,593
Total	$	1,080,882

As of September 30, 2017,  the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.  

Capital Leases

The Company has historically entered into capital leases for certain equipment.  In addition, through its acquisition of Carpathia on June 16, 2015, the Company acquired capital leases of both equipment and certain properties. Total outstanding liabilities for capital leases were $10.0 million as of September 30, 2017, of which $7.1 million were assumed through the Carpathia acquisition, all of which was related to the lease of real property.  Carpathia had entered into capital lease arrangements for datacenter space under two lease agreements expiring in 2018 and 2019 at its Harrisonburg, Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia locations. Total recurring monthly payments range from approximately $0.2 million to $0.5 million during the terms of the leases, in addition to payments made for utilities. Depreciation related to the associated assets for the capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

Lease Financing Obligations

Through the acquisition of Carpathia, the Company assumed lease financing obligations totaling $18.8 million at September 30, 2017, of which $17.8 million related to a sale-leaseback transaction where Carpathia has continuing involvement. On December 23, 2011, Carpathia sold the shell of a building and the associated land to an unrelated third party. Carpathia leases the property back and is a party to an agreement with the same third party that constructed a new building on the adjoining property for use as a data center. Carpathia is primarily responsible for financing the improvements and outfitting the building with the necessary equipment. The third party leases back the new building in stages to Carpathia as the various stages are completed. In accordance with ASC 840-40, Leases, Carpathia has continuing involvement with the related leased assets; therefore, the Company will continue to account for the existing building shell and the associated land as fixed assets and will capitalize the construction costs of the new building. The financing obligation related to the building and equipment was $16.4 million at September 30, 2017. In addition, due to Carpathia’s continuing involvement, it was required to defer a gain on the sale of the assets. The deferred gain was $1.4 million at September 30, 2017, and is also included in lease financing obligations. The Company purchased the asset related to this financing obligation in October 2017 as described in Note 14 - Subsequent Events.

The financing obligation is reduced as rental payments are made on the existing building, which include amounts attributable to both principal and interest. Depreciation expense on the related asset is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

The Company, through its acquisition of Carpathia, also has a lease financing agreement in connection with a $4.8 million tenant improvement allowance on one of its data center lease agreements. The financing requires monthly payments of principal and interest of less than $0.1 million through February 2019. The outstanding balance on the financing agreement was $1.0 million as of September 30, 2017. Depreciation expense on the related leasehold improvements is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

The following table summarizes the Company’s combined future payment obligations, excluding interest, as of September 30, 2017, on the capital leases and lease financing obligations above (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	3,078
2018		9,370
2019		2,844
2020		2,190
2021		2,388
Thereafter		8,973
Total	$	28,843

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Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

7. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various routine legal proceedings and other matters in the ordinary course of business. One of the Company’s subsidiaries, Carpathia Hosting, LLC (“Carpathia”), was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in state court in New York. Carpathia’s customer, Portal Healthcare Solutions (“Portal Ascend”) allegedly had a security breach between November 2012 and March 2013. Portal Ascend has agreed to indemnify Carpathia in this litigation and has provided legal counsel to defend Carpathia. The court denied plaintiffs motion to certify the case as a class action.

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans [Abstract]

Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans

8. Partners’ Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans

QualityTech, LP

QTS has the full power and authority to do all the things necessary to conduct the business of the Operating Partnership.

As of September 30, 2017, the Operating Partnership had two classes of limited partnership units outstanding: Class A units of limited partnership interest (“Class A units”) and Class O LTIP units of limited partnership units (“Class O units”). The Class A units are now redeemable at any time for cash or shares of Class A common stock of QTS. The Company may in its sole discretion elect to assume and satisfy the redemption amount with cash or its shares. Class O units were issued upon grants made under the QualityTech, LP 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Equity Incentive Plan”). Class O units are pari passu with Class A units. Each Class O unit is convertible into Class A units by the Operating Partnership at any time or by the holder at any time following full vesting (if such unit is subject to vesting) based on formulas contained in the partnership agreement.

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

In connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), QTS issued Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Class B common stock entitles the holder to 50 votes per share and was issued to enable the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to exchange 2% of his Operating Partnership units so he may have a vote proportionate to his economic interest in the Company. Also in connection with its IPO, QTS adopted the QTS Realty Trust, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive plan (the “2013 Equity Incentive Plan”), which authorized 1,750,000 shares of Class A common stock to be issued under the plan, including options to purchase Class A common stock, restricted Class A common stock, Class O units, and Class RS LTIP units of limited partnership interest. In May 2015, the total number of shares available for issuance under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan was increased to 4,750,000.

The following is a summary of award activity under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited):  

	2010 Equity Incentive Plan					2013 Equity Incentive Plan
	Number of Class O units	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Options	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Restricted Stock		Weighted average grant date value
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	1,134,811	$	24.06	$	3.62	1,058,297	$	31.72	$	6.51	414,691		$	40.67
Granted	—		—		—	468,875		50.66		10.32	228,576			50.25
Exercised/Vested (1)	(552,146)		24.66		2.14	(154,965)		31.93		6.61	(130,368)			41.22
Cancelled/Expired	—		—		—	(2,000)		37.69		8.77	(69,903)	(2)		40.49
Outstanding at September 30, 2017	582,665	$	23.49	$	5.03	1,370,207	$	38.17	$	7.80	442,996		$	45.48

(1) This represents Class O units which were converted to Class A units and options to purchase Class A common stock which were exercised for their respective columns. This also represents the Class A common stock that has been released from restriction and which was not surrendered by the holder to satisfy the holder’s federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

(2) Includes restricted Class A common stock surrendered by certain employees to satisfy their federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

The assumptions and fair values for restricted stock and options to purchase shares of Class A common stock granted for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 are included in the following table on a per unit basis (unaudited). Options to purchase shares of Class A common stock were valued using the Black-Scholes model.

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Fair value of restricted stock granted	$48.63 - $51.88
Fair value of options granted	$10.11 - $10.36
Expected term (years)	5.5 - 5.9
Expected volatility	28%
Expected dividend yield	3.08%
Expected risk-free interest rates	2.12% - 2.18%

The following table summarizes information about awards outstanding as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited).

	Operating Partnership Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Class O Units	$	20.00 - 25.00	582,665	—
Total Operating Partnership awards outstanding			582,665

	QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Restricted stock	$	—	442,996	1.8
Options to purchase Class A common stock	$	21.00 - 50.66	1,370,207	0.9
Total QTS Realty Trust, Inc. awards outstanding			1,813,203

As of September 30, 2017, there were no Class RS units outstanding. Any remaining nonvested awards are valued as of the grant date and generally vest ratably over a defined service period. As of September 30, 2017 there were approximately 0.4 million and 0.6 million nonvested restricted Class A common stock and options to purchase Class A common stock outstanding, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 the Company had $21.7 million of unrecognized equity-based compensation expense which will be recognized over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of 1.1 years. The total intrinsic value of the awards outstanding at September 30, 2017 was $59.6 million.

Dividends and Distributions

The following tables present quarterly cash dividends and distributions paid to QTS’ common stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s unit holders for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited):

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Record Date	PaymentDate	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 16, 2017	July 6, 2017	$	0.39	$	21.6
March 16, 2017	April 5, 2017	$	0.39		21.4
December 16, 2016	January 5, 2017	$	0.36		19.7
				$	62.7

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Record Date	Payment Date	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 17, 2016	July 6, 2016	$	0.36	$	19.7
March 18, 2016	April 5, 2016	$	0.36		17.4
December 17, 2015	January 6, 2016	$	0.32		15.4
				$	52.5

Additionally, on October 5, 2017, the Company paid its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per common share and per unit in the Operating Partnership to stockholders and unit holders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2017.

Equity Issuances

In March 2017, the Company established an “at-the-market” equity offering program (the “ATM Program”) pursuant to which the Company may issue, from time to time, up to $300 million of its Class A common stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,015,332 shares of QTS’ Class A common stock under the ATM Program at a weighted average price of $53.65 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $54 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,761,681 shares of QTS’ Class A common stock under the ATM Program at a weighted average price of $53.63 per share which generated net proceeds of approximately $93 million.

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In June 2015, the Company established the QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2015 Plan”) to give eligible employees the opportunity to purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in the open market by an independent broker with the Company paying the brokerage commissions and fees associated with such share purchases. The 2015 Plan became effective July 1, 2015. The Company reserved 250,000 shares of its Class A common stock for purchase under the 2015 Plan, which were registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 filed on June 17, 2015.

On May 4, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The 2017 Plan became effective July 1, 2017 and is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors (or by a committee of one or more persons appointed by it or the board of directors). The 2017 Plan permits participants to purchase the Company’s Class A common stock at a discount of up to 10% (as determined by the Compensation Committee). Employees of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries who have been employed for at least thirty days and who perform at least thirty hours of service per week for the Company are eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan, excluding any employee who, after exercising his or her rights to purchase shares under the 2017 Plan, would own shares representing five percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company, or who is a Section 16 officer. Under the 2017 Plan, there are four purchase periods per year, and participants may deduct a minimum of $20 per paycheck and a maximum of $1,000 per paycheck towards the purchase of shares. Shares purchased under the 2017 Plan are subject to a one-year holding period following the purchase date, during which they may not be sold or transferred.

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Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

9. Related Party Transactions

The Company periodically executes transactions with entities affiliated with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Such transactions include automobile, furniture and equipment purchases as well as building operating lease payments and receipts, and reimbursement for the use of a private aircraft service by the Company’s officers and directors.

