0000025232-13-000015.txt : 20130329 0000025232-13-000015.hdr.sgml : 20130329 20130329165106 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000025232-13-000015 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3ASR PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20130329 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20130329 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20130329 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COUSINS PROPERTIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000025232 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 580869052 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3ASR SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-187636 FILM NUMBER: 13728167 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 191 PEACHTREE STREET N.E. STREET 2: SUITE 500 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30303-1740 BUSINESS PHONE: 404-407-1000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 191 PEACHTREE STREET N.E. STREET 2: SUITE 500 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30303-1740 S-3ASR 1 cousinss-32_2013shelf.htm S-3ASR CousinsS-32_2013shelf

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2013
Registration No. 333-_______


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Cousins Properties Incorporated
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Georgia
 
58-0869052
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
191 Peachtree Street
Suite 500

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740
(404) 407-1000

(Address, Including Zip Code and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of
Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Pamela F. Roper
 
Copy to:
Senior Vice President - General Counsel
Cousins Properties Incorporated
191 Peachtree Street
Suite 500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740
Telephone: (404) 407-1000
 
Alan J. Prince, Esq.
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Telephone: (404) 572-4600
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)





Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering:  
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer     x                        Accelerated filer          
Non-accelerated filer                              Smaller reporting company
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
 
Amount to be Registered / Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit / Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price / Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities, Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares
 
(1)

(1)
An indeterminate initial offering price or principal amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Each security registered hereby may be issued separately or with other securities registered hereby.









PROSPECTUS

Cousins Properties Incorporated
Common Stock
Warrants
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, together or separately, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly, on a continuous or delayed basis.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, carefully before you invest.
Our principal executive offices are located at 191 Peachtree Street, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740 and our telephone number is (404) 407-1000.
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZ.” On March 28, 2013, the last sales price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $10.69 per share.
Our Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZPRA.” On March 28, 2013, the last sales price of our Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $25.64 per share.
Our Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZPRB.” On March 28, 2013, the last sales price of our Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock on the New York Sock Exchange was $25.44 per share.
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should refer to the risk factors included in our periodic reports and other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and carefully consider that information before buying our securities.

These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We may sell these securities directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the relevant prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is March 29, 2013.





TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Page
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED
    FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS    7






ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The registration statement that contains this prospectus contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s web site or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may be used only where it is legal to sell these securities. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is correct at any date other than the date of the document containing the information.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Except as specifically described below, information included in the SEC’s website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To receive copies of public records not posted to the SEC’s web site at prescribed rates, you may complete an online form at http://www.sec.gov, send a fax to (202) 772-9337 or submit a written request to the SEC, Office of FOIA/PA Operations, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.
We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus some of the documents that we have filed and will file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents and information listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus and up until we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement:
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012;
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2013 (Form 8-K/A filed March 26, 2013);
The description of our Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-11312) filed July 23, 2003, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
The description of our Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-11312) filed December 16, 2004, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and
The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-11312) dated August 4, 1992, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost, by contacting us at the following address or telephone number:

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Cousins Properties Incorporated
191 Peachtree Street
Suite 500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone: (404) 407-1000
We also maintain an Internet site at www.cousinsproperties.com at which there is additional information about our business, but the contents of that site are not incorporated by reference into, and are not otherwise a part of, this prospectus.
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
We are a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT. Our strategy is to generate stockholder returns through the acquisition, development, ownership and management of high-quality office and retail real estate properties in the Sunbelt, with particular focus on Georgia, Texas and North Carolina. We also own relatively small interests in residential and commercial land tracts held for investment. We intend to focus on increasing the value in our current portfolio through lease-up, cost control and superior customer service, as well as making opportunistic investments in office properties within our core markets. Our long long-term strategy also includes continuing to recycle capital not invested in our core markets or property types, continuing to reduce our holdings of residential and commercial land and diversifying our holdings geographically among our core markets. As of December 31, 2012, our 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 two projects under active development.    
We are a Georgia corporation and since 1987 have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). We have been a public company since 1962, and our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZ.” Our Series A and Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbols “CUZ PrA” and “CUZ PrB,” respectively.     
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Our disclosure and analysis in this prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks. These forward looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business and our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements concerning anticipated revenues, income or loss, impairments, capital expenditures, distributions, capital structure, or other financial terms, as well as statements regarding subjects that are forward looking by their nature, such as:
 

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our business and financial strategy;
 
 
 
 
our ability to obtain future financing arrangements;
 
 
 
 
future acquisitions and future dispositions of operating assets;
 
 
 
 
future development and redevelopment opportunities;
 
 
 
 
future dispositions of land and other non-core assets;
 
 
 
 
our projected operating results;
 
 
 
 
market and industry trends;
 
 
 
 
future distributions;
 
 
 
 
projected capital expenditures; and
 
 
 
 
interest rates.
 

The forward looking statements are based upon our beliefs, assumptions, and expectation of our future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward looking statements. You should carefully consider these risks when you make a decision concerning an investment in our common stock, along with the following factors, among others, that may cause actual results to vary from our forward looking statements:
 

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availability and terms of capital and financing;
 
 
 
 
the ability to refinance indebtedness as it matures;
 
 
 
 
failure of purchase, sale or other contracts to ultimately close;
 
 
 
 
the availability of buyers and adequate pricing with respect to the disposition of assets;
 
 
 
 
risks and uncertainties related to national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry in general and in specific markets, and the commercial real estate markets in particular;
 
 
 
 
market conditions and changes to our strategy with regard to land and other non-core holdings that require impairment losses to be recognized;
 
 
 
 
the effects of the sale of our third party management business;
 
 
 
 
leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, and the ability to lease newly developed, recently acquired or current vacant space;
 
 
 
 
financial condition of existing tenants;
 
 
 
 
volatility in interest rates and insurance rates;
 
 
 
 
the availability of sufficient investment opportunities;
 
 
 
 
competition from other developers or investors;
 
 
 
 
the risks associated with real estate developments and acquisitions (such as construction delays, cost overruns and leasing risk);
 
 
 
 
loss of key personnel;
 
 
 
 
potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation or environmental issues;
 
 
 
 
potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements;
 
 
 
 
the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners;
 
 
 
 
any failure to comply with debt covenants under our credit agreements;
 
 
 
 
any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust, or REIT; and
 
 
 
 
the factors incorporated by reference into this prospectus including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
 


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The words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” “may,” “intend,” “will,” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required under U.S. federal securities laws.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves various risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of our securities.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any sale of securities for general corporate purposes. Pending application of such net proceeds, we will invest such proceeds in interest-bearing accounts and short-term, interest-bearing securities, which are consistent with our intention to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)
1.94
---(2)
---(3)
---(4)
0.67(5)
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (1)
1.29
---(2)
---(3)
---(4)
0.50(5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)    We compute the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. We compute the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by dividing earnings by combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. For this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations, adjusted for equity investees and minority interests, net of applicable income tax provision, distributed income of equity investees, amortization of capitalized interest and fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense (including capitalized interest) and the portion of rental expense representing interest (estimated as 30%). Preferred stock dividends consist of dividends on our Series A preferred stock and Series B preferred stock.
(2)     The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2011. Additional earnings of $121,902 and $134,809 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
(3)    The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2010. Additional earnings of $44,115 and $57,022 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
(4)    The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2009. Additional earnings of $97,354 and $110,261 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
(5)     The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2008. Additional earnings of $14,007 and $28,964 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
General
Our authorized common stock consists of 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters presented to shareholders for a vote. Cumulative voting for the election of directors is not permitted, which means that holders of more than 50% of the shares of common stock voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors if they choose to do so and the holders of the remaining shares cannot elect any directors. Holders

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of common stock have no preemptive rights. At February 28, 2013, there were 104,119,997 shares of common stock outstanding.
Shares of common stock currently outstanding are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “CUZ.” We will apply to the NYSE to list the additional shares of common stock to be sold pursuant to any prospectus supplement, and we anticipate that such shares will be so listed.
All shares of common stock issued will be duly authorized, fully paid, and nonassessable. Distributions may be paid to the holders of common stock if and when declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Under Georgia law, shareholders are generally not liable for our debts or obligations. If Cousins is liquidated, subject to the rights of any holders of preferred stock, if any, to receive preferential distributions, each outstanding share of common stock will be entitled to participate pro rata in the assets remaining after payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts and liabilities.
Provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
In addition to any vote otherwise required by applicable law, our Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or Articles of Incorporation, provide that:
any merger or consolidation of Cousins with or into any other corporation;
any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Cousins;
the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Cousins; or
any reclassification of our securities or recapitalization or reorganization of Cousins,
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of common stock. In addition, any amendment of or addition to our Articles of Incorporation or our amended and restated Bylaws (our “Bylaws”) which would have the effect of amending, altering, changing or repealing the foregoing provisions of our Articles of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of common stock.
The provisions of our Articles of Incorporation described above and those described below under the caption “Restrictions on Transfer” may make it more difficult, and thereby discourage, attempts to take over control of Cousins, and may make it more difficult to remove incumbent management. None of these provisions, however, prohibit an offer for all of the outstanding shares of our common stock or a merger of Cousins with another entity. Other than as set forth in this prospectus, our board of directors has no present plans to adopt any additional measures which would discourage a takeover or change in control of Cousins.
Restrictions on Transfer
In order for Cousins to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year, and our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.” Because our board of directors believes that it is essential for us to continue to qualify as a REIT, our board of directors has adopted, and our shareholders have approved, provisions of the Articles of Incorporation restricting the acquisition of shares of stock.
Article 11 of our Articles of Incorporation generally prohibits any transfer of shares of stock which would cause the transferee of such shares to “Own” shares in excess of 3.9% in value of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock (the “Limit”). For purposes of Article 11, “Ownership” of shares is broadly defined to include all shares that would be attributed to a “Person” for purposes of determining whether Cousins is “closely held” under Section 856(a)(6) of the Code. A “Person” is broadly defined to include an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(1) of the Code), association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, but does not include a corporate underwriter which participates in a public offering of our common stock

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for a period of seven days following the purchase by such underwriter. “Person” does not include an organization that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and that is not a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code. Article 11 also prohibits any Person, except for Persons who Owned shares in excess of the Limit on December 31, 1986 (“Prior Owners”), from Owning shares in excess of the Limit. Article 11 further prohibits Prior Owners (including certain family members and other persons whose shares are attributed to such Prior Owners under the relevant sections of the Code) from acquiring any shares not Owned as of December 31, 1986, unless after any such acquisition, such Prior Owner would not Own a percentage of the value of our outstanding shares of stock greater than the percentage of the value of our outstanding shares of stock Owned by such Prior Owner on December 31, 1986, excluding, for the purpose of calculating such Prior Owner’s Ownership percentage after such acquisition, shares acquired since December 31, 1986 through pro rata stock dividends or splits, shareholder approved stock plans or from Persons whose shares are attributed to such Prior Owner for determining compliance with the stock ownership requirement.
The Articles of Incorporation allow our board of directors, in the exercise of its sole and absolute discretion, to except from the Limit certain specified shares of stock proposed to be transferred to a Person who provided our board of directors with such evidence, undertakings and assurances our board of directors may require that such transfer to such Person of the specified shares of stock will not prevent our continued qualification as a REIT under the Code. Our board of directors may, but is not required to, condition the grant of any such exemption on obtaining an opinion of counsel, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, assurances from one or more third parties as to future acquisitions of shares or such other assurances as our board of directors may deem to be satisfactory.
If, notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in Article 11, a transfer occurs which, absent the prohibitions, would have resulted in the Ownership of shares in excess of the Limit or in excess of those owned by a Prior Owner on December 31, 1986, such transfer is void and the transferee acquires no rights in the shares. Shares attempted to be acquired in excess of the Limit or shares attempted to be acquired by a Prior Owner after December 31, 1986, as the case may be, would constitute “Excess Shares” under Article 11.
Excess Shares have the following characteristics under Article 11:
Excess Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to Cousins as Trustee of a trust (the “Trust”) for the exclusive benefit of the Person or Persons to whom the Excess Shares are later transferred;
an interest in the Trust (representing the number of Excess Shares held by the Trust attributable to the particular transferee) shall be transferable by the transferee (1) at a price not exceeding the price paid by such transferee in connection with the transfer to it or (2) if the shares became Excess Shares in a transaction other than for value, at a price not exceeding the Market Price (as defined) on the date of transfer, and only to a Person who could Own the shares without the shares being deemed Excess Shares;
Excess Shares shall not have any voting rights and shall not be considered for the purposes of any shareholder vote or of determining a quorum for such vote, but shall continue to be reflected as issued and outstanding stock of Cousins;
no dividends or distributions shall be paid with respect to Excess Shares, and any dividends paid in error on Excess Shares are payable back to us upon demand; and
Excess Shares shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to Cousins for the period of 90 days following the date on which the shares become Excess Shares, if notice is given by the transferee to us, or the date on which our board of directors determines that such shares are Excess Shares, if notice is not given by the transferee to Cousins. During such 90-day period, we may accept the offer and purchase any or all of such Excess Shares at the lesser of the price paid by the transferee and the Market Price (as defined) on the date we accept the offer to purchase. Before any transfer of Excess Shares to any transferee, we must (1) be notified, (2) waive our rights to accept the offer to purchase the Excess Shares, and

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(3) determine in good faith that the shares do not constitute Excess Shares in the hands of the transferee.
Under Article 11, if any Person acquires shares in violation of the prohibitions in Article 11, and we would have qualified as a REIT under the Code but for such acquisition, that Person must indemnify us in an amount equal to the amount that will put us in the same financial position as we would have been in had we not lost our qualified REIT status. Such amount includes the full amount of all taxes, penalties, interest imposed and all costs (plus interest thereon) incurred by us as a result of losing our qualified REIT status. Such indemnification is applicable until we are again able to elect to be taxed as a REIT. If more than one Person has acquired shares in violation of Article 11 at or prior to the time of the loss of REIT qualification, then all such Persons shall be jointly and severally liable for the indemnity.
Article 11 also requires our board of directors to take such action as it deems advisable to prevent or refuse to give effect to any transfer or acquisition of our stock in violation of Article 11, including refusing to make or honor on our books, or seeking to enjoin, a transfer in violation of Article 11. Article 11 does not limit the authority of our board of directors to take any other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect us and the interests of our shareholders by preserving our qualified REIT status.
Article 11 further requires any Person who acquires or attempts to acquire shares in violation of Article 11 to give us written notice of such transaction and to provide us with such other relevant information as we may request. We can request such information from any Person that we determine, in good faith, is attempting to acquire shares in violation of Article 11.
All certificates representing shares of stock bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
Limitation of Directors’ Liability
The Articles of Incorporation eliminate, subject to certain exceptions, the personal liability of a director to Cousins or our shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of such director’s duty of care or other duties as a director. The Articles of Incorporation do not provide for the elimination of, or any limitation on, the personal liability of a director for (1) any appropriation, in violation of the director’s duties, of any business opportunity of Cousins, (2) acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) unlawful corporate distributions or (4) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. These provisions of our Articles of Incorporation will limit the remedies available to a shareholder in the event of breaches of any director’s duties to such shareholder or Cousins.
Under Article VI of our Bylaws, we are required to indemnify any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (including any action by or in the right of Cousins), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, agent or employee of Cousins against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such proceeding provided that such person shall not be indemnified in any proceeding in which he is adjudged liable to us for:
any appropriation, in violation of his duties, or of any business opportunity of Cousins;
acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law;
unlawful corporate distributions; or
any transaction from which such person received improper personal benefit.
Expenses incurred by any person according to the foregoing provisions shall be paid by us in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of the written affirmation of such person’s good faith belief that he has met the standards of conduct required under our Bylaws.
Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Certain Officers

 
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain officers providing contractual indemnification by us to the maximum extent authorized by law.


