Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of Business: Cousins Properties Incorporated (“Cousins”), a Georgia corporation, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Cousins Real Estate Corporation (“CREC”) is a taxable entity wholly-owned by and consolidated with Cousins. CREC owns, develops, and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties.

Cousins, CREC and their subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) develop, acquire, manage and own primarily Class A office and retail properties. As of December 31, 2012, the Company’s portfolio of real estate assets consisted of interests in 7.8 million square feet of office space, 3.7 million square feet of retail space and 404,000 square feet of apartments.

Basis of Presentation: The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated partnerships and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company presents its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification” or “ASC”). The Codification is the single source of authoritative accounting principles applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP.

The Company evaluates all partnerships, joint ventures and other arrangements with variable interests to determine if the entity or arrangement qualifies as a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in the Codification. If the entity or arrangement qualifies as a VIE and the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, the Company is required to consolidate the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the VIE.

The Company has a joint venture with Callaway Gardens Resort, Inc. (“Callaway”) for the development of residential lots, which is anticipated to be funded fully through Company contributions. Callaway has the right to receive returns, but no obligation to fund any costs or absorb any losses. The Company is the sole decision maker for the venture and the development manager. The Company has determined that Callaway is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company consolidates this joint venture. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, Callaway had total assets of $4.9 million and $4.9 million, respectively, and no significant liabilities.