The transactions which occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are outlined below (unaudited and in thousands): 

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Tax, utility, insurance and other reimbursement	$	118	$	155	$	467	$	527
Rent expense		254		254		762		761
Capital assets acquired		32		24		384		191
Total	$	404	$	433	$	1,613	$	1,479

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Noncontrolling Interest

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interest

10. Noncontrolling Interest

Concurrently with the completion of the IPO, QTS consummated a series of transactions pursuant to which QTS became the sole general partner and majority owner of QualityTech, LP, which then became its operating partnership. The previous owners of QualityTech, LP retained 21.2% ownership of the Operating Partnership as of the date of the IPO.

Commencing at any time beginning November 1, 2014, at the election of the holders of the noncontrolling interest, the Class A units of the Operating Partnership are redeemable for cash or, at the election of the Company, Class A common stock of the Company on a one-for-one basis. As a result of approximately 0.5 million redemptions of Class A units into Class A common stock and the issuance of additional common stock, the noncontrolling ownership interest of QualityTech, LP, was 11.5% at September 30, 2017.

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Earnings per share of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Earnings per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per Share

11. Earnings per share of QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

Basic income per share is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share adjusts basic income per share for the effects of potentially dilutive common shares.

The computation of basic and diluted net income per share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data, and unaudited):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders - basic	$	6,507	$	5,730	$	15,424	$	16,719
Effect of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and income allocated to participating securities		684		808		1,496		2,485
Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,191	$	6,538	$	16,920	$	19,204
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		48,714		47,855		47,862		45,651
Effect of Class A and Class RS partnership units		6,669		6,767		6,744		6,787
Effect of Class O units and options to purchase Class A common stock and restricted Class A common stock on an "as if" converted basis *		788		1,066		799		982
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		56,171		55,688		55,405		53,420
Basic net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.37
Diluted net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.36

* The Class A units and Class O units represent limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, and are described in more detail in Note 8.

No securities were antidilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and as such, no securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share for those periods.

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Customer Leases, as Lessor

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Customer Leases, as Lessor

12. Customer Leases, as Lessor

Future minimum lease payments to be received under non-cancelable operating customer leases (inclusive of payments for contracts which have not yet commenced, and exclusive of recoveries of operating costs from customers) are as follows for the years ending December 31 (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	91,771
2018		310,606
2019		222,798
2020		164,134
2021		131,335
Thereafter		168,089
Total	$	1,088,733

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

13. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC Topic 825 requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated balance sheets, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon the application of discount rates to estimated future cash flows based upon market yields or by using other valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and develop estimated fair value. Accordingly, fair values are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize on disposition of the financial instruments. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair value amounts.

Short-term instruments: The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Interest rate swaps: The effective portion of changes in the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps, which are derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statement of comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. There was no ineffectiveness recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, therefore the entire $1.8 million unrealized loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to the interest rate swaps was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. No amounts were recorded in other comprehensive income or loss on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $1.8 million interest rate swap liability as of September 30, 2017 is recorded within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities.

The Company valued its interest rate swaps utilizing Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The majority of the inputs used to determine the fair value of the interest rate swaps fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy while certain credit valuation adjustments to the fair value utilize Level 3 inputs such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties. However, as of September 30, 2017, the Company assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company does not have any fair value measurements on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

Credit facility and Senior Notes: The Company’s unsecured credit facility did not have interest rates which were materially different than current market conditions and therefore, the fair value approximated the carrying value.  The fair value of the Company’s Senior Notes was estimated using Level 2 “significant other observable inputs,” primarily based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issuances. At September 30, 2017, the fair value of the Senior Notes was approximately $311.1 million.

Other debt instruments: The fair value of the Company’s other debt instruments (including capital leases, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable) were estimated in the same manner as the unsecured credit facility above. Similarly, each of these instruments did not have interest rates which were materially different than current market conditions and therefore, the fair value of each instrument approximated the respective carrying values.

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Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

14. Subsequent Events

On October 5, 2017, the Company paid its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.39 per common share and per unit in the Operating Partnership to stockholders and unit holders of record as of the close of business on September 22, 2017.

Additionally, in October 2017, the Company completed the following transactions:

· The Company completed the acquisition of approximately 92 acres of land in Hillsboro, Oregon at a purchase price of approximately $26 million.

· The Company completed the acquisition of approximately 28 acres of land in Ashburn, Virginia for approximately $36 million.

· The Company completed the buyout of its Vault Campus in Dulles, Virginia. The Company previously leased the property under a capital lease agreement of approximately $17.8 million and purchased it for approximately $34.1 million cash, for a net purchase price of $16.3 million.

· The Operating Partnership, Quality Tech, LP, and QTS Finance Corporation (collectively, the “Issuers”), the Company and certain of its other subsidiaries entered into a purchase agreement pursuant to which the Issuers expect to issue $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% senior notes due November 15, 2025 (the “Notes”) in a private offering. The Notes will have an interest rate of 4.750% per annum and will be issued at a price equal to 100% of their face value. The net proceeds from the offering are expected to be used to fund the redemption of, and satisfy and discharge the indenture pursuant to which the Issuers issued, all of their outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and to repay a portion of the amount outstanding under the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.The Notes will be offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in the U.S. pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Company will pay one-time fees in the fourth quarter of 2017 associated with issuance of the Notes, including a call premium to redeem the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and management’s discussion and analysis included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017. The consolidated balance sheet data included herein as of December 31, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The accompanying financial statements are presented for both QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and QualityTech, LP. References to “QTS” mean QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its controlled subsidiaries and references to the “Operating Partnership” mean QualityTech, LP and its controlled subsidiaries.

In 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. This standard amends certain guidance applicable to the consolidation of various legal entities, including variable interest entities (“VIE”). The Company evaluated the application of the ASU and concluded that no change was required to its accounting for its interest in the Operating Partnership. However, under the new guidance, the Operating Partnership now meets the definition and criteria of a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As discussed below, QTS’ only material asset is its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership, and consequently, all of its assets and liabilities represent those assets and liabilities of the Operating Partnership. QTS’ debt is an obligation of the Operating Partnership where the creditors may have recourse, under certain circumstances, against the credit of QTS.

QTS is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, and its only material asset consists of its ownership interest in the Operating Partnership. Management operates QTS and the Operating Partnership as one business. The management of QTS consists of the same employees as the management of the Operating Partnership. QTS does not conduct business itself, other than acting as the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and issuing public equity from time to time. QTS has not issued or guaranteed any indebtedness. Except for net proceeds from public equity issuances by QTS, which are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for units of limited partnership interest of the Operating Partnership, the Operating Partnership generates all remaining capital required by the business through its operations, the direct or indirect incurrence of indebtedness, and the issuance of partnership units. Therefore, as general partner with control of the Operating Partnership, QTS consolidates the Operating Partnership for financial reporting purposes.

The Company believes, therefore, that providing one set of notes for the financial statements of QTS and the Operating Partnership provides the following benefits:

· enhances investors’ understanding of QTS and the Operating Partnership by enabling investors to view the business as a whole in the same manner as management views and operates the business;

· eliminates duplicative disclosure and provides a more streamlined and readable presentation since a substantial portion of the disclosure applies to both QTS and the Operating Partnership; and

· creates time and cost efficiencies through the preparation of one set of notes instead of two separate sets of notes.

In addition, in light of these combined notes, the Company believes it is important for investors to understand the few differences between QTS and the Operating Partnership in the context of how QTS and the Operating Partnership operate as a consolidated company. With respect to balance sheets, the presentation of stockholders’ equity and partners’ capital are the main areas of difference between the consolidated balance sheets of QTS and those of the Operating Partnership. On the Operating Partnership’s consolidated balance sheets, partners’ capital includes partnership units that are owned by QTS and other partners. On QTS’ consolidated balance sheets, stockholders’ equity includes common stock, additional paid in capital, and accumulated dividends in excess of earnings. The remaining equity reflected on QTS’s consolidated balance sheet is the portion of net assets that are retained by partners other than QTS, referred to as noncontrolling interests. With respect to statements of operations, the primary difference in QTS' Statements of Operations is that for net income, QTS retains its proportionate share of the net income based on its ownership of the Operating Partnership, with the remaining balance being retained by the Operating Partnership. These combined notes refer to actions or holdings as being actions or holdings of “the Company.” Although the Operating Partnership is generally the entity that enters into contracts, holds assets and issues debt, management believes that these general references to “the Company” in this context is appropriate because the business is one enterprise operated through the Operating Partnership.

As discussed above, QTS owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries. Also, the Operating Partnership owns no operating assets and has no operations independent of its subsidiaries. Obligations under the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the unsecured credit facility, both discussed in Note 6, are fully, unconditionally, and jointly and severally guaranteed by the Operating Partnership’s existing subsidiaries, other than 1) 2470 Satellite Boulevard, LLC, a subsidiary formed in December 2015 that acquired an office building in Duluth, Georgia and has de minimis assets and operations, 2) seven other subsidiaries that own vacant land purchased during or subsequent to the three months ended September 30, 2017, or were formed in connection with such land purchases, and have de minimis assets and operations and 3) with respect to the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 only, QTS Finance Corporation, the co-issuer of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. As such, consolidating financial information for the guarantors is not being presented in the notes to the interim consolidated financial statements. However, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 restricts the ability of the Operating Partnership to make distributions to QTS, subject to certain exceptions, including distributions required in order for QTS to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

The interim consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 present the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority owned subsidiaries. This includes the operating results of the Operating Partnership for all periods presented.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of fixed assets, allowances for doubtful accounts and deferred tax assets and the valuation of derivatives, real estate assets, acquired intangible assets and certain accruals.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. include the accounts of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of QualityTech, LP include the accounts of QualityTech, LP and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications – The consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 reflects a reclassification of $0.9 million from  “Payment of Tax Withholdings related to Equity Based Awards” to “Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options” in accordance with the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting as of January 1, 2017 with retrospective application of this provision.