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Shareholder Action

Our Bylaws allow action by the shareholders without a meeting only by unanimous written consent.
 
 
Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals or Nominations at Meetings

In accordance with our Bylaws, shareholders may, (i) nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors or bring other business before an annual meeting of shareholders and (ii) nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting of shareholders, only by delivering prior written notice to us and complying with certain other requirements. With respect to any annual meeting of shareholders, such notice must generally be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. With respect to any special meeting of shareholders, such notice must generally be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than the 10th day following the day on which the date of the special meeting and either the names of the nominees proposed to be elected at such meeting or the number of directors to be elected is publicly announced or disclosed. Any notice provided by a shareholder under these provisions must include the information specified in our Bylaws.

Georgia Anti-Takeover Statutes

The Georgia Business Corporation Code restricts certain business combinations with “interested shareholders” and contains fair price requirements applicable to certain mergers with certain interested shareholders that are summarized below. The restrictions imposed by these statutes will not apply to a corporation unless it elects to be governed by these statutes. Cousins has not elected to be covered by these restrictions, but, although we have no present intention to do so, could elect to do so in the future.

 
The Georgia Business Corporation Code regulates business combinations such as mergers, consolidations, share exchanges and asset purchases where the acquired business has at least 100 shareholders residing in Georgia and has its principal office in Georgia, and where the acquiror became an interested shareholder of the corporation, unless either:

the transaction resulting in such acquiror becoming an interested shareholder or the business combination received the approval of the corporation’s board of directors prior to the date on which the acquiror became an interested shareholder;

the acquiror became the owner of at least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, excluding shares held by directors, officers and affiliates of the corporation and shares held by certain other persons, in the same transaction in which the acquiror became an interested shareholder; or

the acquiror became the owner of at least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, excluding shares held by directors, officers and affiliates of the corporation and shares held by certain other persons, subsequent to the transaction in which the acquiror became an interested shareholder, and the business combination is approved by a majority of the shares entitled to vote, exclusive of shares owned by the interested shareholder, directors and officers of the corporation, certain affiliates of the corporation and the interested shareholder and certain employee stock plans.

For purposes of this statute, an interested shareholder generally is any person who directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, beneficially owns or controls 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation. The statute prohibits business combinations with an unapproved interested shareholder for a period of five years after the date on which such person became an interested shareholder.

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The statute restricting business combinations is broad in its scope and is designed to inhibit unfriendly acquisitions.

The Georgia Business Corporation Code also prohibits certain business combinations between a Georgia corporation and an interested shareholder unless:

certain “fair price” criteria are satisfied;
the business combination is unanimously approved by the continuing directors;
the business combination is recommended by at least two-thirds of the continuing directors and approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares, other than voting shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder; or
the interested shareholder has been such for at least three years and has not increased his ownership position in such three-year period by more than one percent in any 12-month period.
The fair price statute is designed to inhibit unfriendly acquisitions that do not satisfy the specified “fair price” requirements.
Other Matters
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock. The warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the common stock. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants offered by this prospectus. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:
the title of such warrants;
the aggregate number of such warrants;
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
the designation, number and terms of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
the process for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price;
the date, if any, on and after which such warrants and the related common stock will be separately transferable;
the price at which each share of common stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee, who will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The indenture will be subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. As used in this prospectus, debt securities means any debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue and the trustee authenticates and delivers under the indenture.
We have summarized in this section the selected terms and provisions of the indenture to which any prospectus supplement may relate. This summary is not complete. A form of indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is incorporated into this section by reference. You should read the indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. If any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by those contained in that prospectus supplement.
General
The debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The indenture will not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue and will permit us to issue debt securities from time to time. The indenture provides that debt securities issuable thereunder may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized by us from time to time. Debt securities issued under the indenture will be issued as part of a series that has been established by us pursuant to the indenture.
A prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:
 
 
 
the title of the debt securities;
 
 
 
any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities;
 
 
 
the price at which the debt securities will be issued;
 
 
 
the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;
 
 
 
the interest rate on the debt securities, if any;
 
 
 
the date from which interest will accrue;
 
 
 
the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities;
   
 
 
the location (other than New York City, Manhattan) of the paying agent;
 

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any optional redemption provisions that would permit us or the holders of debt securities to elect redemption of the debt securities prior to their final maturity;
 
 
 
any sinking fund provisions that would obligate us to redeem the debt securities prior to their final maturity;
 
 
 
if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000, the denominations in which any of our debt securities are issuable;
 
 
 
if other than the trustee, the identity of each security register and/or paying agent;
 
 
 
the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars;
 
 
 
any provisions that would permit us or the holders of the debt securities to elect the currency or currencies in which the debt securities are paid;
 
 
 
whether the provisions described under the heading “Defeasance” below apply to the debt securities;
 
 
 
any modifications or additions to the events of default;
 
 
 
any modifications or additions to the covenants;
 
 
 
whether the debt securities will be issued in certificated form or book-entry form and whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of global securities and, if so, the depositary for those global securities;
 
 
 
the form of the securities;
  
 
 
the terms of any right to convert or exchange the debt securities into any other securities or property; and
 
 
 
any other terms of the debt securities.
As described in each prospectus supplement relating to any particular series of debt securities offered thereby, the indenture may contain covenants limiting:
  
 
 
the incurrence of debt by us;
 
 
 
the incurrence of debt by our subsidiaries;
 

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the making of certain payments by us and our subsidiaries;
 
 
 
subsidiary mergers;
 
 
 
the business activities of us and our subsidiaries;
 
 
 
the issuance of preferred stock of subsidiaries;
 
 
 
asset dispositions;
 
 
 
transactions with affiliates;
 
 
 
the granting of liens; and
 
 
 
mergers and consolidations involving us.
The indenture may also include any such other covenants as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
 
Trustee
There may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee. Except as otherwise indicated, any action described herein to be taken by a trustee may be taken by each trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of debt securities for which it is trustee under the indenture.
Payment; Transfer
We will designate a place of payment where you can receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities or where you can transfer the debt securities. Even though we will designate a place of payment, we may elect to pay any interest on the debt securities by mailing a check to the person listed as the owner of the debt securities in the security register or by wire transfer to an account designated by that person in writing not less than ten days before the date of the interest payment. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require you to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the debt securities.
Denominations
Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the debt securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 each or multiples of $1,000.
Original Issue Discount
Debt securities may be issued under the indenture as original issue discount securities and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If a debt security is an “original issue discount security,” that means that an amount less than the principal amount of the debt security will be due and payable

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upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt security pursuant to the indenture. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and other special factors which should be considered prior to purchasing any original issue discount securities.
 
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The indenture generally will permit a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. It will also permit the sale or transfer by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets and the purchase by us of all or substantially all of the property and assets of another entity. These transactions will be permitted if:
 
 
 
we are the continuing entity or, if not, the resulting or acquiring entity assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indenture; and
 
 
 
immediately after the transaction, no event of default (as defined in the indenture) exists.
If we consolidate or merge with or into any other company or sell all or substantially all of our assets according to the terms and conditions of the indenture, the resulting or acquiring company may be substituted for us in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. As a result, such successor company may be able to exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, in our name or in its own name and we may be released from all of our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
Under the indenture, some of our rights and obligations and some of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment. The following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:
 
 
 
reduce the amount of debt securities of such series whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
 
 
 
reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest;
 
 
 
reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or alter the provisions with respect to redemptions or mandatory offers to repurchase debt securities;
 
 
 
make any change that adversely affects any right of a holder to convert or exchange any debt security into or for shares of our common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such security;
 
 
 
modify the ranking or priority of the debt securities;
 
 
 
make any change to any provision of the indenture relating to the waiver of existing defaults, the rights of holders to receive payment of principal and interest on the debt securities, or to the provisions regarding amending or supplementing the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of such series;
 

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waive a continuing default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest on the debt securities; or
 
 
 
make any debt security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the debt security, or impair the right of any holder of a debt security to bring suit as permitted by the indenture.
 
We and the trustee will be able to modify and amend the indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities for any of the following purposes:
 
 
 
cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
 
 
 
comply with the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets;

 
 
provide that specific provisions of the indenture shall not apply to a series of debt securities not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of the indenture that only applies to any series of debt securities not previously issued or to additional debt securities of a series not previously issued;
 
 
 
create a series and establish its terms;
 
 
 
provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
 
 
 
comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or
 
 
 
make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder.
Under the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will be able to, on behalf of all holders of that series:
 
 
 
waive our compliance with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture; and
 
 
 
waive any past default under the indenture, except:
 
 
 
a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or
 
 
 
a default under any provision of the indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series.
 
Events of Default
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, “event of default,” when used in the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, may include any of the following:
 

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failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due;
 
 
 
failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;
 
 
 
failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that applies to any debt securities of that series for 60 days after we have received written notice by registered or certified mail of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the indenture;
 
 
 
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or
 
 
 
any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of that series when that series is created.
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series will be able to declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series can, subject to certain conditions, rescind the declaration.
The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions that relate to the acceleration of maturity of a portion of the principal amount of such series when an event of default occurs and continues.
An event of default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. The indenture will require us to certify to the trustee each year that defaults do not exist under the terms of the indenture. The trustee will withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.
Other than its duties in the case of a default, a trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnification. If reasonable indemnification is provided, then, subject to certain other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will be able to, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct the time, method and place of:
 
 
 
any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or
 
 
 
any trust or power conferred upon the trustee.
The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the indenture or for any remedy only if:
 
 
 
the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;
 

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the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered reasonable indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding;
 
 
 
the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and
 
 
 
the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days.
However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce such payment.
Defeasance
Defeasance and Discharge. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the indenture, we will be able to provide that the debt securities of that series will be subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of the indenture. If we so provide, we will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of that series if we deposit with the trustee, in trust, sufficient money or government obligations to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due on the debt securities of that series on the dates such payments are due under the indenture and the terms of the debt securities. As used above, “government obligations” will mean:
 
 
 
securities of the same government which issued the currency in which the series of debt securities are denominated and in which interest is payable; or
 
 
 
securities of government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government.
In the event that we deposit funds in trust and discharge our obligations under a series of debt securities as described above, then:
 
 
 
the indenture will no longer apply to the debt securities of that series, except for certain obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee, to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities, to replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities and to maintain paying agencies and the trust funds; and
 
 
 
holders of debt securities of that series will only look to the trust for payment of principal, any premium and interest on the debt securities of that series.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain Events of Default. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the indenture, we will be able to provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture. If we so provide and make the deposit described under the heading “—Defeasance and Discharge” above, we will not have to comply with certain restrictive covenants and events of default contained in the indenture.
In the event of a defeasance, our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities, other than with respect to the covenants and the events of default specifically referred to above, will remain in effect.
If we exercise our option not to comply with the covenants listed above and the debt securities of such series become immediately due and payable because an event of default has occurred, other than as a result of an event of default specifically referred to above, the amount of money and/or government obligations on

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deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums, due on the debt securities of such series on the date such payments are due under the indenture and the terms of the debt securities, but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due at the time of acceleration. However, we would remain liable for the balance of the payments.
Condition. Such a trust will only be permitted to be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the indenture) to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, and such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture.
 
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
This section describes the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock that may be offered by this prospectus as well as a description of our Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or Series A preferred stock, and Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or Series B preferred stock, outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. We refer to our Series A preferred stock and Series B preferred stock collectively as our Existing preferred stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the series of the preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to that series of preferred stock.
In this section, we have summarized the material terms and provisions of the preferred stock as well as the material terms and provisions of the Existing preferred stock. You should read our Articles of Incorporation and the amendment to our Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the series of our preferred stock (the “Certificate of Designations”) relating to the applicable series of the preferred stock, including the Certificates of Designations setting forth the terms of the Existing preferred stock, for additional information before you buy any preferred stock.
Our Preferred Stock Generally
Pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further shareholder action, to issue a maximum of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share, inclusive of our Existing preferred stock. As of December 31, 2012, there were 2,993,090 shares of Series A preferred stock issued and outstanding and 3,791,000 shares of Series B preferred stock issued and outstanding. Our Series A preferred stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “CUZPRA.” Our Series B preferred stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol “CUZPRB.” We will apply to the NYSE to list the additional shares of preferred stock to be sold pursuant to any prospectus supplement, and we anticipate that such shares will be so listed.
The board of directors has the authority to determine or fix the following terms with respect to shares of any series of preferred stock:
the dividend rate, the times of payment and the date from which dividends will accumulate, if dividends are to be cumulative;
whether and upon what terms the shares will be redeemable;
whether and upon what terms the shares will have a sinking fund;
whether and upon what terms the shares will be convertible or exchangeable;
whether the shares will have voting rights and the terms thereof;
the rights of the holders upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;
restrictions on transfer to preserve our tax status as a REIT; and
any other relative rights, powers and limitations or restrictions.