Real Estate Assets

Real Estate Assets – Real estate assets are reported at cost. All capital improvements for the income-producing properties that extend their useful lives are capitalized to individual property improvements and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Depreciation for real estate assets is generally provided on a straight-line basis over 40 years from the date the property was placed in service. Property improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the life of the respective improvement ranging from 20 to 40 years from the date the components were placed in service. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of 20 years or through the end of the respective life of the lease. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $22.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for a total of $25.9 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $20.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for a total of $23.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $66.1 million and $10.3 million, respectively, for a total of $76.4 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, depreciation expense related to real estate assets and non-real estate assets was $57.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively, for a total of $67.1 million. The Company capitalizes certain development costs, including internal costs incurred in connection with development. The capitalization of costs during the construction period (including interest and related loan fees, property taxes and other direct and indirect costs) begins when development efforts commence and ends when the asset is ready for its intended use. Capitalization of such costs, excluding interest, aggregated to $3.6 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.5 million and $9.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Interest is capitalized during the period of development by first applying the Company’s actual borrowing rate on the related asset and second, to the extent necessary, by applying the Company’s weighted average effective borrowing rate to the actual development and other costs expended during the construction period. Interest is capitalized until the property is ready for its intended use. Interest costs capitalized totaled $3.6 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $9.9 million and $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions – Acquisitions of real estate and other entities are either accounted for as asset acquisitions or business combinations depending on facts and circumstances. Purchase accounting is applied to the assets and liabilities related to all real estate investments acquired in accordance with the accounting requirements of ASC 805, Business Combinations, which requires the recording of net assets of acquired businesses at fair value. The fair value of the consideration transferred is allocated to the acquired tangible assets, consisting primarily of land, construction in progress, building and improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market leases, value of in-place leases, value of customer relationships, trade names, software intangibles and capital leases. The excess of the fair value of liabilities assumed, common stock issued and cash paid over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired is allocated to goodwill, which is not amortized by the Company.

In developing estimates of fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, management analyzes a variety of factors including market data, estimated future cash flows of the acquired operations, industry growth rates, current replacement cost for fixed assets and market rate assumptions for contractual obligations. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, particularly with respect to the intangible assets.

Acquired in-place leases are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the underlying leases. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Acquired customer relationships are amortized as amortization expense on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the customer relationship. This amortization expense is accounted for as real estate amortization expense.

Other acquired intangible assets, which includes platform, above or below market leases, and trade name intangibles, are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective expected lives. Above or below market leases are amortized as a reduction to or increase in rental revenue as well as a reduction to rent expense over the remaining lease terms in the case of the Company as lessor. The expense associated with above and below market leases and trade name intangibles is accounted for as real estate expense, whereas the expense associated with the amortization of platform intangibles is accounted for as non-real estate expense.

See Note 3 for discussion of the final purchase price allocation for the Piscataway, New Jersey facility (the “Piscataway facility”) that the Company acquired on June 6, 2016 as well as the preliminary purchase price allocation for the Fort Worth, Texas facility (the “Fort Worth facility”) that the Company acquired on December 16, 2016.

Impairment of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill – The Company reviews its long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net cash flows, undiscounted and without interest, expected to be generated by the asset group. If the net carrying value of the asset exceeds the value of the undiscounted cash flows, the fair value of the asset is assessed and may be considered impaired. An impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the impaired asset over its fair value. No impairment losses were recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The fair value of goodwill is the consideration transferred which is not allocable to identifiable intangible and tangible assets. Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment. As a result of the Carpathia Hosting, Inc. (“Carpathia”) acquisition, the Company recognized approximately $173.8 million in goodwill. In connection with the goodwill impairment evaluation that the Company performed on October 1, 2016, the Company determined qualitatively that there were no indicators of impairment, thus it did not perform a quantitative analysis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all demand deposits and money market accounts purchased with a maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s account balances at one or more institutions periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC coverage. The Company mitigates this risk by depositing a majority of its funds with several major financial institutions. The Company also has not experienced any losses and does not believe that the risk is significant.

Deferred Costs

Deferred Costs – Deferred costs, net, on the Company’s balance sheets include both financing costs and leasing costs.

Deferred financing costs represent fees and other costs incurred in connection with obtaining debt and are amortized over the term of the loan and are included in interest expense. Debt issuance costs related to revolving debt arrangements are deferred and presented as assets on the balance sheet; however, all other debt issuance costs are recorded as a direct offset to the associated liability. Amortization of debt issuance costs, including those costs presented as offsets to the associated liability in the consolidated balance sheet, was $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $2.7 million and $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred financing costs presented as assets on the balance sheet related to revolving debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	7,132	$	7,128
Accumulated amortization		(1,453)		(145)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	5,679	$	6,983

Deferred financing costs presented as offsets to the associated liabilities on the balance sheet related to fixed debt arrangements, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	12,943	$	12,779
Accumulated amortization		(4,089)		(2,660)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	8,854	$	10,119

Deferred leasing costs consist of external fees and internal costs incurred in the successful negotiations of leases and are deferred and amortized over the terms of the related leases on a straight-line basis. If an applicable lease terminates prior to the expiration of its initial term, the carrying amount of the costs are written off to amortization expense. Amortization of deferred leasing costs totaled $4.8 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $13.5 million and $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred leasing costs	$	54,411	$	50,026
Accumulated amortization		(21,918)		(18,502)
Deferred leasing costs, net	$	32,493	$	31,524

Advance Rents and Security Deposits

Advance Rents and Security Deposits – Advance rents, typically prepayment of the following month’s rent, consist of payments received from customers prior to the time they are earned and are recognized as revenue in subsequent periods when earned. Security deposits are collected from customers at the lease origination and are generally refunded to customers upon lease expiration.

Deferred Income

Deferred Income – Deferred income generally results from non-refundable charges paid by the customer at lease inception to prepare their space for occupancy. The Company records this initial payment, commonly referred to as set-up fees, as a deferred income liability which amortizes into rental revenue over the term of the related lease on a straight-line basis. Deferred income was $22.5 million and $22.0 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Additionally, $2.7 million and $2.4 million of deferred income was amortized into revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7.7 million and $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Equity-based Compensation

Equity-based Compensation – All equity-based compensation is measured at fair value on the grant date, and recognized in earnings over the requisite service period. Depending upon the settlement terms of the awards, all or a portion of the fair value of equity-based awards may be presented as a liability or as equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Equity-based compensation costs are measured based upon their estimated fair value on the date of grant or modification. Equity-based compensation expense was $3.7 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $10.5 million and $7.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Rental Revenue

Rental Revenue – The Company, as a lessor, has retained substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership and accounts for its leases as operating leases. For lease agreements that provide for scheduled rent increases, rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable term of the leases, which commences when control of the space has been provided to the customer. The amount of the straight-line rent receivable on the balance sheets included in rents and other receivables, net was $21.1 million and $17.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Rental revenue also includes amortization of set-up fees which are amortized over the term of the respective lease as discussed above.

Cloud and Managed Services Revenue

Cloud and Managed Services Revenue – The Company may provide both its cloud product and use of its managed services to its customers on an individual or combined basis. Service fee revenue is recognized as the revenue is earned, which generally coincides with the services being provided.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable – Rents receivable are recognized when due and are carried at cost, less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company records a provision for losses on rents receivable equal to the estimated uncollectible accounts, which is based on management’s historical experience and a review of the current status of the Company’s receivables. As necessary, the Company also establishes an appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts for receivables arising from the straight-lining of rents. The aggregate allowance for doubtful accounts was $5.7 million and $4.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations

Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations – The Company evaluates leased real estate to determine whether the lease should be classified as a capital or operating lease in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company periodically enters into capital leases for certain equipment. In addition, through its acquisition of Carpathia Hosting, Inc. on June 16, 2015, the Company is party to capital leases for property and equipment, as well as financing obligations related to a sale-leaseback transaction. The outstanding liabilities for the capital leases were $10.0 million and $18.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The outstanding liabilities for the lease financing obligations were $18.8 million and $20.6 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The net book value of the assets associated with these leases was approximately $33.2 million and $41.5 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Depreciation related to the associated assets is included in depreciation and amortization expense in the Statements of Operations.

See Note 6 for further discussion of capital leases and lease financing obligations.

Recoveries from Customers

Recoveries from Customers – Certain customer leases contain provisions under which the customers reimburse the Company for a portion of the property’s real estate taxes, insurance and other operating expenses, which include certain power and cooling-related charges. The reimbursements are included in revenue as recoveries from customers in the Statements of Operations in the period the applicable expenditures are incurred. Certain customer leases are structured to provide a fixed monthly billing amount that includes an estimate of various operating expenses, with all revenue from such leases included in rental revenues.

Segment Information

Segment Information – The Company manages its business as one operating segment and thus one reportable segment consisting of a portfolio of investments in data centers located primarily in the United States with others in Canada, Europe and Asia. 

Customer Concentrations

Customer Concentrations – As of September 30, 2017, one of the Company’s customers represented 12.5% of its total monthly rental revenue. No other customers exceeded 5% of total monthly rental revenue.

As of September 30, 2017, five of the Company’s customers exceeded 5% of total accounts receivable. In aggregate, these five customers accounted for approximately 44% of total accounts receivable. Two of these five customers exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes – The Company has elected for two of its existing subsidiaries, Quality Technology Services Holdings, LLC and QTS Finance Corporation, to be taxed as taxable REIT subsidiaries pursuant to the REIT rules of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

For the taxable REIT subsidiaries, income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

As of December 31, 2014, one of the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiaries’ deferred tax assets were primarily the result of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards. A valuation allowance was recorded against its gross deferred tax asset balance as of December 31, 2014. As a result of the acquisition of Carpathia, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that pre-existing deferred tax assets would be realized by the Company, and the valuation allowance was eliminated. The change in the valuation allowance resulting from the change in circumstances was included in income, and recognized as a deferred income tax benefit in the year ended December 31, 2015.