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These terms will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for any series of preferred stock that we offer. In addition, you should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock offered thereby for specific terms, including:
the title of the series of preferred stock and the number of shares offered;
the initial public offering price at which we will issue the preferred stock; and
any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.
When we issue the preferred stock, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable. This means that the full purchase price for the outstanding preferred stock will have been paid and the holders of such preferred stock will not be assessed any additional monies for such preferred stock. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise:
each series of preferred stock will rank senior to our common stock and equally in all respects with the outstanding shares of each other series of preferred stock; and
the preferred stock will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities which we may issue in the future. This means that the holders of preferred stock will have no right, as holders of preferred stock, to buy any portion of those issued securities.
Shareholder Liability
Georgia law provides that no shareholder, including holders of preferred stock, shall be personally liable for the acts and obligations of a Georgia corporation. This means that with respect to the Company, the funds and property of the Company will be the only recourse for these acts or obligations.
Restrictions on Ownership
As discussed above under “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Transfer,” for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, we may take certain actions to limit the beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, by a single person of our outstanding stock, including any of our preferred stock, in addition to the restrictions currently applicable to all classes of our stock pursuant to Article 11 of our Articles of Incorporation. Therefore, the Certificate of Designations for each series of preferred stock may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership limitation relating to a series of preferred stock.
Registrar and Transfer Agent
The Registrar and Transfer Agent for the preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Existing Preferred Stock — Ranking
With respect to the payment of dividends and amounts upon liquidation, the Existing preferred stock ranks:
senior to our common stock and to any other class or series of our capital stock other than any class or series referred to in the next succeeding bullet points;
on a parity with any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which specifically provide that such class or series of capital stock ranks on a parity with the Existing preferred stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up;
junior to any class or series of our capital stock the terms of which specifically provide that such class or series of capital stock ranks senior to the Existing preferred stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up; and

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junior to our indebtedness.
Existing Preferred Stock — Dividends
Holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7 3/4% per year of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share, equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $1.9375 per share. Holders of Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7 1/2% per year of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share, equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $1.875 per share. Dividends on the Existing preferred stock are payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, and if such day is not a business day, the next succeeding business day. We refer to each of these dates as a “dividend payment date” in this prospectus, and the period beginning after each dividend payment date and ending on the next succeeding dividend payment date is referred to as the “dividend period.” Any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records at the close of business on the applicable record date, which is the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable dividend payment date falls or on such other date designated by our board of directors for the payment of dividends that is not more than 30 nor less than 10 days prior to such dividend payment date. We refer to each of these dates as a “dividend record date” in this prospectus.
No dividends on Existing preferred stock may be declared by our board of directors or paid or set apart for payment by us if such declaration or payment is restricted or prohibited by law, or at any time at which one or more of our contractual agreements, including any agreement relating to our outstanding indebtedness, (a) prohibits the declaration, payment or setting apart for payment of dividends or (b) provides that the declaration, payment or setting apart for payment of dividends would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Existing preferred stock accrue regardless of whether:
our agreements, including our credit facilities, at any time prohibit the current payment of dividends;
we have earnings;
there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends; or
such dividends are declared.
Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Existing preferred stock will accumulate as of the dividend payment date on which they first become payable. No dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment, and no distribution will be made, on any of our common stock or any other series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the Existing preferred stock, other than a dividend that consists of shares of our common stock or shares of any other class of stock ranking junior to the Existing preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, for any period unless full cumulative dividends on the Existing preferred stock have been, or contemporaneously are declared and paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for such payment for all dividend periods ending on or prior to the date of such action with respect to our common stock or any other series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the Existing preferred stock.
When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) with respect to the Existing preferred stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Existing preferred stock, all dividends declared upon the Existing preferred stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Existing preferred stock will be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Existing preferred stock and such other series of preferred stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Existing preferred stock and such other series of preferred stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect

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of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such shares of preferred stock do not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Existing preferred stock which may be in arrears.
Unless full cumulative dividends on the Existing preferred stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, for all dividend periods ending on or prior to the date of any action described below:
no dividends (other than in shares of our common stock or shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the Existing preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment;
no other distribution may be declared or made upon shares of our common stock or any shares of our capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Existing preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation; and
no shares of our common stock, or any other shares of our capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Existing preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation may be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by us for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) (except by conversion into or exchange for other of our shares of capital stock ranking junior to the Existing preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, and except for our redemption, purchase or acquisition of “Excess Shares” under our Articles of Incorporation to ensure that we remain a qualified REIT for federal income tax purposes).
Holders of the Existing preferred stock are not entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares of capital stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Existing preferred stock as provided above. Any dividend payment made on the Existing preferred stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.
Existing Preferred Stock — Liquidation Preference
Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of Existing preferred stock will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of payment, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock that ranks junior to the Existing preferred stock as to liquidation rights. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Existing preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.
In the event that, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding Existing preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all other classes or series of our capital stock ranking on a parity with the Existing preferred stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Existing preferred stock and all other such classes or series will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.
Our consolidation, combination or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or consolidation or merger of any other corporation with or into us, the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets, property or business or any statutory share exchange, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us.
Existing Preferred Stock — Redemption
We, at our option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior written notice, may redeem the Existing preferred stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares to the date fixed for redemption (except as provided below), without interest. Holders of Existing preferred stock to be redeemed must surrender the Existing preferred stock at the place designated in the notice and will be entitled to the redemption price and any accrued and unpaid dividends payable upon the redemption following surrender. If notice of redemption

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of any Existing preferred stock has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by us in trust for the benefit of the holders of any Existing preferred stock called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date:
dividends will cease to accrue on the Existing preferred stock;
the Existing preferred stock will no longer be deemed outstanding; and
all rights of the holders of the Existing preferred stock will terminate, except the holder’s right to receive the redemption price.
If less than all of the outstanding Existing preferred stock is to be redeemed, the Existing preferred stock to be redeemed will be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method determined by us.
Unless full cumulative dividends on all Existing preferred stock have been, or contemporaneously are, declared and paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all dividend periods ending on or prior to the date of any applicable redemption, purchase or acquisition, no Existing preferred stock may be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Existing preferred stock are simultaneously redeemed, and we may not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any Existing preferred stock (except by exchange for shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the Existing preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation). This requirement will not prevent the Existing preferred stock from becoming “Excess Shares” under our Articles of Incorporation or the purchase by us of Excess Shares in order to ensure that we remain qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.
The terms of the Existing preferred stock do not prevent us from conducting open-market purchases of our Existing preferred stock and/or any of our other equity securities from time to time, in accordance with applicable law and subject to the limitations described under the headings “Existing Preferred Stock — Dividends” and “Existing Preferred Stock — Redemption” above.
Notice of redemption will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York, such publication to be made once a week for two successive weeks commencing not less than 30 nor more than 60 days before the redemption date. A similar notice will be mailed by us, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days before the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Existing preferred stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on our stock transfer records. No failure to give such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Existing preferred stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. Each notice will state:
the redemption date;
the redemption price;
the number of shares of Existing preferred stock to be redeemed;
the place or places where shares of Existing preferred stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and
that dividends on the Existing preferred stock to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date.
If less than all of the shares of Existing preferred stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to the holder will also specify the number of shares to be redeemed.
The holders of Existing preferred stock at the close of business on a dividend record date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable with respect to the Existing preferred stock on the corresponding dividend payment date notwithstanding the redemption thereof between the dividend record date and the corresponding dividend payment date. Except as provided above, we will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on shares of Existing preferred stock that are called for redemption.
The Existing preferred stock has no stated maturity and is not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. However, in order to ensure that we remain a qualified REIT for federal income tax

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purposes, Existing preferred stock owned by a shareholder in excess of the ownership limit specified in the Articles of Incorporation may become “Excess Shares” under our Articles of Incorporation, which we will have the right to purchase from the holder. See “Existing Preferred Stock — Restrictions on Ownership.”
Existing Preferred Stock — Voting Rights
Holders of the Existing preferred stock do not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.
Whenever we fail to pay dividends on any Existing preferred stock for six or more quarterly periods, which we refer to in this prospectus as a “preferred dividend default,” the holders of the series of preferred stock so affected (voting separately as a class with all other series of preferred stock, if any, ranking on a parity with the Existing preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, referred to in this prospectus as “parity preferred,” upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of a total of two members of our board of directors, referred to in this prospectus as “preferred directors”:
at the next annual meeting of the shareholders or at a special meeting of the shareholders called by the holders of record of at least 20% of either the Series A preferred stock or the Series B preferred stock or the holders of 20% of any other series of such parity preferred so in arrears (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the shareholders); and
at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accrued on the applicable series of preferred stock for all dividend periods ending on or prior to the date of any applicable annual meeting shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment.
If and when all accumulated dividends on the Existing preferred stock shall have been declared and paid in full or declared and set aside for payment in full, the holders thereof shall be divested of the foregoing voting rights (subject to revesting in the event of each and every preferred dividend default) and, if all accumulated dividends have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment in full on all Existing preferred stock and series of parity preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each preferred director so elected shall terminate.
Any preferred director may be removed at any time with or without cause by, and shall not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding Existing preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other series of parity preferred, if any, upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). So long as a preferred dividend default shall continue, any vacancy in the office of a preferred director may be filled by written consent of the preferred director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding Existing preferred stock when they have the voting rights described above (voting separately as a class with all other series of parity preferred, if any, upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). The preferred directors will each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.
So long as any shares of Existing preferred stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of each class of the Existing preferred stock outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class):
authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to such class of Existing preferred stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any authorized shares of our capital stock into such shares, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or
amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an “event”), so as to materially and adversely affect any right,

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preference, privilege or voting power of such class of Existing preferred stock or the holders thereof,
provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any event set forth in the second bullet point above, so long as any shares of such class of Existing preferred stock remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the occurrence of an event we may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of any such event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of such class of Existing preferred stock or the holders thereof, and provided further that (1) any increase in the amount of the authorized common stock or preferred stock or the creation or issuance of any other series of common stock or preferred stock, ranking on a parity with or junior to the Existing preferred stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or (2) any change to the number or classification of our directors, will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and provided further that any amendment to Article 11 of our Articles of Incorporation relating to “Excess Shares,” the ownership limit set forth therein or any other matter described therein of any type or nature will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers so long as after such amendment, any single “Person” may “Own” (each as defined in Article 11 of the Articles of Incorporation prior to or after such amendment) 3.9% of the value of the outstanding shares of our capital stock without violating the ownership limit set forth therein.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply, and each class of Existing preferred stock will not be entitled to vote, after any notice of redemption is mailed to the holders and a sum sufficient to redeem the shares of such class has been deposited with a bank, trust company, or other financial institution under an irrevocable obligation to pay the redemption price to the holders upon surrender of the shares.
Existing Preferred Stock — Conversion
The Existing preferred stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any of our other property or securities. However, to preserve our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, shares of Existing preferred stock may become “Excess Shares” under Article 11 of our Articles of Incorporation. See “Existing Preferred Stock — Restrictions on Ownership.”
Existing Preferred Stock — Restrictions on Ownership
For us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in complying with this requirement, subject to certain exceptions, the Articles of Incorporation limit “Ownership” (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation) by a single “Person” (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation) to 3.9% of the aggregate value of all outstanding shares of all classes of stock (including the Existing preferred stock). For a more complete description of the transfer restrictions contained in our Articles of Incorporation, please see the discussion above under the heading “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Transfer.”
Existing Preferred Stock — Transfer Agent
The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the Existing preferred stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
 General
 
This section describes the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary shares offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those depositary shares.
 
We may issue fractional interests in shares of preferred stock in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fractional ownership interest in one share of preferred stock, and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement among us, a depositary, which will be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million, and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each holder of a depositary share will be entitled, through the depositary, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by that depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights).

Immediately following the issuance of the shares of preferred stock, we will deposit the shares of preferred stock with the depositary.

We have summarized selected terms and provisions of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary receipts in this section. The summary is not complete. We will file the form of deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K before we issue the depositary shares. You should read the forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt relating to a series of preferred stock for additional information before you buy any depositary shares that represent preferred stock of such series.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute any cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the deposited shares of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the underlying shares of preferred stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares held by the holders. The depositary will distribute any property received by it other than cash to the record holders of depositary shares entitled to those distributions, unless it determines that the distribution cannot be made proportionally among those holders or that it is not feasible to make a distribution. In that event, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of the depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares they hold.
Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the depositary shares will be the same as the corresponding record dates for the shares of preferred stock.
The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

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Redemption of Depositary Shares
If the series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption of the shares of preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the shares of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed.
In case of any redemption of less than all of the outstanding depositary shares, the depositary shares to be redeemed may be selected by the depositary pro rata or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be equitable and that preserves our REIT status. In any such case, we may redeem depositary shares only in certain increments.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights of the holders of those shares will cease, except the right to receive the amount payable and any other property to which the holders were entitled upon the redemption. To receive this amount or other property, the holders must surrender the depositary receipts evidencing their depositary shares to the depositary. Any funds that we deposit with the depositary for any depositary shares that the holders fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date we deposit the funds.

Conversion  
If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to conversion, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the rights or obligations of each record holder of depositary receipts to convert the depositary shares.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, any holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary, paying any taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and complying with any other requirement of the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary shares making these withdrawals will be entitled to receive whole shares of preferred stock, but holders of whole shares of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit those shares of preferred stock under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts for those shares of preferred stock after withdrawal. If the depositary shares surrendered by the holder in connection with withdrawal exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.
Voting the Shares of Preferred Stock
When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the shares of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the shares of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the shares of preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the shares of preferred stock represented by the holder’s depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock, it will vote all depositary shares of that series held by it proportionately with instructions received.

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Liquidation Preference  
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, whether voluntary or involuntary, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share evidenced by a depositary receipt.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
We may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time and from time to time by agreement with the depositary. However, any amendment that imposes additional charges or materially and adversely alters any substantial existing right of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the holders of at least a majority of the affected depositary shares then outstanding approve the amendment. We will make no amendment that impairs the right of any holder of depositary shares, as described above under “—Withdrawal of Preferred Stock”, to receive shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary shares, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Holders who retain or acquire their depositary receipts after an amendment becomes effective will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment and will be bound by the amended deposit agreement.
The deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
a final distribution in respect of the shares of preferred stock has been made to the holders of depositary shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us.
We may terminate the deposit agreement at any time, and the depositary will give notice of that termination to the record holders of all outstanding depositary receipts not less than 30 days before the termination date. In that event, the depositary will deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of preferred stock as are represented by those depositary shares.
Charges of Depositary; Taxes and Other Governmental Charges
We will pay the fees, charges and expenses of the depositary provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by us. Holders of depositary receipts will pay any taxes and governmental charges and any charges provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by them, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts. If the depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable at the election of a holder of a depositary receipt or other person, that holder or other person will be liable for those fees, charges and expenses.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by giving us notice, and we may remove or replace the depositary at any time. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.
Reports to Holders
We will deliver all required reports and communications to holders of the shares of preferred stock to the depositary. It will forward those reports and communications to the holders of depositary shares.

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Limitation on Liability of the Depositary
The depositary will not be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of its duties under the agreement, and it will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares, depositary receipts or shares of preferred stock unless satisfactory and reasonable protection from expenses and liability is furnished. This is called an indemnity. The depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, upon information provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and upon documents believed to be genuine.