A deferred tax benefit has been recognized in subsequent periods, including in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, in connection with recorded operating losses. As of September 30, 2017, this taxable REIT subsidiary has a net deferred tax liability position primarily due to customer-based intangibles acquired as part of the Carpathia acquisition.

The Company provides for income taxes during interim periods based on the estimated effective tax rate for the year. The effective tax rate is subject to change in the future due to various factors such as the operating performance of the taxable REIT subsidiary, tax law changes and future business acquisitions. The taxable REIT subsidiary’s effective tax rates were 46.4% and 48.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Interest Rate Swaps

Interest Rate Swaps – On April 2017, the Company entered into forward interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million. The forward swap agreements effectively will fix the interest rate on $400 million of term loan borrowings from January 2, 2018 through the current maturity dates, which are December 17, 2021 and April 27, 2022 ($200 million of swaps allocated to each term loan).

The Company reflects its forward interest rate swap agreements, which are designated as cash flow hedges, at fair value as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The forward interest rate swap agreements currently qualify for hedge accounting whereby the Company records the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instruments as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Any ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is immediately recognized within net income.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements – ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, a fair value hierarchy is established that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability (other than quoted prices), such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are typically based on an entity’s own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company valued its interest rate swaps which were entered into in April 2017 utilizing Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. There were no financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016. The Company’s purchase price allocations of Piscataway and Fort Worth are fair value estimates that utilized Level 3 inputs and are measured on a non-recurring basis. See Note 3 for further detail on these acquisitions.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the current revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Under this new guidance, entities should recognize revenues to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires enhanced disclosures. In April 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. In May 2016, the FASB finalized amendments to the guidance related to the assessment of collectability, the definition of completed contracts at transition, and the measurement of the fair value of non-cash consideration at contract inception. The FASB also added new practical expedients for the presentation of sales taxes collected from customers and the accounting for contract modifications at transition. These amendments are not intended to change the core principles of the standard; however, they are intended to clarify important aspects of the guidance and improve its operability, as well as to address implementation issues. The amendments have the same effective date and transition requirements as the new revenue standard, which is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Retrospective and modified retrospective application is allowed. The Company will adopt ASC Topic 606 effective January 1, 2018, and expects to elect the modified retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of the standard will have on the consolidated financial statements. As leasing arrangements are excluded from the scope of ASC Topic 606, the Company expects that the new revenue standard will primarily affect its accounting policies related to non-lease components and is finalizing its analysis of those impacts but currently does not expect the new standard to materially change the pattern of recognition for the Company’s revenue that will be accounted for under ASC 606. The new revenue standard does require allocation of consideration to lease and non-lease components and, as a result, the Company does anticipate changes to its classification and disclosure of revenues under ASC 606 and is continuing to evaluate the allocation between lease and non lease components required under the new revenue standard. ASC Topic 606 also consolidates and simplifies the accounting for the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company does not expect the new standard to materially change the timing or amounts of revenue recognized related to the Company’s cloud and managed services portfolio. The Company is continuing to evaluate the other impacts of the revenue standard and related cost guidance on its significant accounting policies and consolidated financial statements. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the current lease guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The core principle of Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from nearly all leases in the statement of financial position. Accounting applied by lessors will remain largely consistent with previous guidance, with additional changes set to align lessor accounting with the revised lessee model and the FASB’s revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, early adoption is permitted. The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach. The Company plans to adopt ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, and is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard. As part of this analysis the Company is analyzing its lease portfolio as lessor and lessee and evaluating systems to comply with the standard’s retrospective adoption requirements. The new lease standard more narrowly defines initial direct costs as only costs that are incremental at the signing of a lease. As the Company does not currently capitalize material non-incremental costs, it expects the impact of this change to be immaterial to the financial statements. As lessee the Company does not anticipate the classification of its leases to change but it will recognize a new initial lease liability and right-of-use asset on the consolidated balance sheet for all operating leases which is expected to be material to our consolidated balance sheet. The Company will disclose any changes to this analysis as identified.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The ASU includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements, including simplified income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, enhanced tax withholding rules, accounting policy options with regard to forfeitures and clarified guidance on statement of cash flow presentation. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this standard in the three months ended March 31, 2017, and provisions of the standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The standard provides guidance on eight specific cash flow classification issues including debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2018, and subsequent interim periods. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. Under current U.S. GAAP, the tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers are deferred until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. The new guidance eliminates the exception for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory. As a result, a reporting entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. The new guidance will be effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but the guidance can only be adopted in the first interim period of a fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The standard changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. As a result of this new guidance, acquisitions may now be more likely to result in a transaction being classified as an asset purchase rather than a business combination.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of today’s goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (i.e., measure the charge based on today’s Step 1). The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for calendar year-end public companies in 2020, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The provisions in the update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The guidance seeks to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The guidance will be applied prospectively and is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12; Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 change the recognition and presentation requirements of hedge accounting, including the elimination of the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and the addition of a requirement to present all items that affect earnings in the same income statement line item as the hedged item. ASU 2017-12 also provides new alternatives for: applying hedge accounting to additional hedging strategies; measuring the hedged item in fair value hedges of interest rate risk; reducing the cost and complexity of applying hedge accounting by easing the requirements for effectiveness testing, hedge documentation and application of the critical terms match method; and reducing the risk of material error correction if a company applies the shortcut method inappropriately. The guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 18, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company does not expect the provisions of the standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Deferred Financing Costs, Net of Accumulated Amortization

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	7,132	$	7,128
Accumulated amortization		(1,453)		(145)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	5,679	$	6,983

Deferred Leasing Costs, Net of Accumulated Amortization

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred leasing costs	$	54,411	$	50,026
Accumulated amortization		(21,918)		(18,502)
Deferred leasing costs, net	$	32,493	$	31,524

Fixed debt arrangements

Deferred Financing Costs, Net of Accumulated Amortization

	September 30,		December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2017		2016
	(unaudited)
Deferred financing costs	$	12,943	$	12,779
Accumulated amortization		(4,089)		(2,660)
Deferred financing costs, net	$	8,854	$	10,119

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Acquisitions (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Schedule of the Preliminary Allocation of the Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Acquisition

The following table summarizes the consideration for the Fort Worth facility and the preliminary allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands). This allocation is subject to change pending the final valuation of these assets and liabilities:

	Fort Worth Allocation as of September 30, 2017		Original Allocation Reported as of December 31, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	136	$	136	$	—
Buildings and improvements		610		610		—
Construction in progress		48,987		48,984		3
Acquired intangibles		237		240		(3)
Deferred costs		23		23		—
Other assets		7		7		—
Net Working Capital		86		86		—
Total identifiable assets acquired	$	50,086	$	50,086	$	—

Piscataway Facility

Schedule of the Preliminary Allocation of the Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Acquisition

In June 2017, the Company finalized the Piscataway purchase price allocation. The following table summarizes the Piscataway acquisition and the final allocation of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date (unaudited and in thousands):

	Final Piscataway Allocation as of June 30, 2017			Original Allocation Reported as of June 30, 2016		Adjusted Fair Value
Land	$	7,466	$	7,440	$	26
Buildings and improvements		80,366		78,370		1,996
Construction in progress		13,900		13,900		—
Acquired intangibles		19,581		21,668		(2,087)
Deferred costs		4,390		4,084		306
Other assets		106		106		—
Total identifiable assets acquired		125,809		125,568		241
Acquired below market lease		809		568		241
Net working capital		2,019		2,019		—
Total liabilities assumed		2,828		2,587		241
Net identifiable assets acquired	$	122,981	$	122,981	$	—

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Acquired Intangibles Assets and Liabilities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Acquired Intangible Assets and Liabilities

Schedule of carrying values for the major classes of intangible assets and liabilities

Summarized below are the carrying values for the major classes of intangible assets and liabilities (unaudited and in thousands):

		September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Value
Customer Relationships	1 to 12 years	$	95,705	$	(18,524)	$	77,181	$	95,705	$	(12,358)	$	83,347
In-Place Leases	0.5 to 10 years		32,066		(11,679)		20,387		32,066		(7,197)		24,869
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Platform Intangible	3 years		9,600		(7,333)		2,267		9,600		(4,933)		4,667
Acquired Favorable Leases	0.5 to 8 years		4,649		(2,049)		2,600		4,652		(1,013)		3,639
Tradenames	3 years		3,100		(2,368)		732		3,100		(1,593)		1,507
Total Intangible Assets		$	158,867	$	(44,581)	$	114,286	$	158,870	$	(29,116)	$	129,754
Solar Power Agreement (1)	17 years		13,747		(2,628)		11,119		13,747		(2,022)		11,725
Acquired Unfavorable Leases
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor	3 to 4 years		809		(316)		493		809		(138)		671
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee	11 to 12 years		2,453		(496)		1,957		2,453		(334)		2,119
Total Intangible Liabilities (2)		$	17,009	$	(3,440)	$	13,569	$	17,009	$	(2,494)	$	14,515

(1) Amortization related to the Solar Power Agreement asset and liability is recorded at the same rate and therefore has no net impact on the statement of operations.

(2) Intangible liabilities are included within the “Advance rents, security deposits and other liabilities” line item of the consolidated balance sheets.

Schedule of estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases

The estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

	Net Rental Revenue Decreases		Rental Expense Decreases
2017 (October - December)	$	220	$	54
2018		682		216
2019		479		216
2020		647		216
2021		46		216
Thereafter		33		1,039
Total	$	2,107	$	1,957

Schedule of estimated amortization of all other identified intangible assets

The estimated net amortization of all other identified intangible assets and liabilities for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ending December 31 is as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	4,353
2018		14,574
2019		11,965
2020		11,379
2021		10,137
Thereafter		48,159
Total	$	100,567

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Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress (Tables)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Dec. 31, 2016

Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress [Abstract]

Summary of Properties Owned or Leased by the Company

The following is a summary of properties owned or leased by the Company as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2017 (unaudited):

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	20,416	$	450,128	$	24,269	$	494,813
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		253,346		61,257		316,783
Irving, Texas		8,606		259,999		68,478		337,083
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		169,625		2,876		176,022
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		80,737		125,350		215,487
Leased Facilities *		1,130		123,052		11,000		135,182
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,571		36,250		126,287
Santa Clara, California **		—		100,565		6,909		107,474
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,529		1,868		65,878
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,823		469		53,992
Fort Worth, Texas		9,079		17,587		32,611		59,277
Ashburn, Virginia		—		—		32,829		32,829
Phoenix, Arizona		—		—		25,091		25,091
Other ***		2,213		35,541		133		37,887
	$	86,192	$	1,668,503	$	429,390	$	2,184,085

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS and Overland Park, KS facilities. During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, fixed assets and the associated accumulated depreciation related to the Duluth, GA facility (comprised of $1.9 million of land, $8.7 million of buildings, improvements, and equipment, and $0.1 million of construction in progress) were moved from Real Estate Assets, net to Other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the facility was transitioned to corporate office space.

As of December 31, 2016:

Property Location	Land		Buildings, Improvements and Equipment		Construction in Progress		Total Cost
Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)	$	15,397	$	434,965	$	32,422	$	482,784
Richmond, Virginia		2,180		237,347		70,580		310,107
Irving, Texas		8,606		204,713		69,653		282,972
Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)		3,521		171,376		2,013		176,910
Chicago, Illinois		9,400		45,848		100,623		155,871
Leased Facilities *		1,130		116,290		10,003		127,423
Piscataway, New Jersey		7,466		82,210		17,261		106,937
Santa Clara, California **		—		98,708		7,078		105,786
Sacramento, California		1,481		62,102		390		63,973
Princeton, New Jersey		20,700		32,788		538		54,026
Fort Worth, Texas		136		610		49,116		49,862
Other ***		4,113		37,810		6,283		48,206
	$	74,130	$	1,524,767	$	365,960	$	1,964,857

*Includes 13 facilities. All facilities are leased, including those subject to capital leases. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company moved its Jersey City, NJ facility to the “Leased facilities” line item, therefore has conformed December 31, 2016 information to comparable categories. In October 2017, the Company finalized the buyout of the Vault facility in Dulles, VA that was previously subject to a capital lease agreement. As the purchase occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Vault facility is included within the “Leased Facilities” line item herein.

**Owned facility subject to long-term ground sublease.

***Consists of Miami, FL; Lenexa, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Duluth, GA facilities.

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Debt (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

Outstanding Debt Including Capital Leases and Lease Financing Obligations

Below is a listing of the Company’s outstanding debt, including capital leases and lease financing obligations, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

	Weighted Average
	Coupon Interest Rate at		September 30,		December 31,
	September 30, 2017	Maturities	2017		2016
	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Unsecured Credit Facility
Revolving Credit Facility	2.78%	December 17, 2020	$	279,000	$	139,000
Term Loan I	2.74%	December 17, 2021		300,000		300,000
Term Loan II	2.74%	April 27, 2022		200,000		200,000
Senior Notes	5.88%	August 1, 2022		300,000		300,000
Lenexa Mortgage	4.10%	May 1, 2022		1,882		—
Capital Lease and Lease Financing Obligations	3.87%	2017 - 2025		28,843		38,708
	3.63%			1,109,725		977,708
Less discount and net debt issuance costs				(10,410)		(11,882)
Total outstanding debt, net			$	1,099,315	$	965,826

Annual Remaining Principal Payment

The annual remaining principal payment requirements as of September 30, 2017 per the contractual maturities and excluding extension options, capital leases and lease financing obligations, are as follows (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	11
2018		65
2019		68
2020		279,071
2021		300,074
Thereafter		501,593
Total	$	1,080,882

Schedule of Combined Future Payment Obligations, Excluding Interest

The following table summarizes the Company’s combined future payment obligations, excluding interest, as of September 30, 2017, on the capital leases and lease financing obligations above (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	3,078
2018		9,370
2019		2,844
2020		2,190
2021		2,388
Thereafter		8,973
Total	$	28,843

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans [Abstract]

Summary of Award Activity Under 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and Related Information

The following is a summary of award activity under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and related information for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited):  

	2010 Equity Incentive Plan					2013 Equity Incentive Plan
	Number of Class O units	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Options	Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average fair value		Restricted Stock		Weighted average grant date value
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	1,134,811	$	24.06	$	3.62	1,058,297	$	31.72	$	6.51	414,691		$	40.67
Granted	—		—		—	468,875		50.66		10.32	228,576			50.25
Exercised/Vested (1)	(552,146)		24.66		2.14	(154,965)		31.93		6.61	(130,368)			41.22
Cancelled/Expired	—		—		—	(2,000)		37.69		8.77	(69,903)	(2)		40.49
Outstanding at September 30, 2017	582,665	$	23.49	$	5.03	1,370,207	$	38.17	$	7.80	442,996		$	45.48

(1) This represents Class O units which were converted to Class A units and options to purchase Class A common stock which were exercised for their respective columns. This also represents the Class A common stock that has been released from restriction and which was not surrendered by the holder to satisfy the holder’s federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

(2) Includes restricted Class A common stock surrendered by certain employees to satisfy their federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of restricted common stock.

Summary of Assumptions and Fair Values for Restricted Stock and Options to Purchase Shares of Class A Common Stock Granted

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Fair value of restricted stock granted	$48.63 - $51.88
Fair value of options granted	$10.11 - $10.36
Expected term (years)	5.5 - 5.9
Expected volatility	28%
Expected dividend yield	3.08%
Expected risk-free interest rates	2.12% - 2.18%

Summary of Information About Awards Outstanding

The following table summarizes information about awards outstanding as of September 30, 2017 (unaudited).

	Operating Partnership Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Class O Units	$	20.00 - 25.00	582,665	—
Total Operating Partnership awards outstanding			582,665

	QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Awards Outstanding
	Exercise prices		Awards outstanding	Weighted average remaining vesting period (years)
Restricted stock	$	—	442,996	1.8
Options to purchase Class A common stock	$	21.00 - 50.66	1,370,207	0.9
Total QTS Realty Trust, Inc. awards outstanding			1,813,203

Schedule of Quarterly Cash Dividends

The following tables present quarterly cash dividends and distributions paid to QTS’ common stockholders and the Operating Partnership’s unit holders for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited):

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Record Date	PaymentDate	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 16, 2017	July 6, 2017	$	0.39	$	21.6
March 16, 2017	April 5, 2017	$	0.39		21.4
December 16, 2016	January 5, 2017	$	0.36		19.7
				$	62.7

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Record Date	Payment Date	Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		Aggregate Dividend/Distribution Amount (in millions)
June 17, 2016	July 6, 2016	$	0.36	$	19.7
March 18, 2016	April 5, 2016	$	0.36		17.4
December 17, 2015	January 6, 2016	$	0.32		15.4
				$	52.5

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Related Party Transactions (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Summary of Related Party Transactions

The transactions which occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are outlined below (unaudited and in thousands): 

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Tax, utility, insurance and other reimbursement	$	118	$	155	$	467	$	527
Rent expense		254		254		762		761
Capital assets acquired		32		24		384		191
Total	$	404	$	433	$	1,613	$	1,479

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Earnings per share of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Earnings per Share [Abstract]

Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The computation of basic and diluted net income per share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data, and unaudited):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders - basic	$	6,507	$	5,730	$	15,424	$	16,719
Effect of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and income allocated to participating securities		684		808		1,496		2,485
Net income available to common stockholders	$	7,191	$	6,538	$	16,920	$	19,204
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		48,714		47,855		47,862		45,651
Effect of Class A and Class RS partnership units		6,669		6,767		6,744		6,787
Effect of Class O units and options to purchase Class A common stock and restricted Class A common stock on an "as if" converted basis *		788		1,066		799		982
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		56,171		55,688		55,405		53,420
Basic net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.37
Diluted net income per share	$	0.13	$	0.12	$	0.31	$	0.36

* The Class A units and Class O units represent limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership, and are described in more detail in Note 8.