Restrictions on Ownership

As discussed above under “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Transfer,” for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, including certain entities that are treated as individuals for this purpose, during the last half of a taxable year. To assist us in meeting this requirement, we may take certain actions to limit the beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, by a single person of our outstanding equity securities, including any of our preferred stock. Therefore, the Certificate of Designations for each series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The deposit agreement may contain similar provisions. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership limitation relating to a series of preferred stock and any depositary shares.
BOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
We can issue the securities covered by this prospectus in definitive form or in the form of one or more global securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the manner in which the securities offered thereby will be issued.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes the material federal income tax considerations relating to our taxation as a REIT under the Code. As used in this section, the terms “we” and “our” refer solely to Cousins Properties Incorporated and not to our subsidiaries and affiliates which have not elected to be taxed as REITs under the Code.
This section also summarizes material federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our common stock. A prospectus supplement will contain information about additional federal income tax considerations, if any, relating to a particular offering of warrants, debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares.
King & Spalding LLP has reviewed this summary and is of the opinion that the discussion contained herein, to the extent it constitutes statements of law, fairly summarizes the federal income tax consequences that are material to a holder of our common stock, although King & Spalding LLP has not rendered any opinion as to our status as a qualified REIT under the Code. This discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations, nor does it discuss all of the aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a prospective shareholder in light of his or her particular circumstances or to shareholders (including insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, financial institutions or broker-dealers, foreign corporations and persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States) who are subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws.
The information in this section is based on the current provisions of the Code, current final, temporary and proposed regulations, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, and court decisions. The reference to Internal Revenue Service interpretations and practices includes Internal Revenue Service practices and policies reflected in private letter rulings issued to other taxpayers, which would not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service in any of its dealings with us. These sources are being relied upon as of the date of this prospectus. No assurance can be

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given that future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions will not significantly change current law, or adversely affect existing interpretations of law, on which the information in this section is based. Any change of this kind could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change in law. Even if there is no change in applicable law, no assurance can be provided that the statements made in the following discussion will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.
Each prospective shareholder is advised to consult with his or her own tax advisor to determine the impact of his or her personal tax situation on the anticipated tax consequences of our status as a REIT and the ownership and sale of our stock. This includes the federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the ownership and sale of our stock, and the potential impact of changes in applicable tax laws.
Taxation of Cousins Properties Incorporated
General. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, and we believe that we have met the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT since our initial REIT election in 1987. We intend to continue to operate in such a manner as to continue to so qualify, but no assurance can be given that we have qualified or will remain qualified as a REIT. We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as to our current status as a REIT. However, we have received an opinion from Deloitte Tax LLP stating that, since the commencement of our taxable year which began January 1, 2005 through the tax year ending December 31, 2012, we have been organized and have operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our actual method of operation has enabled, and our proposed method of organization and operation will enable, us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT, provided that we have been organized and have operated and continue to be organized and to operate in accordance with certain assumptions and representations made by us. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and on our representations concerning our organization and operations, including an assumption that we qualified as a REIT at all times from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2004, and including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the conduct and method of operation of our business. The opinion cannot be relied upon if any of those assumptions and representations later prove incorrect. Moreover, continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the various REIT qualification tests imposed under the Code, the results of which will not be reviewed by Deloitte Tax LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations will satisfy such requirements. Additional information regarding the risks associated with our failure to qualify as a REIT is set forth under the caption “Risk Factors.”
The opinion of Deloitte Tax LLP is based upon current law, which is subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Changes in applicable law could modify the conclusions expressed in the opinion. Moreover, unlike a tax ruling (which we will not seek), this opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service could not successfully challenge our status as a REIT.
If we have qualified and continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on that portion of our ordinary income and capital gain that we distribute (or are deemed to distribute) currently to our shareholders. Even if we qualify as a REIT, however, we will be subject to federal income taxes under the following circumstances. First, we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains. Second, under certain circumstances, we may be subject to the “alternative minimum tax” on certain items of tax preference. Third, if we have (i) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” (which is, in general, property acquired by foreclosure or otherwise on default of a loan secured by the property) which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (ii) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on such income. Fourth, if we have net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business), such income will be subject to a 100% tax. This 100% tax on income from prohibited transactions is discussed in

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more detail below. Fifth, if we should fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (as discussed below), and nonetheless have maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements have been met, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the income attributable to the greater of the amount by which we failed the 75% or 95% test, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. Sixth, if we were to violate one or more of the REIT asset tests (as discussed below) under certain circumstances, but the violation was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and we were to take certain remedial actions, we may avoid a loss of our REIT status by, among other things, paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during a specified period. Seventh, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including net capital gain) from prior years, subject to certain adjustments, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed. Eighth, if we were to acquire any asset, directly or indirectly, from a C corporation (i.e., a corporation generally subject to full corporate level tax) in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset (or any other property) in the hands of the C corporation, and we were to recognize gain on the disposition of such asset during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired such asset, then, to the extent of such property’s “built-in” gain (the excess of the fair market value of such property at the time we acquired it over the adjusted basis of such property at such time), such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate applicable. We refer to this tax as the “Built-in Gains Tax.” Ninth, if we fail to satisfy certain of the REIT qualification requirements under the Code (other than the gross income and asset tests), and the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we may be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure to maintain our REIT status. Finally, if we fail to comply with the requirements to send annual letters to certain shareholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of our outstanding stock and the failure was not due to reasonable cause or was due to willful neglect, we will be subject to a $25,000 penalty or, if the failure is intentional, a $50,000 penalty.
Activities conducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, including Cousins Real Estate Corporation (“CREC”) and its subsidiaries, are subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. In general, a taxable REIT subsidiary may engage in activities that, if engaged in directly by a REIT, would produce income that does not satisfy the REIT gross income tests, described below, or income that, if earned by the REIT, would be subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions, also described below. A number of constraints, however, are imposed on REITs and their taxable REIT subsidiaries to ensure that taxable REIT subsidiaries pay an appropriate corporate-level tax on their income. For example, a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to the “earnings stripping” rules of the Code with respect to interest paid to the REIT, which could defer or disallow a portion of our taxable REIT subsidiaries’ deductions for interest paid to us under certain circumstances. In addition, if our taxable REIT subsidiaries make deductible payments to us (such as interest or rent), and the amount of those deductible payments is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the amount that unrelated parties would charge to each other, we would be subject to a 100% penalty tax on the excess payments. We would incur a similar 100% penalty tax on a portion of the rent we receive from our tenants, to the extent the Internal Revenue Service determines that the rent payments are attributable to certain services provided to our tenants by our taxable REIT subsidiaries without receiving adequate compensation either from us or from our tenants.
Requirements for Qualification. The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:
(1) which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;
(2) the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;
(3) which would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;
(4) which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to certain provisions of the Code;
(5) the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

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(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities);
(7) which makes an election to be a REIT (or has made such an election for a previous taxable year, which election has not been revoked or terminated) and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;
(8) which uses the calendar year as its taxable year; and
(9) which meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and regarding distributions to its shareholders.
The Code provides that conditions (1) through (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year, that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months, and that condition (6) must be met during the last half of each taxable year. We have issued sufficient shares of our common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements (5) and (6). We will be treated as having met condition (6) above if we complied with certain Treasury Regulations for ascertaining the ownership of our stock and if we did not know (or after the exercise of reasonable diligence would not have known) that our stock was sufficiently closely held to cause us to fail condition (6). In addition, Article 11 of our Articles of Incorporation contains restrictions regarding the transfer and ownership of our shares that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in clauses (5) and (6) above but without causing us to violate the freely transferable shares requirement described in clause (2) above. See “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Transfer.”
In the case of a REIT owning an interest in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or other legal entity that is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (which we refer to collectively as partnerships), the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and is deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share (based on the REIT’s capital interest in the partnership). In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership will retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and asset tests that are discussed below. We own interests in a number of partnerships (the “Subsidiary Partnerships”), and thus, our proportionate share of the assets, liabilities and items of income from the Subsidiary Partnerships are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described herein.
Income Tests. To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income requirements annually. First, at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property (including “rents from real property” and, in certain circumstances, mortgage interest) or from certain types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) for each taxable year must be derived from such real property investments described above, and from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or from any combination of the foregoing. In our taxable years from 1998 through 2004, any payment that we received under certain kinds of financial instruments that we entered into to reduce the interest rate risks with respect to any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets, as well as any gain derived from the sale or other disposition of any such investment, constituted qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). In our taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, any transaction that we enter into to hedge indebtedness incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets must constitute a properly identified “hedging transaction” (in accordance with Section 1221 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) to avoid giving rise to non-qualifying gross income, and any income or gain that we derive from such a properly-identified hedging transaction will be excluded from our gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but not the 75% gross income test). For hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, such income is also excluded for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
Rents that we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the above gross income tests only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the

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income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a tenant will not qualify as “rents from real property” if we directly or constructively were deemed to own 10% or more of the ownership interests in such tenant (a “Related Party Tenant”), unless such tenant is our taxable REIT subsidiary and certain other conditions are satisfied. Third, if rent attributable to personal property that is leased in connection with a lease of real property is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” Finally, for rent to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to our tenants, other than through an “independent contractor” from whom we derive no revenue. The “independent contractor” requirement, however, does not apply to the extent the services we provide are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.” In addition, the “independent contractor” requirement will not apply to noncustomary services we provide, if the annual value of such noncustomary services does not exceed 1% of the gross income derived from the property with respect to which the noncustomary services are provided (the “1% de minimis exception”). For this purpose, such services may not be valued at less than 150% of our direct cost of providing the services, and any gross income deemed to have been derived by us from the performance of noncustomary services pursuant to the 1% de minimis exception will constitute nonqualifying gross income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, our taxable REIT subsidiaries are permitted to provide noncustomary services to our tenants without causing the rents we receive from such tenants to be disqualified as “rents from real property.”
From time to time, we may derive rent from certain tenants based, in whole or in part, on the net profits of the tenant, rent from Related Party Tenants, or rent that is more than 15% attributable to personal property. However, the amount of such nonqualifying rent income, if any, is not expected to be material, and we have complied and believe we will continue to comply with the 95% and 75% gross income tests. In addition, based on our knowledge of the real estate markets in the geographic regions in which we operate, we believe that all services that are provided to the tenants of the properties generally will be considered “usually or customarily” rendered in connection with the rental of comparable real estate. Further, we intend to provide any noncustomary services only through qualifying independent contractors, through our taxable REIT subsidiaries or in compliance with the 1% de minimis exception.
We manage certain properties held by the Subsidiary Partnerships, and in return for such services, we receive certain management and accounting fees. We obtained a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that the portion of such fees that is apportioned to the capital interests of the other partners constitutes non-qualifying gross income for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, and the portion of each fee that is apportioned to our capital interest is disregarded for purposes of Section 856 of the Code. We also expect to receive certain other types of non-qualifying income, such as dividends and interest paid by CREC to us (which will qualify under the 95% gross income test but not under the 75% gross income test). We believe, however, that the aggregate amount of such non-qualifying income in any taxable year will not cause us to exceed the limits on non-qualifying income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
If we were to fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet such tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we attach a schedule to our federal income tax return containing certain information concerning our gross income. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. As discussed above in “General,” even if these relief provisions were to apply, a tax would be imposed with respect to the excess income.
Asset Tests. At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy several tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets (including our allocable share of real estate assets held by the Subsidiary Partnerships), certain temporary investments in stock or debt instruments purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or a public offering of long-term debt (but only for the one-year period beginning on the date we receive the applicable offering proceeds), cash, certain cash items and government securities. Second, not more than 25% of our total assets

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may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, the value of any one issuer’s debt and equity securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets (the “5% asset test”). Fourth, we may not own more than 10% of the total voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities (the “10% voting securities test”). Fifth, with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000, we may not own more than 10% of the total value of any one issuer’s outstanding debt and equity securities (the “10% value test”), subject to certain exceptions. Mortgage debt secured by real estate assets constitutes a “real estate asset” and does not constitute a “security” for purposes of the foregoing tests.
The following assets are not treated as “securities” held by us for purposes of the 10% value test: (i) “straight debt” meeting certain requirements, unless we hold (either directly or through our “controlled” taxable REIT subsidiaries) certain other securities of the same corporate or partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1% of such issuer’s outstanding securities; (ii) loans to individuals or estates; (iii) certain rental agreements calling for deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to Section 467 of the Code, other than with certain related persons; (iv) obligations to pay us amounts qualifying as “rents from real property” under the 75% and 95% gross income tests; (v) securities issued by a state or any political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in part on the profits of any person not described in this category, or payments on any obligation issued by such an entity; (vi) securities issued by another qualifying REIT; and (vii) other arrangements identified in Treasury regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed). In addition, any debt instrument issued by a partnership will not be treated as a “security” under the 10% value test if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75% gross income test. If the partnership fails to meet the 75% gross income test, then the debt instrument issued by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a “security” to the extent of our interest as a partner in the partnership. Also, in looking through any partnership to determine our allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, our share of the assets of the partnership, solely for purposes of applying the 10% value test in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, will correspond not only to our interest as a partner in the partnership but also to our proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000, the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities test, and the 10% value test do not apply to the securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary. However, the value of the debt and equity securities of all taxable REIT subsidiaries we own cannot represent more than 20% (for pre-2009 taxable years) or 25% (for post-2008 taxable years) of the value of our total assets. Any corporation in which a REIT directly or indirectly owns stock (other than another REIT, a corporation which directly or indirectly operates or manages a lodging facility or a health care facility, and, with certain exceptions, a corporation which directly or indirectly provides to any person (under a franchise, license, or otherwise) rights to any brand name under which any lodging facility or health care facility is operated) may be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary if the REIT and the corporation file a joint election with the Internal Revenue Service for the corporation to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary of the REIT.
We own 100% of the stock of CREC, and we also have made loans to CREC. We have filed a joint election with CREC to have CREC, as well as its corporate subsidiaries, treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries, effective as of January 1, 2001. Accordingly, the debt and equity securities of CREC that we hold are not subject to the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities test, or the 10% value test.
We believe that the value of our debt and equity securities of CREC and of our other taxable REIT subsidiaries has represented, at all relevant times, less than 20% (for pre-2009 taxable years) and less than 25% (for post-2008 taxable years) of the value of our total assets. With respect to taxable years ending on or prior to December 31, 2000, we believe that the securities of each such issuer also represented less than 5% of the value of our total assets. We also believe that the value of the securities, including unsecured debt, of each other issuer in which we have owned an interest, excluding equity interests in partnerships (which are looked through rather than treated as securities for purposes of the REIT asset tests), has never exceeded 5% of the total value of our assets and that we comply with the 10% voting securities test and the 10% value test (taking into account the various exceptions referred to above). Finally, we also believe that the aggregate value