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Customer Leases, as Lessor (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Future Minimum Lease Payments to be Received Under Non-Cancelable Operating Customer Leases

Future minimum lease payments to be received under non-cancelable operating customer leases (inclusive of payments for contracts which have not yet commenced, and exclusive of recoveries of operating costs from customers) are as follows for the years ending December 31 (unaudited and in thousands):

2017 (October - December)	$	91,771
2018		310,606
2019		222,798
2020		164,134
2021		131,335
Thereafter		168,089
Total	$	1,088,733

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Description of Business (Narrative) (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017 property
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Number of properties	25
Carpathia Hosting, Inc.
Organization And Description Of Business [Line Items]
Ownership interest	88.50%

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 23, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
The number of other subsidiaries excluded from guaranty provisions | subsidiary	7		7
Payment of minimum tax withholdings related to equity based awards			$ 3,310	$ 2,111
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 4,948	859
Useful life of property			40 years
Depreciation expense from operation	$ 25,900	$ 23,800	$ 76,400	67,100
Real estate cost capitalized excluding interest cost	3,600	2,800	9,500	9,100
Real estate interest cost capitalized incurred	3,600	2,500	9,900	8,400
Qualitytech, LP
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Payment of minimum tax withholdings related to equity based awards			3,310	2,111
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			4,948	859
Real Estate Assets
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Depreciation expense from operation	22,600	20,400	66,100	57,600
Non-Real Estate Assets
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Depreciation expense from operation	$ 3,300	$ 3,400	$ 10,300	$ 9,500
Minimum | Real Property
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property			20 years
Maximum | Real Property
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property			40 years
Maximum | Leasehold Improvements
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Useful life of property			20 years
Senior Notes.
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest rate					5.875%	5.875%
Cash Inflows | Accounting Standards Update 201609
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			$ 900
Cash Outflows | Accounting Standards Update 201609
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Payment of minimum tax withholdings related to equity based awards			$ 900

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Additional Information 1) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment losses	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill	173,843		173,843		$ 173,843
Amortization of the deferred financing costs			2,737	2,424
Amortization of deferred leasing costs totaled	4,800	3,700	13,500	10,800
Deferred income	22,540		22,540		21,993
Amortization of deferred revenue	2,700	2,400	7,700	6,500
Company recorded equity-based compensation expense net of repurchased awards and forfeits	3,700	2,600	10,500	7,900
Amount of the straight-line rent receivable on the balance sheets included in rents and other receivables, net	21,100		21,100		$ 17,300
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Amortization of the deferred financing costs	$ 900	$ 800	$ 2,700	$ 2,400

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Deferred Financing Costs, Net of Accumulated Amortization) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred financing costs	$ 7,132	$ 7,128
Accumulated amortization	(1,453)	(145)
Deferred financing costs, net	5,679	6,983
Fixed debt arrangements
Deferred financing costs	12,943	12,779
Accumulated amortization	(4,089)	(2,660)
Deferred financing costs, net	$ 8,854	$ 10,119

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Deferred Leasing Costs, Net of Accumulated Amortization) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Deferred leasing costs	$ 54,411	$ 50,026
Accumulated amortization	(21,918)	(18,502)
Deferred leasing costs, net	$ 32,493	$ 31,524

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Additional Information 2) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capital lease obligations	$ 10,000		$ 10,000			$ 18,100
Lease financing obligations	18,800		18,800			20,600
Net book value of assets associated with leases	$ 33,200		$ 33,200			41,500
Number of operating segments | segment			1
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Financial assets						0
Financial liability						0
Number of subsidiaries taxed as taxable REIT | subsidiary			2
Number of REIT subsidiaries' deferred tax assets due to U.S. NOL carryforwards | subsidiary	1		1
Effective tax rate			46.40%	48.90%
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps	$ (286)		$ (1,785)
Interest Rate Swap
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Derivative instruments, notional amount					$ 400,000
Decrease in fair value of interest rate swaps		$ 0		$ 0
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Face Amount					400,000
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan Maturing December 17,2021
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Derivative instruments, notional amount					200,000
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan Maturing April 27, 2022
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Derivative instruments, notional amount					$ 200,000
Accounts Receivable
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Aggregate allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,700		$ 5,700			$ 4,200
Customer One | Rental Revenue
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of total revenue			12.50%
No Other Customers | Rental Revenue | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of total revenue			5.00%
Five Customers | Accounts Receivable
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of total accounts receivable	44.00%		44.00%
Five Customers | Accounts Receivable | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of total accounts receivable	5.00%		5.00%
Two Customers [Member] | Accounts Receivable | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of total accounts receivable	10.00%		10.00%
Carpathia Hosting, Inc.
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Lease financing obligations	$ 18,800		$ 18,800

XML

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 16, 2016 USD ($) ft² a MW	Jun. 06, 2016 ft² a MW
Fort Worth Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition	Dec. 16, 2016
Acquisition costs | $	$ 50.1
Acres of real estate property | a	53
Area of facility (in square feet)	262,000
Fort Worth Facility | Basis Of Design With Eight MW Available Power
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Area of facility (in square feet)	80,000
Capacity of the plant (in MW) | MW	8
Fort Worth Facility | Additional Critical Power
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Capacity of the plant (in MW) | MW	8
Piscataway Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition		Jun. 06, 2016
Acres of real estate property | a		38
Area of facility (in square feet)		360,000
Piscataway Facility | Raised Floor With 18 MW of Critical Power
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Area of facility (in square feet)		89,000
Capacity of the plant (in MW) | MW		18
Piscataway Facility | Additional Raised Floor With 8 MW of Additional Critical Power
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Area of facility (in square feet)		87,000
Capacity of the plant (in MW) | MW		8

XML

Acquisitions (Allocation of the Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed as of the Acquisition Date) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land	$ 5,019		$ 7,440
Buildings and improvements			80,390
Construction in Progress	41,994		13,900
Deferred costs			4,391
Other assets			$ 303
Fort Worth Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land	136
Buildings and improvements	610
Construction in Progress	48,987
Acquired intangibles	237
Deferred costs	23
Other assets	7
Net working capital	86
Total identifiable assets acquired	50,086
Fort Worth Facility | Original Allocation Reported
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land		$ 136
Buildings and improvements		610
Construction in Progress		48,984
Acquired intangibles		240
Deferred costs		23
Other assets		7
Net working capital		86
Total identifiable assets acquired		$ 50,086
Fort Worth Facility | Adjustment
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Construction in Progress	3
Acquired intangibles	(3)
Piscataway Facility
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land				$ 7,466
Buildings and improvements				80,366
Construction in Progress				13,900
Acquired intangibles				19,581
Deferred costs				4,390
Other assets				106
Total identifiable assets acquired				125,809
Acquired below market lease				809
Net working capital				2,019
Total liabilities assumed				2,828
Net identifiable assets acquired				122,981
Piscataway Facility | Original Allocation Reported
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land				7,440
Buildings and improvements				78,370
Construction in Progress				13,900
Acquired intangibles				21,668
Deferred costs				4,084
Other assets				106
Total identifiable assets acquired				125,568
Acquired below market lease				568
Net working capital				2,019
Total liabilities assumed				2,587
Net identifiable assets acquired				$ 122,981
Piscataway Facility | Adjustment
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Land	26
Buildings and improvements	1,996
Acquired intangibles	(2,087)
Deferred costs	306
Total identifiable assets acquired	241
Acquired below market lease	241
Total liabilities assumed	$ 241

XML

Acquisitions (Land Parcels) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) a	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Construction in progress			$ 429,390	$ 365,960
Ashburn, Virginia And Phoenix, Arizona Land | Construction in Progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Fair value of land acquired			$ 42,000
Land in Ashburn, Virginia
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acres of land | a	24
Payments to Acquire Land	$ 17,000
Phoenix Arizona Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Acres of land | a		84
Payments to Acquire Land		$ 25,000

XML

Acquired Intangibles Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross Carrying Value	$ 158,867	$ 158,870
Accumulated Amortization	(44,581)	(29,116)
Net Carrying Value	114,286	129,754
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor
Gross Carrying Value	809	809
Accumulated Amortization	(316)	(138)
Net Carrying Value	493	671
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee
Gross Carrying Value	2,453	2,453
Accumulated Amortization	(496)	(334)
Net Carrying Value	1,957	2,119
Acquired Intangible Liabilities
Acquired intangible liabilities	17,009	17,009
Accumulated Amortization	(3,440)	(2,494)
New Carrying Value	$ 13,569	$ 14,515
Minimum
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor
Useful Lives	3 years	3 years
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee
Useful Lives	11 years	11 years
Maximum
Acquired below market leases - as Lessor
Useful Lives	4 years	4 years
Acquired above market leases - as Lessee
Useful Lives	12 years	12 years
Customer Relationships
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross Carrying Value	$ 95,705	$ 95,705
Accumulated Amortization	(18,524)	(12,358)
Net Carrying Value	$ 77,181	$ 83,347
Customer Relationships | Minimum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	1 year	1 year
Customer Relationships | Maximum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	12 years	12 years
In Place Leases
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross Carrying Value	$ 32,066	$ 32,066
Accumulated Amortization	(11,679)	(7,197)
Net Carrying Value	$ 20,387	$ 24,869
In Place Leases | Minimum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	6 months	6 months
In Place Leases | Maximum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	10 years	10 years
Platform Intangible
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	3 years	3 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 9,600	$ 9,600
Accumulated Amortization	(7,333)	(4,933)
Net Carrying Value	2,267	4,667
Acquired favorable leases
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross Carrying Value	4,649	4,652
Accumulated Amortization	(2,049)	(1,013)
Net Carrying Value	$ 2,600	$ 3,639
Acquired favorable leases | Minimum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	6 months	6 months
Acquired favorable leases | Maximum
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	8 years	8 years
Tradenames
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	3 years	3 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 3,100	$ 3,100
Accumulated Amortization	(2,368)	(1,593)
Net Carrying Value	$ 732	$ 1,507
Solar Power Agreement
Finite-lived intangible assets
Useful Lives	17 years	17 years
Gross Carrying Value	$ 13,747	$ 13,747
Accumulated Amortization	(2,628)	(2,022)
Net Carrying Value	$ 11,119	$ 11,725