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of our assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test (including the non-mortgage debt and equity securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries) does not exceed 25% of the value of our total assets. No independent appraisals have been obtained, however, to support these conclusions, and Deloitte Tax LLP, in rendering the tax opinion described above, is relying upon our representations regarding the value of our securities and our other assets. Although we plan to take steps to ensure that we continue to satisfy all of the applicable REIT asset tests, there can be no assurance that such steps will always be successful or will not require a reduction in our overall interest in the taxable REIT subsidiaries or changes in our other investments.
If we were to fail any of the asset tests discussed above at the end of any quarter without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, we would fail to qualify as a REIT, unless we were to qualify under certain relief provisions. Under one of these relief provisions, if we were to fail the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities test, or the 10% value test, we nevertheless would continue to qualify as a REIT if the failure was due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1% of our assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and we were to dispose of such assets (or otherwise meet such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which the failure was identified. If we were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter, but we did not qualify for the relief for de minimis failures that is described in the preceding sentence, then we would be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset test if: (i) following our identification of the failure, we were to file a schedule with a description of each asset that caused the failure; (ii) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; (iii) we were to dispose of the non-qualifying asset (or otherwise meet the relevant asset test) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure was identified, and (iv) we were to pay a penalty tax equal to the greater of $50,000, or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying asset during the period beginning on the first date of the failure and ending on the date we dispose of the asset (or otherwise cure the asset test failure). It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.
Annual Distribution Requirements. To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to (A) the sum of (i) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (ii) 90% of the net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property, minus (B) the sum of certain items of noncash income. Such distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. Furthermore, if we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (ii) 95% of our REIT capital gain income for such year, and (iii) any undistributed taxable income (including any net capital gain) from prior periods, subject to certain adjustments, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.
We have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements. It is possible, however, that we may not have sufficient cash or liquid assets, from time to time, to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between the receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of such income and deduction of such expenses in arriving at our taxable income, or if the amount of nondeductible expenses (such as principal amortization or capital expenses) exceeds the amount of noncash deductions (such as depreciation). In the event that such timing differences occur, we may need to borrow money, sell assets, pay taxable stock dividends (for example, where shareholders may elect to receive a dividend paid in cash or with newly issued shares of our common stock), or take other measures to permit us to pay the required dividends.
Under certain circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year that may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends; however, we will be required to pay interest and penalties, if any, to the Internal Revenue Service based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

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Failure to Qualify. If we were to fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, we would retain our REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and if we were to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. It is not possible to predict whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of this relief provision.
If we were to fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and no relief provisions were to apply, we would be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible from our taxable income, nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to our shareholders will be taxable as regular dividend income. Under these circumstances, subject to certain limitations in the Code, corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction and individual shareholders may be eligible for a reduced tax rate on “qualified dividend income” received from regular C corporations. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief. In addition, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we would have to distribute as dividends, no later than the end of our first taxable year as a re-electing REIT, all of the earnings and profits attributable to any taxable years for which we were a taxable C corporation. Thus, to re-elect REIT status after being disqualified, we could be required to incur substantial indebtedness or liquidate substantial investments in order to make such distributions.
Prohibited Transactions Tax. Any gain that a REIT recognizes from the sale of property held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business (excluding sales of foreclosure property and sales conducted by taxable REIT subsidiaries) will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business is a question of fact that depends on all of the facts and circumstances of the particular transaction. Under a statutory safe harbor, however, we will not be subject to the 100% tax with respect to a sale of property if (i) the property has been held for at least two years (formerly four years for sales prior to July 31, 2008) for the production of rental income prior to the sale, (ii) capitalized expenditures on the property in the two years preceding the sale (formerly four years for sales prior to July 31, 2008) are less than 30% of the net selling price of the property and (iii) we either (a) have seven or fewer sales of property (excluding certain property obtained through foreclosure and other than certain involuntary conversions) in the year of sale or (b) (x) the aggregate tax basis of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate tax basis of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, or for sales after July 30, 2008, the aggregate fair market value of property sold during the year of sale is 10% or less of the aggregate fair market value of all of our assets as of the beginning of the taxable year, in each case excluding sales of foreclosure property and involuntary conversions, and (y) substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property sold are made through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income. The sale of more than one property to a buyer as part of one transaction constitutes one sale for purposes of this safe harbor. Not all of our property sales will qualify for the safe harbor. Nevertheless, we intend to own our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning rental properties and making occasional sales of properties as are consistent with our investment objectives. However, the Internal Revenue Service may successfully contend that some of our sales are prohibited transactions, in which case we would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on the gains resulting from any such sales. Because of this prohibited transactions tax, we intend that sales of property to customers in the ordinary course of business (such as condominiums or residential lots) will be made by a taxable REIT subsidiary, which will be subject to corporate-level tax on its profit but will not be subject to the 100% penalty tax on prohibited transactions.

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Other Tax Considerations
We believe that each of the Subsidiary Partnerships qualifies as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not as an association taxable as a corporation or as a publicly traded partnership (within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code).
If a Subsidiary Partnership were treated as an association taxable as a corporation, the value of our interest in such partnership would no longer qualify as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. Further, if a Subsidiary Partnership were treated as a taxable corporation, then we would cease to qualify as a REIT if our ownership interest in such partnership exceeded 10% of the partnership’s voting interests, or the value of our debt and equity interest in such partnership exceeded 5% of the value of the our total assets or 10% of the value of the partnership’s outstanding debt and equity securities. Furthermore, in such a situation, distributions from the Subsidiary Partnership to us would be treated as dividends, which do not qualify in satisfying the 75% gross income test described above and which therefore could make it more difficult for us to meet such test, and we would not be able to deduct our share of losses generated by such Subsidiary Partnership in computing our net taxable income.
Taxation of Shareholders
Taxation of Taxable Domestic Shareholders. Certain “qualified dividend income” received by domestic non-corporate shareholders is subject to tax at the same tax rates as long-term capital gain (generally, a maximum rate of 20%). Dividends received from REITs, however, generally are not eligible for these reduced tax rates and, therefore, will continue to be subject to tax at ordinary income rates (generally, a maximum rate of 39.6%), subject to three narrow exceptions. Under the first exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” eligible for the reduced tax rates to the extent that the REIT itself has received qualified dividend income from other corporations (such as taxable REIT subsidiaries) in which the REIT has invested. Under the second exception, dividends paid by a REIT in a taxable year may be treated as qualified dividend income in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the excess of the REIT’s “REIT taxable income” for the preceding taxable year over the corporate-level federal income tax payable by the REIT for such preceding taxable year and (ii) the excess of the REIT’s income that was subject to the Built-in Gains Tax (as described above) in the preceding taxable year over the tax payable by the REIT on such income for such preceding taxable year. Under the third exception, dividends received from a REIT may be treated as “qualified dividend income” to the extent attributable to earnings and profits accumulated in non-REIT taxable years. We do not expect to receive a material amount of dividends from our taxable REIT subsidiaries or from other taxable corporations, we do not expect to pay a material amount of federal income tax on undistributed REIT taxable income or a material amount of Built-in Gains Tax, and we believe we have previously distributed as dividends all of our non-REIT accumulated earnings and profits. Therefore, as long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions made to our taxable domestic shareholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits (and not designated as capital gain dividends) will be taken into account by them as ordinary income (except, in the case of non-corporate shareholders who meet certain holding period requirements, to the limited extent that one of the foregoing exceptions applies). In addition, as long as we qualify as a REIT, corporate shareholders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction as to any dividends received from us.
Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will be taxed as long-term capital gains (to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) without regard to the period for which the shareholder has held his or her shares. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of our common stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a shareholder’s shares of our common stock, they will be included in income as long-term capital gain (or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less), assuming the shares are a capital asset in the hands of the shareholder. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year payable to a shareholder of record on a specific date in any such month shall be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by us during January of the following calendar year.

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We may make an election to treat all or part of our undistributed net capital gain as if it had been distributed to our shareholders. These undistributed amounts would be subject to corporate-level tax payable by us. If we were to make such an election, our shareholders would be required to include in their income as long-term capital gain their proportionate shares of our undistributed net capital gain. Each shareholder would be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such undistributed net capital gain, and this amount would be credited or refunded to the shareholder in computing his or her own federal income tax liability. In addition, the tax basis of the shareholder’s stock would be increased by his or her proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains included in his or her income, less his or her proportionate share of the income tax imposed on us with respect to such gains.
Domestic shareholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any of our net operating losses or net capital losses. Instead, we would carry over such losses for potential offset against our future income, subject to certain limitations. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the sale of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, domestic shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” (such as losses from certain types of limited partnerships in which a shareholder is a limited partner) against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations. Capital gains from the disposition of our stock (or distributions, if any, taxable at capital gain rates), however, will be treated as investment income only if the shareholder so elects, in which case such capital gains or distributions, as the case may be, will be taxed at ordinary income rates. For purposes of computing each shareholder’s alternative minimum taxable income, certain of our “differently treated items” for each taxable year (for example, differences in computing depreciation deductions for regular tax purposes and alternative minimum tax purposes) may be apportioned to our shareholders in accordance with section 59(d)(1)(A) of the Code.
In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares by a domestic shareholder who is not a dealer in securities will be treated as a capital gain or loss. Any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our common stock by a shareholder who has held such shares for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules) will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of actual or deemed distributions from us that were required to be treated by such shareholder as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of our shares may be disallowed if other shares of our stock are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition.
For non-corporate taxpayers, the tax rate differential between capital gain and ordinary income may be significant. Under current law, the highest marginal non-corporate income tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 39.6%. Any capital gain recognized or otherwise properly taken into account generally will be taxed to a non-corporate taxpayer at a maximum rate of 20% with respect to capital assets held for more than one year. The tax rates applicable to ordinary income apply to gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets held for one year or less. In the case of capital gain attributable to the sale or exchange of certain real property held for more than one year, an amount of such gain equal to the amount of all prior depreciation deductions not otherwise required to be taxed as ordinary depreciation recapture income will be taxed at a maximum rate of 25%. With respect to distributions designated by us as capital gain dividends (including any deemed distributions of retained capital gains), subject to certain limits, we also may designate, and will notify our shareholders, whether the dividend is taxable to non-corporate shareholders at regular long-term capital gain rates or at the 25% rate applicable to gain corresponding to unrecaptured depreciation.
The characterization of income as capital or ordinary also may affect the deductibility of capital losses. Capital losses not offset by capital gains may be deducted against a non-corporate taxpayer’s ordinary income only up to a maximum annual amount of $3,000. Non-corporate taxpayers may carry forward their unused capital losses. All net capital gain of a corporate taxpayer is subject to tax at ordinary corporate rates. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only to the extent of its capital gains, with unused losses eligible to be carried back three years and forward five years.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. In general, information reporting requirements will apply to distributions made with respect to our shares and to payments of the proceeds on the sale of our shares, unless an exception applies. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding, at a rate equal to the fourth lowest rate of federal income tax applicable to ordinary income of individuals (currently 28%), with respect to such amounts unless such shareholder (a) is a corporation

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or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A shareholder who does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount paid as backup withholding may be applied as a credit against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, which could result in a refund.
Medicare Tax on Unearned Income. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, a domestic shareholder that is an individual, an estate, or a trust (other than certain types of exempt trusts) will generally be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) such person’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of such person’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year over a certain threshold (which threshold will generally be (a) $250,000 in the case of a married individual filing a joint return, and (b) $200,000 in the case of an unmarried individual). A domestic shareholder’s net investment income will generally include ordinary and capital gain dividend income received in respect of our shares, and gains from the sale or other disposition of our shares, unless such dividend income or gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive activities or securities or commodities trading activities). If you are a domestic shareholder that is an individual, an estate, or a trust, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the applicability of this tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in our shares.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders. The Internal Revenue Service has ruled publicly that amounts distributed by a REIT to a tax-exempt employees’ pension trust do not constitute “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”). Based upon this ruling and subject to the discussion below regarding qualified pension trust investors, distributions by us to a shareholder that is a tax-exempt entity should not constitute UBTI, provided that the tax-exempt entity has not financed the acquisition of its shares with “acquisition indebtedness” within the meaning of the Code and the shares of our stock are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity. Revenue rulings, however, are interpretive in nature and subject to revocation or modification by the Internal Revenue Service.
For tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, or qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) or (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, or corporations exempt under Section 501(c)(2) and whose income is payable to any of the aforementioned tax-exempt organizations, income from an investment in our shares will constitute UBTI under certain circumstances. These prospective investors should consult with their tax advisors regarding the special UBTI rules applicable to them.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “qualified trust” (defined to be any trust described in section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Code) that holds more than 10% of the value of the shares of a REIT may be required, under certain circumstances, to treat a portion of distributions from the REIT as UBTI. This requirement will apply for a taxable year only if (i) the REIT satisfies the requirement that not more than 50% of the value of its shares be held by five or fewer individuals (the “five or fewer requirement”) by relying on a special “look-through” rule under which shares held by qualified trust shareholders are treated as held by the beneficiaries of such trusts in proportion to their actuarial interests therein, and (ii) the REIT is “predominantly held” by qualified trusts. A REIT is “predominantly held” if either (i) a single qualified trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT’s shares or (ii) one or more qualified trusts, each owning more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares, hold in the aggregate more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s shares. If the foregoing requirements are met, the percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI to a qualified trust that owns more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares is equal to the ratio of (a) the UBTI earned by the REIT (treating the REIT as if it were a qualified trust and therefore subject to tax on its UBTI) to (b) the total gross income (less certain associated expenses) of the REIT. A de minimis exception applies where the ratio set forth in the preceding sentence is less than 5% for any year. The provisions requiring qualified trusts to treat a portion of REIT distributions as UBTI will not apply if the REIT is able to satisfy the five or fewer requirement without relying upon the “look-through” rule.
Taxation of Foreign Shareholders. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships and other foreign shareholders (collectively, “Non-U.S. Shareholders”) are complex, and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a limited summary

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of such rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state and local income tax laws with regard to an investment in our common stock, including any reporting requirements.
Distributions that are not attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests and not designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions, ordinarily, will be subject to a withholding tax equal to 30% of the gross amount of the distribution unless an applicable tax treaty reduces that tax. However, if income from the investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the Non-U.S. Shareholder generally will be subject to a tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. shareholders are taxed with respect to such dividends (and may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax if the shareholder is a foreign corporation). We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on the gross amount of any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are not designated as capital gain dividends unless (i) a lower treaty rate applies and the required IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate is filed with us or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us properly claiming that the distribution is “effectively connected” income. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s shares, such excess will constitute gain that may be subject to U.S. federal income tax under the provisions of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), as described below. If it cannot be determined at the time a distribution is made whether or not such distribution will be in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to ordinary dividends. In addition, the portion of such distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, to the extent not subject to the 30% withholding tax on ordinary dividends, will be subject to a 10% withholding tax under FIRPTA, unless the Non-U.S. Shareholder obtains a withholding certificate from the Internal Revenue Service establishing the right to a reduced amount of FIRPTA withholding. The Non-U.S. Shareholder may seek a refund from the Internal Revenue Service of excess tax withheld if it is subsequently determined that such distribution was, in fact, in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits or, if the 10% withholding tax applied, did not give rise to taxable gain under FIRPTA.
Under current law, distributions to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will not be treated under FIRPTA as income “effectively connected” with a U.S. business carried on by the Non-U.S. Shareholder, provided that (i) the distribution is received with respect to a class of our stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States and (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder does not own more than 5% of that regularly traded class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the relevant distribution. Rather than being subject to tax as effectively connected income under FIRPTA, such distributions will be treated as ordinary REIT dividends that are not capital gain dividends. Thus, such distributions generally will be subject to the 30% withholding tax described above, such distributions will not be subject to the branch profits tax, and Non-U.S. Shareholders generally will not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return by reason of receiving such distributions.
In the case of any Non-U.S. Shareholder who is not eligible for the exception described above (an “Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder”), for any year in which we qualify as a REIT, distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests will be taxed to such Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder under the provisions of FIRPTA. Under FIRPTA, these distributions are taxed to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder as if such gain were effectively connected with a U.S. business. Thus, Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholders will be taxed on such distributions at the normal capital gain rates applicable to U.S. shareholders (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and will be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns. Also, distributions subject to FIRPTA may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a corporate Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. We are required by applicable Treasury Regulations to withhold 35% of any distribution to an Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder that could be designated

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by us as a capital gain dividend. This amount may be applied as a credit against the Ineligible Non-U.S. Shareholder’s FIRPTA tax liability.
Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder upon a sale of our stock generally will not be taxed under FIRPTA if we are a “domestically controlled REIT,” defined generally as a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. We believe that we currently qualify as a “domestically controlled REIT,” and that the sale of common stock by a Non-U.S. Shareholder therefore will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA. Because our stock is publicly traded, however, no assurance can be given that we are, or will continue to be, a domestically controlled REIT. If we were not a domestically controlled REIT, whether a Non-U.S. Shareholder’s gain would be taxed under FIRPTA would depend on whether our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of sale and on the size of the selling shareholder’s interest in our stock. In addition, gain not subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a Non-U.S. Shareholder if (i) the investment in our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the Non-U.S. Shareholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain, or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains. If the gain on the sale of our common stock were to be subject to tax under FIRPTA, the Non-U.S. Shareholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to such gain (subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and the purchaser of such stock could be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the Internal Revenue Service.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding for Non-U.S. Shareholders. Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of shares made to a Non-U.S. Shareholder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding (currently imposed at a rate of 28%) unless such holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we have, or our paying agent has, actual knowledge or reason to know that a purported Non-U.S. Shareholder is a United States person. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the United States income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
New Legislation Relating to Foreign Accounts. The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (the “HIRE Act”), which was enacted in 2010, imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification requirements are satisfied. The portion of the HIRE Act that provides for this withholding tax and related provisions is known as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA.”
On January 17, 2013, the Treasury Department issued final regulations relating to FATCA. As a general matter, and among other things, FATCA will impose a 30% withholding tax on dividends on, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our shares if paid to a foreign entity unless (i) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” the foreign entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” the foreign entity certifies it has no substantial U.S. owners or furnishes information regarding each substantial U.S. owner, or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise excepted under FATCA. Under the regulations, withholding is generally required (i) with respect to dividends on our shares beginning on January 1, 2014, and (ii) with respect to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our shares beginning on January 1, 2017. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of FATCA in their particular circumstances.

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State and Local Taxes
Cousins Properties Incorporated, its subsidiaries, and its shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which it or they transact business or reside (although shareholders who are individuals generally should not be required to file state income tax returns outside of their state of residence with respect to our operations and distributions), and their state and local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our securities.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell any securities:
to or through underwriters or dealers;
through agents;
in block trades;
directly to one or more purchasers; or
through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
For each series of securities, the prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering including:
the initial public offering price;
the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;
the purchase price of the securities;
our proceeds from the sale of the securities;
any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation payable to underwriters or agents;
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or repaid to dealers; and
the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed, if any.
If we use underwriters in the sale, they will buy the securities for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or thereafter. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities may be on a firm commitment basis or best efforts basis and will be subject to certain conditions. If the underwriters agree to purchase the securities on a firm commitment basis, they will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. In connection with an offering, underwriters and selling group members and their affiliates may engage in transactions to stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities in accordance with applicable law.

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If we use dealers in the sale, we will sell securities to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. If we use agents in the sale, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. If we sell directly, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We are not making an offer of securities in any state that does not permit such an offer.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that they may be required to make.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain institutions whereby the institution contractually agrees to purchase the securities from us on a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be made only with institutions that we specifically approve. Such institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information. This prospectus does not offer to sell or buy any securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful.
The securities, other than the common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market and unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not list any series of the securities on any exchange. It has not presently been established whether the underwriters, if any, of the securities will make a market in the securities. If the underwriters make a market in the securities, such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the securities.
One or more of the underwriters, dealer or agents, and/or one or more of their respective affiliates, may be a lender under our credit facility and may provide other commercial banking, investment banking and other services to us and/or our subsidiaries and affiliates in the ordinary course of our business.
EXPERTS
The financial statements, the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Cousins Properties Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 13, 2013, and the effectiveness of Cousins Properties Incorporated’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference.  Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of Terminus 200 for the year ended December 31, 2012, incorporated by reference from Cousins Properties Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed March 26, 2013, has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unmodified opinion and includes an emphasis-of-matter paragraph referring to the purpose of the statement), and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statement of Post Oak Central, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Cousins Properties Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed March 26, 2013, has been audited by Frazier and Deeter, LLC, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference.  Such financial statement has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the securities will be passed upon for Cousins by King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.

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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
 
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee*
*
New York Stock Exchange Listing Fee
**
Accounting fees and expenses
**
Legal fees and expenses
**
Printing and distribution fees
**
Miscellaneous expenses
**
Total Expenses
**
 
 

*
We are registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this Registration Statement and in accordance with Rule 456(b) and 457(r), we are deferring payment of any registration fee until the time the securities are sold under this Registration Statement.
**
These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.
All fees other than the SEC registration fee are estimated. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, all of the expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be borne by us.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Part 5 of Article 8 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the “GBCC”) states:
14-2-850. Part definitions
As used in this part, the term:
(1) “Corporation” includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of a corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.
(2) “Director” or “officer” means an individual who is or was a director or officer, respectively, of a corporation or who, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity. A director or officer is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the corporation’s request if his or her duties to the corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, the director or officer to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. Director or officer includes, unless the context otherwise requires, the estate or personal representative of a director or officer.
(3) “Disinterested director” means a director who at the time of a vote referred to in subsection (c) of Code Section 14-2-853 or a vote or selection referred to in subsection (b) or (c) of Code Section 14-2-855 or subsection (a) of Code Section 14-2-856 is not:
(A) A party to the proceeding; or
(B) An individual who is a party to a proceeding having a familial, financial, professional, or employment relationship with the director whose indemnification or advance for expenses is the subject of the decision being made with respect to the proceeding, which relationship would, in the circumstances,

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reasonably be expected to exert an influence on the director’s judgment when voting on the decision being made.
(4) “Expenses” includes counsel fees.
(5) “Liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding.
(6) “Official capacity” means:
(A) When used with respect to a director, the office of director in a corporation; and
(B) When used with respect to an officer, as contemplated in Code Section 14-2-857, the office in a corporation held by the officer.
Official capacity does not include service for any other domestic or foreign corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity.
(7) “Party” means an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.
(8) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal.
14-2-851. Authority to indemnify
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, a corporation may indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if:
(1) Such individual conducted himself or herself in good faith; and
(2) Such individual reasonably believed:
(A) In the case of conduct in his or her official capacity, that such conduct was in the best interests of the corporation;
(B) In all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and
(C) In the case of any criminal proceeding, that the individual had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful.
(b) A director’s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he or she believed in good faith to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subparagraph (a)(2)(B) of this Code section.
(c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the standard of conduct described in this Code section.
(d) A corporation may not indemnify a director under this Code section:
(1) In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under this Code section; or
(2) In connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity.
14-2-852. Mandatory indemnification
A corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

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14-2-853. Advance for expenses
(a) A corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is a director if he or she delivers to the corporation:
(1) A written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the relevant standard of conduct described in Code Section 14-2-851 or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under a provision of the articles of incorporation as authorized by paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Code Section 14-2-202; and
(2) His or her written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that the director is not entitled to indemnification under this part.
(b) The undertaking required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section must be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the director to make repayment.
(c) Authorizations under this Code section shall be made:
(1) By the board of directors:
(A) When there are two or more disinterested directors, by a majority vote of all the disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote; or
(B) When there are fewer than two disinterested directors, by the vote necessary for action by the board in accordance with subsection (c) of Code Section 14-2-824, in which authorization directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate; or
(2) By the shareholders, but shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to the proceeding may not be voted on the authorization.
14-2-854. Court-ordered indemnification and advances for expenses
(a) A director who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is a director may apply for indemnification or advance for expenses to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. After receipt of an application and after giving any notice it considers necessary, the court shall:
(1) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if it determines that the director is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses under this part; or
(2) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if it determines, in view of all the relevant circumstances, that it is fair and reasonable to indemnify the director or to advance expenses to the director, even if the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 14-2-851, failed to comply with Code Section 14-2-853, or was adjudged liable in a proceeding referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of Code Section 14-2-851, but if the director was adjudged so liable, the indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.
(b) If the court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code Section, it shall also order the corporation to pay the director’s reasonable expenses to obtain court ordered indemnification or advance for expenses. If the court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section, it may also order the corporation to pay the director’s reasonable expenses to obtain court ordered indemnification or advance for expenses.
(c) The court may summarily determine, without a jury, a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses.
14-2-855. Determination and authorization of indemnification
(a) A corporation may not indemnify a director under Code Section 14-2-851 unless authorized thereunder and a determination has been made for a specific proceeding that indemnification of the director

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is permissible in the circumstances because he or she has met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in Code Section 14-2-851.
(b) The determination shall be made:
(1) If there are two or more disinterested directors, by the board of directors by a majority vote of all the disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote;
(2) By special legal counsel:
(A) Selected in the manner prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
(B) If there are fewer than two disinterested directors, selected by the board of directors (in which selection directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate); or
(3) By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director may not be voted on the determination.
(c) Authorization of indemnification or an obligation to indemnify and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if there are fewer than two disinterested directors or if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled under subparagraph (b)(2)(B) of this Code section to select special legal counsel.
14-2-856. Shareholder approved indemnification
(a) If authorized by the articles of incorporation or a bylaw, contract, or resolution approved or ratified by the shareholders by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast, a corporation may indemnify or obligate itself to indemnify a director made a party to a proceeding including a proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation, without regard to the limitations in other Code sections of this part, but shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to any existing or threatened proceeding that would be covered by the authorization may not be voted on the authorization.
(b) The corporation shall not indemnify a director under this Code section for any liability incurred in a proceeding in which the director is adjudged liable to the corporation or is subjected to injunctive relief in favor of the corporation:
(1) For any appropriation, in violation of the director’s duties, of any business opportunity of the corporation;
(2) For acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
(3) For the types of liability set forth in Code Section 14-2-832; or
(4) For any transaction from which he or she received an improper personal benefit.
(c) Where approved or authorized in the manner described in subsection (a) of this Code section, a corporation may advance or reimburse expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding only if:
(1) The director furnishes the corporation a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that his or her conduct does not constitute behavior of the kind described in subsection (b) of this Code section; and
(2) The director furnishes the corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on his or her behalf, to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that the director is not entitled to indemnification under this Code section.
14-2-857. Indemnification of officers, employees, and agents
(a) A corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under this part to an officer of the corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is an officer of the corporation:

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(1) To the same extent as a director; and
(2) If he or she is not a director, to such further extent as may be provided by the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors, or contract except for liability arising out of conduct that constitutes:
(A) Appropriation, in violation of his or her duties, of any business opportunity of the corporation;
(B) Acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, or a knowing violation of law;
(C) The types of liability set forth in Code Section 14-2-832; or
(D) Receipt of an improper personal benefit.
(b) The provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall apply to an officer who is also a director if the sole basis on which he or she is made a party to the proceeding is an act or omission solely as an officer.
(c) An officer of a corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Code Section 14-2-852, and may apply to a court under Code Section 14-2-854 for indemnification or advances for expenses, in each case to the same extent to which a director may be entitled to indemnification or advances for expenses under those provisions.
(d) A corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy, that may be provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors, or contract.
14-2-858. Insurance
A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation or who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, serves at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity against liability asserted against or incurred by him or her in that capacity or arising from his or her status as a director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to him or her against the same liability under this part.
14-2-859. Application of part
(a) A corporation may, by a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a contract approved by its board of directors or shareholders, obligate itself in advance of the act or omission giving rise to a proceeding to provide indemnification or advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses consistent with this part. Any such obligatory provision shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements for authorization referred to in subsection (c) of Code Section 14-2-853 or subsection (c) of Code Section 14-2-855.
(b) Any provision pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall not obligate the corporation to indemnify or advance expenses to a director of a predecessor of the corporation, pertaining to conduct with respect to the predecessor, unless otherwise specifically provided. Any provision for indemnification or advance for expenses in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders, partners, or, in the case of limited liability companies, members or managers of a predecessor of the corporation or other entity in a merger or in a contract to which the predecessor is a party, existing at the time the merger takes effect, shall be governed by paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 14-2-1106.
(c) A corporation may, by a provision in its articles of incorporation, limit any of the rights to indemnification or advance for expenses created by or pursuant to this part.
(d) This part shall not limit a corporation’s power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or an officer in connection with his or her appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he or she is not a party.

II-5



(e) Except as expressly provided in Code Section 14-2-857, this part shall not limit a corporation’s power to indemnify, advance expenses to, or provide or maintain insurance on behalf of an employee or agent.
(f) Any provision in a corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or contract approved by its board of directors or shareholders that obligates the corporation to provide indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law shall, unless such provision or another provision in the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a contract approved by its board of directors or shareholders expressly provides otherwise, be deemed to obligate the corporation:

         (1) To advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with Code Section 14-2-853 to the fullest extent permitted by law; and
(2) To indemnify directors to the fullest extent permitted in Code Section 14-2-856, provided that such provision is duly authorized as required in subsection (a) of Code Section 14-2-856, and to indemnify officers to the fullest extent permitted in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and subsection (b) of Code Section 14-2-857.
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
As permitted by the GBCC, the Registrant’s Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation provide that a director shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of duty of care or other duty as a director, except that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (a) for any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business opportunity of the Registrant, (b) for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) for unlawful corporate distributions under Section 14-2-832 of the GBCC or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Under Article VI of the Registrant’s Bylaws, the Registrant is required to indemnify any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (including any action by or in the right of the Registrant), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, agent or employee of the Registrant against expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such proceeding provided that such person shall not be indemnified in any proceeding in which he is adjudged liable to the Registrant for (i) any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business opportunity of the Registrant, (ii) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful corporate distributions or (iv) any transaction from which such person received improper personal benefit. Expenses incurred by any person according to the foregoing provisions shall be paid by the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of the written affirmation of such person’s good faith belief that he has met the standards of conduct required under the Bylaws.
Indemnification Agreements between Registrant and Directors and Certain Officers

 
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain officers providing contractual indemnification by the Registrant to the maximum extent authorized by law.