XML

Acquired Intangibles Assets and Liabilities - Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Acquired Intangible Assets and Liabilities
Amortization of acquired above and below-market leases, net	$ 200	$ 300	$ 699	$ 337
Amortization of all other identified intangible assets	4,600	$ 5,200	13,800	$ 13,800
Estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases Rental Expense
2017 (October - December)	54		54
2018	216		216
2019	216		216
2020	216		216
2021	216		216
Thereafter	1,039		1,039
Total	1,957		1,957
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities Amortization
Above Market Lease Net	1,957		1,957		$ 2,119
Estimated amortization of all other identified intangible assets
Net Carrying Value	114,286		114,286		129,754
Acquired favorable leases
Estimated amortization of all other identified intangible assets
Net Carrying Value	2,600		2,600		3,639
Acquired favorable leases
Estimated amortization of acquired favorable and unfavorable leases Rental Revenue
2017 (October - December)	220		220
2018	682		682
2019	479		479
2020	647		647
2021	46		46
Thereafter	33		33
Total	2,107		2,107
All other identified intangible assets
Estimated amortization of all other identified intangible assets
2017 (July - December)	4,353		4,353
2018	14,574		14,574
2019	11,965		11,965
2020	11,379		11,379
2021	10,137		10,137
Thereafter	48,159		48,159
Net Carrying Value	100,567		100,567
Solar Power Agreement
Estimated amortization of all other identified intangible assets
Net Carrying Value	$ 11,119		$ 11,119		$ 11,725

XML

Real Estate Assets and Construction in Progress (Summary of Properties Owned or Leased by the Company) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) property	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	$ 86,192		$ 74,130
Buildings and improvements	1,668,503		1,524,767
Construction in progress	429,390		365,960
Total cost	$ 2,184,085		$ 1,964,857
Number of facilities leased | property	13		13
Duluth, Georgia | Other Assets.
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		$ 1,900
Buildings and improvements		8,700
Construction in progress		$ 100
Owned Properties | Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta-Metro)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	$ 20,416		$ 15,397
Buildings and improvements	450,128		434,965
Construction in progress	24,269		32,422
Total cost	494,813		482,784
Owned Properties | Richmond, Virginia
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	2,180		2,180
Buildings and improvements	253,346		237,347
Construction in progress	61,257		70,580
Total cost	316,783		310,107
Owned Properties | Irving Texas
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	8,606		8,606
Buildings and improvements	259,999		204,713
Construction in progress	68,478		69,653
Total cost	337,083		282,972
Owned Properties | Suwanee, Georgia (Atlanta-Suwanee)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	3,521		3,521
Buildings and improvements	169,625		171,376
Construction in progress	2,876		2,013
Total cost	176,022		176,910
Owned Properties | Chicago, Illinois
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	9,400		9,400
Buildings and improvements	80,737		45,848
Construction in progress	125,350		100,623
Total cost	215,487		155,871
Owned Properties | Piscataway New Jersey
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	7,466		7,466
Buildings and improvements	82,571		82,210
Construction in progress	36,250		17,261
Total cost	126,287		106,937
Owned Properties | Santa Clara, California
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Buildings and improvements	100,565		98,708
Construction in progress	6,909		7,078
Total cost	107,474		105,786
Owned Properties | Sacramento, California
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	1,481		1,481
Buildings and improvements	62,529		62,102
Construction in progress	1,868		390
Total cost	65,878		63,973
Owned Properties | Princeton, New Jersey
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	20,700		20,700
Buildings and improvements	32,823		32,788
Construction in progress	469		538
Total cost	53,992		54,026
Owned Properties | Fort Worth, Texas
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	9,079		136
Buildings and improvements	17,587		610
Construction in progress	32,611		49,116
Total cost	59,277		49,862
Owned Properties | Ashburn, Virginia
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Construction in progress	32,829
Total cost	32,829
Owned Properties | Phoenix, Arizona
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Construction in progress	25,091
Total cost	25,091
Owned Properties | Other
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	2,213		4,113
Buildings and improvements	35,541		37,810
Construction in progress	133		6,283
Total cost	37,887		48,206
Leased Properties | Owned Properties
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land	1,130
Buildings and improvements	123,052
Construction in progress	11,000
Total cost	$ 135,182
Leased Properties | Owned Properties | Princeton, New Jersey
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land			1,130
Buildings and improvements			116,290
Construction in progress			10,003
Total cost			$ 127,423

XML

Debt (Unsecured Credit Facility Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, discount	$ 11,882	$ 10,410	$ 10,410
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	977,708	1,109,725	1,109,725
Total outstanding debt, net	$ 965,826	1,099,315	1,099,315
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount		500,000	500,000
Outstanding debt		500,000	$ 500,000
Term Loan Maturing April 27, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date			Apr. 27, 2022
Term Loan Maturing December 17, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Dec. 17, 2021
Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit outstanding		$ 2,100	$ 2,100
Line of credit facility weighted average interest rate outstanding percentage		2.75%	2.75%
Unsecured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	$ 1,200,000
Debt extension period		1 year
Line of credit facility accordion feature			$ 300,000
Additional contingent borrowing capacity, maximum		$ 1,500,000	1,500,000
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount		779,000	779,000
Outstanding debt		$ 779,000	$ 779,000
Minimum | Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			1.50%
Minimum | Term Loan | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			0.50%
Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			1.55%
Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			0.55%
Maximum | Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			2.10%
Maximum | Term Loan | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			1.10%
Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			2.15%
Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument spread on variable interest rate			1.15%
Unsecured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		3.63%	3.63%
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance			the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants
Unsecured Credit Facility | Term Loan Maturing April 27, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	200,000
Unsecured Credit Facility | Term Loan Maturing December 17, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	300,000
Unsecured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	$ 700,000
Maturity date	Dec. 17, 2020		Dec. 17, 2020
Debt Instrument Carrying Amount	$ 139,000	$ 279,000	$ 279,000
Outstanding debt	$ 139,000	$ 279,000	$ 279,000
Weighted average coupon interest rate		2.78%	2.78%

XML

Debt (Senior Notes) (Details) $ in Thousands	Apr. 05, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 23, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net				$ 5,679	$ 6,983
The number of other subsidiaries excluded from guaranty provisions | subsidiary				7
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net				$ 3,600
Unsecured Credit Facility | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured term loan outstanding		$ 75,000
Senior Notes.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount		$ 300,000
Interest rate		5.875%	5.875%
Senior notes due		2022
Maturity date		Aug. 01, 2022
Debt discount recorded				1,600
Debt issuance costs, net				$ 5,300
Percentage of issued price equal to face value		99.211%
Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average effective fixed interest rate	3.50%
Derivative instruments, notional amount	$ 400,000
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	400,000
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan Maturing December 17,2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative instruments, notional amount	200,000
Interest Rate Swap | Term Loan Maturing April 27, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative instruments, notional amount	$ 200,000
LIBOR | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate basis	LIBOR
Spread	1.50%
Private offering | Subsequent Event | Senior Notes.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount			$ 400,000
Interest rate			4.75%

XML

Debt (Lenexa Mortgage) (Details) - Lenexa Mortgage - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 08, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 1.9	$ 1.9
Interest rate		4.10%
Balloon payment		$ 1.6

XML

Debt (Outstanding Debt Including Capital Leases) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt and lease obligations	$ 977,708	$ 1,109,725
Less discount and debt issuance costs	(11,882)	(10,410)
Total outstanding debt, net	965,826	$ 1,099,315
Senior Notes.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		5.88%
Maturity date		Aug. 01, 2022
Outstanding debt	300,000	$ 300,000
Lenexa Mortgage
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		4.10%
Maturity date		May 01, 2022
Outstanding debt		$ 1,882
Capital Lease and Lease Financing Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		3.87%
Maturity date description		2017 - 2025
Capital Lease and Lease Financing Obligations	$ 38,708	$ 28,843
Unsecured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		3.63%
Unsecured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		2.78%
Maturity date	Dec. 17, 2020	Dec. 17, 2020
Outstanding debt	$ 139,000	$ 279,000
Unsecured Credit Facility | Term Loan I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		2.74%
Maturity date		Dec. 17, 2021
Outstanding debt	300,000	$ 300,000
Unsecured Credit Facility | Term Loan II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon interest rate		2.74%
Maturity date		Apr. 27, 2022
Outstanding debt	$ 200,000	$ 200,000

XML

Debt (Annual Remaining Principal Payment) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Debt [Abstract]
2017 (October - December)	$ 11
2018	65
2019	68
2020	279,071
2021	300,074
Thereafter	501,593
Total	$ 1,080,882

XML

Debt (Lease Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) agreement facility	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease financing obligations	$ 18.8	$ 20.6
Carpathia Hosting, Inc.
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Capital lease, lease financing obligations and mortgage notes payable	10.0
Capital lease and lease financing obligations assumed	$ 7.1
Number of lease agreements | agreement	2
Lease financing obligations	$ 18.8
The number of data centers with lease agreements and lease financing agreements | facility	1
Outstanding financing agreement	$ 1.0
Deferred gain of lease financing obligations	$ 1.4
Lease financing expiration date	Feb. 01, 2019
Carpathia Hosting, Inc. | Sale-Leaseback Transaction [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Capital lease and lease financing obligations assumed	$ 17.8
Outstanding financing agreement	16.4
Carpathia Hosting, Inc. | Tenant Improvement Allowance [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease financing obligations	$ 4.8
Minimum | Carpathia Hosting, Inc.
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease expiration year	2018
Monthly lease payment	$ 0.2
Maximum | Carpathia Hosting, Inc.
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lease expiration year	2019
Monthly lease payment	$ 0.5
Lease financing monthly principal and interest payment	$ 0.1

XML

Debt (Future Payment Obligations) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Debt [Abstract]
2017 (October - December)	$ 3,078
2018	9,370
2019	2,844
2020	2,190
2021	2,388
Thereafter	8,973
Total lease obligations	$ 28,843

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017 subsidiary
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Number of subsidiaries named as a defendant	1