Item 16. Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description 
 
1.1*
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement.

II-6



 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description 
 
2.1
 
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement between 3280 Peachtree III LLC and MSREF VII Global U.S. Holdings (FRC), L.L.C., dated December 7, 2012 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.2
 
First Amendment to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement between 3280 Peachtree III LLC and MSREF VII Global U.S. Holdings (FRC), L.L.C., dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.3
 
Sale and Contribution Agreement between Cousins Properties Incorporated, 3280 Peachtree I LLC, 3280 Peachtree III LLC and Terminus Acquisition Company LLC, dated February 4, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.4
 
Purchase and Sale Agreement (Post Oak Central) between Crescent POC Investors, L.P. and Cousins POC I LLC, dated February 4, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
3.1
 
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended August 9, 1999 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002), as further amended July 22, 2003 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2003), as further amended December 15, 2004 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004) and as further amended May 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2010).
 
3.2
 
Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated December 4, 2012 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2012).
 
4.1
 
Form of Indenture.
 
4.2*
 
Form of Certificate of Designations relating to the Preferred Stock.
 
5.1
 
Opinion of King & Spalding LLP.
 
8.1
 
Opinion of King & Spalding LLP regarding certain tax matters.
 
8.2
 
Opinion of Deloitte Tax LLP regarding certain tax matters.
 
12.1
 
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
 
23.1
 
Consent of King & Spalding LLP (included as part of its opinions filed as Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1 hereto).
 
23.2
 
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

II-7



 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description 
 
23.3
 
Consent of Frazier and Deeter, LLC.
 
23.4
 
Consent of Deloitte Tax LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit 8.2 hereto).
 
23.5
 
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
24.1
 
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
 
25.1†
 
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1.
* To be incorporated by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K.
† To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. Provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
4. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
 
(a) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(b) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule

II-8



430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
5. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
 
(a) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
 
(b) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
 
(c) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
 
(d) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
6. That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefits plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
7. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
8. To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
 

II-9



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia on the 29th day of March, 2013.
 
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
 
 
 
 
By:
   /s/ Gregg D. Adzema
 
 
 
 
 
   Gregg D. Adzema
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

II-10



POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Lawrence L. Gellerstedt III, Gregg D. Adzema and Pamela F. Roper, and each of them, such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and any subsequent related registration statements and amendments thereto pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or such person’s substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 29, 2013.
Signature
 
Title
 
   /s/ Lawrence L. Gellerstedt  
Lawrence L. Gellerstedt III
 
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
      /s/ Gregg D. Adzema  
Gregg D. Adzema
 
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
      /s/ John D. Harris, Jr.  
John D. Harris, Jr.
 
Senior Vice President
Chief Accounting Officer
and Assistant Secretary
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
         /s/ S. Taylor Glover  
S. Taylor Glover
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
         /s/ Tom G. Charlesworth  
Tom G. Charlesworth
 
Director
 
         /s/ James D. Edwards  
James D. Edwards
 
Director
 
      /s/ Lillian C. Giornelli  
Lillian C. Giornelli
 
Director
 
      /s/ James H. Hance, Jr.  
James H. Hance, Jr.
 
Director
 
      __________________  
William Porter Payne
 
Director
 
         /s/ R. Dary Stone  
R. Dary Stone
 
Director

II-11



Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description 
 
2.1
 
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement between 3280 Peachtree III LLC and MSREF VII Global U.S. Holdings (FRC), L.L.C., dated December 7, 2012 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.2
 
First Amendment to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement between 3280 Peachtree III LLC and MSREF VII Global U.S. Holdings (FRC), L.L.C., dated January 30, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.3
 
Sale and Contribution Agreement between Cousins Properties Incorporated, 3280 Peachtree I LLC, 3280 Peachtree III LLC and Terminus Acquisition Company LLC, dated February 4, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)

 
2.4
 
Purchase and Sale Agreement (Post Oak Central) between Crescent POC Investors, L.P. and Cousins POC I LLC, dated February 4, 2013 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 26, 2013). (Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.)
 
1.1*
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 
3.1
 
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended August 9, 1999 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002), as further amended July 22, 2003 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2003), as further amended December 15, 2004 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004) and as further amended May 4, 2010 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2010).
 
3.2
 
Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated December 4, 2012 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2012).
 
4.1
 
Form of Indenture.
 
4.2*
 
Form of Certificate of Designations relating to the Preferred Stock.
 
5.1
 
Opinion of King & Spalding LLP.
 
8.1
 
Opinion of King & Spalding LLP regarding certain tax matters.
 
8.2
 
Opinion of Deloitte Tax LLP regarding certain tax matters.
 
12.1
 
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.

II-12



 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description 
 
23.1
 
Consent of King & Spalding LLP (included as part of its opinions filed as Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 8.1 hereto).
 
23.2
 
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
23.3
 
Consent of Frazier and Deeter, LLC.
 
23.4
 
Consent of Deloitte Tax LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit 8.2 hereto).
 
23.5
 
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
24.1
 
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
 
25.1†
 
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1.
* To be incorporated by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K.
† To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.


II-13
EX-4.1 2 ex41cousins-formofindenture.htm EXHIBIT Ex41Cousins-FormofIndenture
Exhibit 4.1



COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED



Debt Securities



Indenture


Dated as of [ ]



[ ],


as Trustee










CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

This Cross-Reference Table is not a part of the Indenture.



TIA 
Section
Indenture 
Section
310(a)(1)
7.10
(a)(2)
7.10
(a)(3)
N.A.
(a)(4)
N.A.
(b)
7.08; 7.10; 11.02
 
 
311(a)
7.11
(b)
7.11
(c)
N.A.
 
 
312(a)
2.05
(b)
11.03
(c)
11.03
 
 
313(a)
7.06
(b)(1)
N.A.
(b)(2)
7.06
(c)
11.02
(d)
7.06
 
 
314(a)
4.03; 11.02
(b)
N.A.
(c)(1)
11.04
(c)(2)
11.04
(c)(3)
N.A.
(d)
N.A.
(e)
11.05
 
 
315(a)
7.01(b)
(b)
7.05; 11.02
(c)
7.01(a)
(d)
7.01(c)
(e)
6.11
 
 
316(a)(last sentence)
11.06





TIA 
Section
Indenture 
Section
(a)(1)(A)
6.05
(a)(1)(B)
6.04
(a)(2)
N.A.
(b)
6.07
 
 
317(a)(1)
6.08
(a)(2)
6.09
(b)
2.04
 
 
318(a)
11.01
 
 
N.A. means Not Applicable
 


2



TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.

Page

ARTICLE One DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE    1
Section 1.01.Definitions    1
Section 1.02.Other Definitions.    4
Section 1.03.Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.    5
Section 1.04.Rules of Construction.    5
ARTICLE Two THE SECURITIES    6
Section 2.01.Form and Dating.    6
Section 2.02.Execution and Authentication.    7
Section 2.03.Registrar and Paying Agent.    8
Section 2.04.Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.    8
Section 2.05.Securityholder Lists.    8
Section 2.06.Transfer and Exchange.    8
Section 2.07.Replacement Securities.    9
Section 2.08.Outstanding Securities.    9
Section 2.09.Temporary Securities.    10
Section 2.10.Cancellation.    10
Section 2.11.Defaulted Interest.    10
Section 2.12.Treasury Securities.    10
Section 2.13.CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.    11
Section 2.14.Deposit of Moneys.    11
Section 2.15.Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security.    11
ARTICLE Three REDEMPTION    13
Section 3.01.Notices to Trustee.    13
Section 3.02.Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.    13
Section 3.03.Notice of Redemption.    14
Section 3.04.Effect of Notice of Redemption.    15
Section 3.05.Deposit of Redemption Price.    15
Section 3.06.Securities Redeemed in Part.    15
ARTICLE Four COVENANTS    15
Section 4.01.Payment of Securities.    15
Section 4.02.Maintenance of Office or Agency.    15
Section 4.03.Compliance Certificate.    16
Section 4.04.Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence.    16
Section 4.05.Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.    16
ARTICLE Five SUCCESSOR CORPORATION    17

1



Section 5.01.When Company May Merge, etc.    17
ARTICLE Six DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES    17
Section 6.01.Events of Default.    17
Section 6.02.Acceleration.    19
Section 6.03.Other Remedies.    19
Section 6.04.Waiver of Existing Defaults.    19
Section 6.05.Control by Majority.    20
Section 6.06.Limitation on Suits.    20
Section 6.07.Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.    20
Section 6.08.Collection Suit by Trustee.    20
Section 6.09.Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.    21
Section 6.10.Priorities.    21
Section 6.11.Undertaking for Costs.    21
ARTICLE Seven TRUSTEE    22
Section 7.01.Duties of Trustee.    22
Section 7.02.Rights of Trustee.    23
Section 7.03.Individual Rights of Trustee.    23
Section 7.04.Trustee’s Disclaimer.    24
Section 7.05.Notice of Defaults.    24
Section 7.06.Reports by Trustee to Holders.    24
Section 7.07.Compensation and Indemnity.    24
Section 7.08.Replacement of Trustee.    25
Section 7.09.Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.    26
Section 7.10.Eligibility; Disqualification.    26
Section 7.11.Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.    26
ARTICLE Eight DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE    26
Section 8.01.Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations;
Discharge.
    26
Section 8.02.Survival of Obligations.    29
Section 8.03.Application of Trust Money.    29
Section 8.04.Repayment to the Company.    29
Section 8.05.Reinstatement.    30
ARTICLE Nine AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS    30
Section 9.01.Without Consent of Holders.    30
Section 9.02.With Consent of Holders.    31
Section 9.03.Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.    32
Section 9.04.Revocation and Effect of Consents.    32
Section 9.05.Notation on or Exchange of Securities.    33
Section 9.06.Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.    33
ARTICLE Ten SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES    33
Section 10.01.Applicability of Article.    33

2



ARTICLE Eleven MISCELLANEOUS    34
Section 11.01.Trust Indenture Act Controls.    34
Section 11.02.Notices.    34
Section 11.03.Communications by Holders with Other Holders.    35
Section 11.04.Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.    35
Section 11.05.Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.    35
Section 11.06.Rules by Trustee and Agents.    35
Section 11.07.Legal Holidays.    36
Section 11.08.Governing Law.    36
Section 11.09.No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.    36
Section 11.10.No Recourse Against Others.    36
Section 11.11.Successors and Assigns.    36
Section 11.12.Duplicate Originals.    36
Section 11.13.Severability.    36


EXHIBIT A – Form of Security



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INDENTURE dated as of [____________], (the “Base Indenture”), by and among COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and [____________________], as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s debt securities issued under this Base Indenture:





ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01.
Definitions.
Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Person specified.
Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands.
Authorizing Resolution” means a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to Board delegation authorizing a Series of Securities.
Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests.
Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
control” means, when used with respect to any Person, the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Definitive Security” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Securityholder thereof.
Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any Series which the Company shall determine will be issued in whole or in part as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01.

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Dollars” and “$” mean United States Dollars.
DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the accounting standards codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such or any other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture relating to any Series of Securities, as in effect from time to time.
Global Security” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any interest on the Security of the applicable Series shall be payable, in each case for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such other government or governments, in each case the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government or governments, which, in either case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
Holder” or “Securityholder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.
Indenture” means this Base Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time, including pursuant to any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to any Series, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Base Indenture and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, respectively.

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Issue Date” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, the date on which the Securities of such Series are originally issued under this Indenture.
NYUCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time.
Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company, as applicable.
Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
principal” of a debt security means the principal of the security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.
Property” of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such Person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP.
Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, any Subsidiary of the Company which is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.
Securities” means any Securities that are issued under this Base Indenture.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Series” means a series of Securities established under this Base Indenture.
Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company which would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1.02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such entity or other persons performing similar functions is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.

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TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein.
Trustee” means the party named as such in this Base Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Base Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
Trust Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
United States” means the United States of America.
Unrestricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Series, any Subsidiary of the Company (1) so designated by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as provided below and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, subject, in each case, to such conditions as may be stated in the supplemental indenture or specified in the Authorizing Resolution with respect to such Series.
Section 1.02.
Other Definitions.
Term    Defined in Section

Agent Members    2.15
Base Indenture    Preamble
Business Day    11.07
Covenant Defeasance    8.01
Custodian    6.01
Event of Default    6.01
Legal Defeasance    8.01
Legal Holiday    11.07
Paying Agent    2.03
Payment Default    6.01
Registrar    2.03
Security Register    2.03
Successor    5.01

Section 1.03.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities of a particular Series.

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“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of a Series.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04.
Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1)
a term has the meaning assigned to it herein;
(2)
an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP and all accounting determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP;
(3)
“or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”;
(4)
words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(5)
“herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole (including any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to the relevant Series) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(6)
all exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of this Indenture; and
(7)
any transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture or such provision, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 2    

THE SECURITIES
Section 2.01.
Form and Dating.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be issued under this Base Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more Series. Each Series

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shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution or a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of the Series, which may include the following:
(1)
the title of the Series;
(2)
the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of the Series;
(3)
whether Securities of a Series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, and if so, the method of computing the accretion of such discount;
(4)
the maturity date;
(5)
the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest rate;
(6)
the date from which interest will accrue;
(7)
the record dates for interest payable on Securities of the Series;
(8)
the dates when, places where and manner in which principal and interest are payable;
(9)
the Registrar and Paying Agent;
(10)
the terms of any mandatory (including any sinking fund requirements) or optional redemption by the Company;
(11)
the terms of any redemption at the option of Holders;
(12)
the permissible denominations in which Securities of such Series are issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
(13)
the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid;
(14)
if payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which Securities of such Series are denominated, the manner for determining such payments, including the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which such Securities are denominated and the currency in which such Securities or any of them may be paid, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;
(15)
whether and upon what terms Securities of such Series may be defeased or discharged if different from the provisions set forth in this Base Indenture;

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(16)
any Events of Default, covenants and/or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in this Base Indenture;
(17)
whether the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Base Indenture, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities; the form of any legend or legends, if any, to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in Section 2.15;
(18)
the form of the Securities of such Series, which, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides, shall be in the form of Exhibit A;
(19)
whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; and
(20)
any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in this Base Indenture applicable to such Series.
All Securities of one Series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such Series pursuant to an Authorizing Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.
Section 2.02.
Execution and Authentication.
One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Base Indenture.
The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section 2.03.
Registrar and Paying Agent.