XML

Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Oct. 05, 2017 $ / shares	May 04, 2017 item $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) item $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2017 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2016 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2016 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) security item $ / shares shares	May 31, 2015 shares
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Number of classes of partnership units outstanding | security									2
Equity based compensation expense unrecognized | $			$ 21,700						$ 21,700
Equity based compensation expense vesting period									1 year 1 month 6 days
Equity based compensation awards intrinsic value | $			$ 59,600						$ 59,600
Dividend paid to common stockholders | $ / shares			$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.32
Dividends payable, date payable			Jul. 06, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Jan. 05, 2017	Jul. 06, 2016	Apr. 05, 2016	Jan. 06, 2016
Shares issued, Value | $									$ 92,587
QTS Realty Trust, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Shares reserved for purchase under plan | shares			250,000						250,000
2017 Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Minimum period of service		30 days
Minimum hours per week of service | item		30
Purchase period per year | item		4
Subsequent Event
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Dividend paid to common stockholders | $ / shares	$ 0.39
Partnership distribution per unit | $ / shares	$ 0.39
Dividends payable, date payable	Oct. 05, 2017
Class RS Units
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Number of units outstanding | shares			0						0
Class B Common Stock
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Number of votes per share | item			50						50
Class A Common Stock
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Net proceeds from issuance of shares | $			$ 54,000						$ 93,000
Class A Common Stock | At Market [Member]
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Maximum value of stock which may be issued | $					$ 300,000
Shares issued | shares			1,015,332						1,761,681
Weighted average price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 53.65						$ 53.63
Class A Common Stock | 2017 Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Discount rate of purchase price of common stock		10.00%
Chief Executive Officer | Class B Common Stock
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Percentage of operating partnership unit exchanged									2.00%
Qualitytech, LP
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Shares issued, Value | $									$ 92,587
Minimum | 2017 Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Minimum percentage of combined voting power		5.00%
Deductions per paycheck for purchase of share | $ / shares		$ 20
Holding period after purchase of share		1 year
Maximum | 2017 Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Deductions per paycheck for purchase of share | $ / shares		$ 1,000
Restricted Class A Common Stock
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Nonvested awards outstanding | shares			400,000						400,000
Options to purchase Class A common stock
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Nonvested awards outstanding | shares			600,000						600,000
2013 Equity Incentive Plan
Partners Capital And Distributions [Line Items]
Authorized shares to be issued under the plan | shares			1,750,000						1,750,000	4,750,000

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Summary of Award Activity Under 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and Related Information) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 $ / shares shares
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Options Outstanding (in shares) | shares	1,058,297
Options, Granted (in shares) | shares	468,875
Options, Exercised (in shares) | shares	(154,965)
Options, Cancelled/Expired (in shares) | shares	(2,000)
Ending balance, Options Outstanding (in shares) | shares	1,370,207
Beginning balance, Weighted average exercise price options outstanding	$ 31.72
Weighted average exercise price options outstanding, Granted	50.66
Weighted average exercise price options outstanding, Exercised	31.93
Weighted average exercise price options outstanding, Cancelled/Expired	37.69
Ending balance, Weighted average exercise price options outstanding	38.17
Beginning balance, weighted average fair value, options	6.51
Weighted average fair value, granted, options	10.32
Weighted average fair value, vested, options	6.61
Weighted average fair value, cancelled/expired, options	8.77
Ending balance, weighted average fair value, options	$ 7.80
2013 Equity Incentive Plan | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Options Outstanding (in shares) | shares	414,691
Options, Granted (in shares) | shares	228,576
Options, Exercised (in shares) | shares	(130,368)
Options, Cancelled/Expired (in shares) | shares	(69,903)
Ending balance, Options Outstanding (in shares) | shares	442,996
Beginning balance, weighted average fair value, options	$ 40.67
Weighted average fair value, granted, options	50.25
Weighted average fair value, vested, options	41.22
Weighted average fair value, cancelled/expired, options	40.49
Ending balance, weighted average fair value, options	$ 45.48
Class O Units | 2010 Equity Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Beginning balance, Number of units (in shares) | shares	1,134,811
Number of units, Exercised | shares	(552,146)
Ending balance, Number of units (in shares) | shares	582,665
Beginning balance, Weighted average exercise price units	$ 24.06
Weighted average exercise price units, Exercised	24.66
Ending balance, Weighted average exercise price units	23.49
Beginning balance, Weighted average fair value	3.62
Weighted average fair value, Exercised	2.14
Ending balance, Weighted average fair value	$ 5.03

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Summary of Assumptions and Fair Values for Restricted Stock and Options to Purchase Shares of Class A Common Stock Granted) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected dividend yield	3.08%
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted stock granted	$ 48.63
Fair value of options granted	$ 10.11
Expected volatility	28.00%
Expected risk-free interest rates	2.12%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of restricted stock granted	$ 51.88
Fair value of options granted	$ 10.36
Expected risk-free interest rates	2.18%
Class O Units | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (years)	5 years 6 months
Class O Units | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (years)	5 years 10 months 24 days

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Summary of Information About Awards Outstanding) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 $ / shares shares
Operating Partnership
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Outstanding	582,665
QTS Realty Trust, Inc Awards Outstanding
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Outstanding	1,813,203
QTS Realty Trust, Inc Awards Outstanding | Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards Outstanding	442,996
Remaining term of awards	1 year 9 months 18 days
QTS Realty Trust, Inc Awards Outstanding | Options to purchase Class A common stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Lower limit of exercise price | $ / shares	$ 21.00
Upper limit of exercise price | $ / shares	$ 50.66
Awards Outstanding	1,370,207
Remaining term of awards	10 months 24 days
Class O Units | Operating Partnership
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Lower limit of exercise price | $ / shares	$ 20.00
Upper limit of exercise price | $ / shares	$ 25.00
Awards Outstanding	582,665
Remaining term of awards	0 years

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Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans (Schedule of Quarterly Cash Dividends) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 22, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Partners' Capital, Equity and Incentive Compensation Plans [Abstract]
Record Date	Sep. 22, 2017	Jun. 16, 2017	Mar. 16, 2017	Dec. 16, 2016	Jun. 17, 2016	Mar. 18, 2016	Dec. 17, 2015
Payment Date		Jul. 06, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Jan. 05, 2017	Jul. 06, 2016	Apr. 05, 2016	Jan. 06, 2016
Per Common Share and Per Unit Rate		$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.32
Dividend/Distribution Amount		$ 21.6	$ 21.4	$ 19.7	$ 19.7	$ 17.4	$ 15.4	$ 62.7	$ 52.5

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Related Party Transactions (Summary of Related Party Transactions) (Details) - Affiliated Entity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Tax, utility, insurance and other reimbursement	$ 118	$ 155	$ 467	$ 527
Rent expense	254	254	762	761
Capital assets acquired	32	24	384	191
Total	$ 404	$ 433	$ 1,613	$ 1,479

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Noncontrolling Interest (Narrative) (Details) shares in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 shares
Quality Tech LP ownership percentage in operating partnership	21.20%
Stock conversion ratio	1
Units redeemed for common stock	0.5
Qualitytech, LP
Quality Tech LP ownership percentage in operating partnership	11.50%

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Earnings per share of QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings per Share [Abstract]
Net income available to common stockholders - basic	$ 6,507	$ 5,730	$ 15,424	$ 16,719
Effect of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and income allocated to participating securities	684	808	1,496	2,485
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 7,191	$ 6,538	$ 16,920	$ 19,204
Effect of Class A and Class RS partnership units	6,669	6,767	6,744	6,787
Effect of Class O units and options to purchase Class A common stock and restricted Class A common stock on an "as if" converted basis	788	1,066	799	982
Basic net income per share	$ 0.13	$ 0.12	$ 0.31	$ 0.37
Diluted net income per share	$ 0.13	$ 0.12	$ 0.31	$ 0.36

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Customer Leases, as Lessor (Future Minimum Lease Payments to be Received Under Non-Cancelable Operating Customer Leases) (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
2017 (October - December)	$ 91,771
2018	310,606
2019	222,798
2020	164,134
2021	131,335
Thereafter	168,089
Total	$ 1,088,733

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Other comprehensive loss	$ (286)		$ (1,785)
Senior Notes. | Fair Value Measurements, Level 2
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Fair value of loan based on current market rates	311,100		311,100
Interest Rate Swap
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Other comprehensive loss		$ 0		$ 0
Interest rate swap liability	$ 1,800		$ 1,800

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Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 05, 2017 $ / shares	Sep. 22, 2017	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) a	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2017 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2017 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017 $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2016 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2016 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Jul. 23, 2014 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends payable, date payable					Jul. 06, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Jan. 05, 2017	Jul. 06, 2016	Apr. 05, 2016	Jan. 06, 2016
Dividend paid to common stockholders | $ / shares					$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.32
Dividends payable, date of record		Sep. 22, 2017			Jun. 16, 2017	Mar. 16, 2017	Dec. 16, 2016	Jun. 17, 2016	Mar. 18, 2016	Dec. 17, 2015
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends payable, date payable	Oct. 05, 2017
Dividend paid to common stockholders | $ / shares	$ 0.39
Senior Notes.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount											$ 300.0
Interest rate			5.875%								5.875%
Senior Notes. | Private offering | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount			$ 400.0
Interest rate			4.75%
Percentage of issue price			100.00%
Land in Hillsboro, Oregon | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acres of land | a			92
Purchase price of land			$ 26.0
Land in Ashburn, Virginia
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acres of land | a				24
Purchase price of land				$ 17.0
Land in Ashburn, Virginia | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acres of land | a			28
Purchase price of land			$ 36.0
Vault Campus in Dulles, Virginia | Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Capital lease and lease financing obligations assumed			17.8
Purchase price of land			34.1
Net purchase price			$ 16.3