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The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or where Securities of a Series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange (“Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Security Register”). The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Base Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all reasonable times to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to rely upon such register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and certificate numbers thereof. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.
Section 2.04.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders and the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon doing so the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money.
Section 2.05.
Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five (5) Business Days before each semiannual interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.
Section 2.06.
Transfer and Exchange.
Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(a) of the NYUCC are met and the other provisions of this Section 2.06 are satisfied. Where Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any

9



Security selected for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed or repurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or repurchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or repurchased. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in the case of exchanges pursuant to 2.09, 3.06, or 9.05 not involving any transfer.
Any Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
Section 2.07.
Replacement Securities.
If the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and execute a replacement security and, upon written request of any Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate such replacement Security, provided, in the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security, that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the NYUCC are met. If any such lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken Security shall have matured or shall be about to mature, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security therefor, pay such Security without requiring (except in the case of a mutilated Security) the surrender thereof. An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee and any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, including the acquisition of such Security by a bona fide purchaser. The Company and the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.
Section 2.08.
Outstanding Securities.
Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it and those described in this Section. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its Affiliates holds the Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the NYUCC).
If the Paying Agent holds on a redemption date, purchase date or maturity date money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.09.
Temporary Securities.

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Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for cancellation of the temporary Security, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.10.
Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy, or retain in accordance with its standard retention policy, all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase, payment or cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture so provides, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has previously paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.11.
Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any Series, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders of such Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and a payment date which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder of the relevant Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. On or before the date such notice is mailed, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted interest to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Section 2.12.
Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered.
Section 2.13.
CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities of any Series may use a “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” or other similar number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number

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in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number printed in the notice or on such Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on such Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number.
Section 2.14.
Deposit of Moneys.
Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each interest payment date and maturity date with respect to each Series of Securities, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money in the applicable currency sufficient to make cash payments due on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders of such Series on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.
Section 2.15.
Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security.
(a)    Any Global Security of a Series initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear any required legends.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.
(b)    Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Security may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue Definitive Securities.
(c)    In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the Registrar shall (if one or more Definitive Securities are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the

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beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Securities of like Series and amount.
(d)    In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same Series in authorized denominations.
(e)    The Holder of any Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of such Series.
(f)    Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture for a particular Series of Securities, each Global Security of such Series shall bear legends in substantially the following forms:
“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.”
“UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE

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BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
ARTICLE 3    

REDEMPTION
Section 3.01.
Notices to Trustee.
Securities of a Series that are redeemable prior to maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article Three.
If the Company wants to redeem Securities pursuant to Paragraph 4 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to Holders. Any such cancelled notice shall be void and of no effect.
If the Company wants to credit any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired against any redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall deliver any Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation with such notice.
The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at least 30 days before the notice of any such redemption is to be mailed to Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
Section 3.02.
Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed by a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and in a manner that complies with applicable requirements of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities outstanding not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying attributes of the Securities so selected. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts equal to a permissible denomination for the Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.
Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to a Series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into or exchanged for Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities

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which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as outstanding for the purpose of such selection.
Section 3.03.
Notice of Redemption.
At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities (including the Series) to be redeemed and shall state:
(1)
the redemption date;
(2)
the redemption price or the formula pursuant to which such price will be calculated;
(3)
if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;
(4)
in the case of Securities of a Series that are convertible or exchangeable into shares of the Company’s common stock or other securities, cash or other property, the conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such Series to be redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;
(5)
the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(6)
that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(7)
The CUSIP number(s) for such Securities;
(8)
that interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and
(9)
that the Securities are being redeemed pursuant to the mandatory redemption or the optional redemption provisions, as applicable.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is to be mailed or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph .

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Section 3.04.
Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set forth in the notice of redemption. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.05.
Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent immediately available funds in the applicable currency sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.06.
Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for each Holder a new Security of the same Series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE 4    

COVENANTS
Section 4.01.
Payment of Securities.
The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series of Securities on the dates, in the currency and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent holds on that date money in the applicable currency designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate.
Section 4.02.
Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03. The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee.
Section 4.03.
Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any continuing Default by the Company in performing any of its obligations under this Indenture. If they do know of such a Default, the certificate shall describe the Default.

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Section 4.04.
Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence.
The Company will:
(a)    cause to be paid and discharged all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or upon the income or profits of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or upon Property or any part thereof belonging to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries before the same shall be in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon such Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the nonpayment thereof does not, in the judgment of the Company, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and provided further that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if, in the judgment of the Company, such payment shall not be advantageous to the Company in the conduct of its business and if the failure so to pay or discharge does not, in its judgment, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and
(b)    cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and to comply with all applicable laws; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (b) shall prevent a consolidation or merger of the Company or any Subsidiary not prohibited by the provisions of Article Five, Article Nine or any other provision of this Indenture pertaining to a Series, and the Company may discontinue the corporate existence of any Restricted Subsidiary, or fail to comply with any such applicable laws, if, in the Company’s judgment, such discontinuance or non-compliance does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due.
Section 4.05.
Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any Series as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE 5    

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

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Section 5.01.
When Company May Merge, etc.
The Company will not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including by way of liquidation or dissolution), to any Person (in each case other than in a transaction in which the Company is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:

(1)    the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition will be made (collectively, the “Successor”), is a corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company under the Securities and the Indenture, and

(2)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to a transaction the purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the Successor will be substituted for the Company under the Indenture. The Successor may then exercise every power and right of the Company under this Indenture, and the Company will be released from all of its liabilities and obligations in respect of the Securities and the Indenture.
ARTICLE 6    

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01.
Events of Default.
An “Event of Default” on a Series occurs if, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any of the following occurs:

(1)
the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days;
(2)
the failure by the Company to pay the principal of any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
(3)
the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of such Series or this

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Indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution), which will constitute Events of Default with notice but without passage of time);
(4)
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A)
commences a voluntary case,
(B)
consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C)
consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its Property, or
(D)
makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(5)
a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A)
is for relief against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary as debtor in an involuntary case,
(B)
appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the Property of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary, or
(C)
orders the liquidation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

A Default as described in subclause (3) above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution)) the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases to exist, without any action by the Trustee or any other Person.
The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.02.
Acceleration.

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If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company resulting from subclause (4) or (5) above), shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Securities of such Series to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in subclauses (4) or (5) above occurs, all amounts due and payable on all the Securities of such Series will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such Series and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (other than the non-payment of accelerated principal) have been cured or waived.
No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.
Section 6.03.
Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default on a Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Series or to enforce the performance of any provision in the Securities or this Indenture applicable to the Series.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.04.
Waiver of Existing Defaults.
Subject to Section 9.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series on behalf of all the Holders of the Series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default on such Series and its consequences. When a Default is waived, it is cured and stops continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05.
Control by Majority.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to such Series. The Trustee,

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however, may refuse to follow any direction (i) that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) that, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders, (iii) that would involve the Trustee in personal liability, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (iv) if the Trustee shall not have been provided with indemnity satisfactory to it.
Section 6.06.
Limitation on Suits.
A Securityholder of a Series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Series unless:
(1)
the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default on the Series;
(2)
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3)
such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(4)
the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and
(5)
no written request inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.06.
A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Securities of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of the same Series.
Section 6.07.
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
Section 6.08.
Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.
Section 6.09.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable

21



compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or its creditors or Property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian, and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder except as aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.
Section 6.10.
Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article with respect to Securities of any Series, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First:
to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

Second:
to Securityholders of the Series for amounts due and unpaid on the Series for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Series for principal and interest, respectively; and

Third:
to the Company as its interest may appear.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11.
Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having the due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Series.
ARTICLE 7    

TRUSTEE
Section 7.01.
Duties of Trustee.

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(a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the Series, exercise its rights and powers and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1)    The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
(2)    In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee, however, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts or matters stated therein.
(c)    The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1)    This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(2)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(3)    The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 or any other direction of the Holders permitted hereunder.
(d)    Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph s (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e)    The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f)    The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g)    None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.

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Section 7.02.
Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Section 7.01:
(a)    The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction.
(b)    Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, which shall conform to Sections 11.04 and 11.05 hereof and containing such other statements as the Trustee reasonably deems necessary to perform its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or any other direction of the Company permitted hereunder.
(c)    The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d)    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e)    The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f)    Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(g)    For all purposes under this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default (other than under Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2)) unless a Trust Officer assigned to and working in the Trustee’s corporate trust office has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its address specified in Section 11.02 hereof and such notice references the Securities generally, the Company or this Indenture.
Section 7.03.
Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.04.
Trustee’s Disclaimer.

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The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities of any Series; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities; it shall not be accountable for any money paid to the Company, or upon the Company’s direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05.
Notice of Defaults.
If a Default on a Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Series notice of the Default (which shall specify any uncured Default known to it) within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on a Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors of the Trustee, the executive or any trust committee of such directors and/or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determine(s) that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of the Series.
Section 7.06.
Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after each [__________] beginning with the [__________]following the date of this Base Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(1) through (8) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date no report in relation thereto need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports if and as required by TIA § 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee of each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed.
Section 7.07.
Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for their respective services subject to any written agreement between the Trustee and the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred or made by or on behalf of it in connection with the administration of this Indenture or the trust hereunder and its duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim in the premises. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s, or its officers’, directors’, employees’ or agents’ negligence or bad faith.

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Unless otherwise provided in any supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution relating to any Series, to ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities of all Series on all money or Property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or in connection with Article Six hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.08.
Replacement of Trustee.
The Trustee may resign with respect to Securities of any or all Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities (or of the relevant Series) may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. Such resignation or removal shall not take effect until the appointment by the Securityholders of the relevant Series or the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee and any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee for any or no reason, including if:
(1)
the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 after written request by the Company or any bona fide Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months;
(2)
the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;
(3)
a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its Property; or
(4)
the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of the relevant Series. If a successor trustee does not take office within 45 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.
A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all Property held by it as Trustee to the successor trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Securityholder.
Section 7.09.
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor trustee.

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Section 7.10.
Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11.
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8    

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.01.
Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations; Discharge.
(a)    The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) below be applied to the outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth in paragraph (d).
(b)    Upon the exercise under paragraph (a) of the option applicable to this paragraph (b) with respect to any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from its obligations with respect to the outstanding Securities of the Series on the date the applicable conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of a Series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of the Sections and matters under this Indenture referred to in (i) and (ii) below, and the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned, except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of a Series to receive solely from the trust fund described in paragraph (d) below and as more fully set forth in such paragraph, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Securities when such payments are due and (ii) obligations listed in Section 8.02, subject to compliance with this Section 8.01. The Company may exercise its option under this paragraph (b) with respect to a Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under paragraph (c) below with respect to the Securities of the Series.
(c)    Upon the exercise under paragraph (a) of the option applicable to this paragraph (c) with respect to a Series, the Company shall be released and discharged from the obligations under any covenant contained in Article Five and Section 4.04 (but only to the extent it applies to Restricted Subsidiaries) and any other covenant contained in or referenced in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Series (to the extent such release and discharge shall not be prohibited thereby), on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed to be not

27



“outstanding” for the purpose of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of a Series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01(3) or otherwise, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
(d)    The following shall be the conditions to application of either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) above to the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series:
(1)    The Company shall have irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee), pursuant to an irrevocable trust and security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, money in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable or Government Obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts and at such times as are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption; provided, however, that the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) shall have received an irrevocable written order from the Company instructing the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to the Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption;
(2)    No Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company is released upon effectiveness of such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) hereof, as applicable) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or result therefrom;
(3)    Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of their Property is bound;
(4)    (i) In the event the Company elects paragraph (b) hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that (A) it has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date pertaining to such Series, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall state that, or (ii) in the event the Company elects paragraph (c) hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, Holders of the Securities of such Series will not

28



recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
(5)    The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that the deposit under clause (1) was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others;
(6)    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (subject to customary assumptions and qualifications) to the effect that, assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit and the 123rd day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the Company under applicable Bankruptcy Law, after the 123rd day following the deposit, the trust funds shall not be subject to the effect of Section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any analogous New York State law provision; and
(7)    The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.01 have been complied with.
In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed through such irrevocable trust, the Company must make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit, for the giving of the notice of such redemption or redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
(e)    In addition to the Company’s rights above under this Section 8.01, the Company may terminate all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to a Series, when:
(1)    All Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at maturity within one year or (C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and in each such case, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) as trust funds in trust solely for that purpose an amount of money in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable or Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of and interest on the Securities of

29



such Series, on the date of such deposit or to the maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(2)    The Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company;
(3)    The Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee (or such other qualifying trustee), to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such Series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and
(4)    The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent specified in this Section 8.01(e) relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Section 8.02.
Survival of Obligations.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture under Section 8.01, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.03 through 2.07, 4.01, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04 and 8.05, however, shall survive until the Securities of an applicable Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive (as they relate to such Series).
Section 8.03.
Application of Trust Money.
The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of the defeased Series.
Section 8.04.
Repayment to the Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
Section 8.05.
Reinstatement.
If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court

30



or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01; provided, however, that (a) if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations hereunder, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all such money or Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.
 
ARTICLE 9    

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.01.
Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of such Series:
(1)    to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(2)    to comply with Article Five;
(3)    to provide that specific provisions of this Indenture shall not apply to a Series not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of this Indenture that only applies to any Series not previously issued or to additional Securities of a Series not previously issued;
(4)    to create a Series and establish its terms;
(5)    to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(6)    to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; and
(7)    to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of Securityholders.
After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail notice of such amendment to the Securityholders.

31



Section 9.02.
With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to any Securityholder of such Series but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Each such Series shall vote as a separate class. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of the Securities of such Series or of this Indenture relating to such Series without notice to any Securityholder (including any waiver granted in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Without the consent of each Holder of a Security of a Series affected thereby, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:
(1)    reduce the amount of Securities of the relevant Series whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2)    reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Security;
(3)    reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions (including related definitions) with respect to redemption of any Security pursuant to Article Three hereof or with respect to any obligations on the part of the Company to offer to purchase or to redeem Securities of a Series pursuant to the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to such Series;
(4)    make any change that adversely affects any right of a Holder to convert or exchange any Security into or for shares of the Company’s common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such Security;
(5)    modify the ranking or priority of the Securities of the relevant Series;
(6)    make any change in Sections 6.04, 6.07 or this Section 9.02;
(7)    waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security; or
(8)    make any Security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the Security, or impair the right of any Securityholder to bring suit as permitted by Section 6.07.
An amendment of a provision included solely for the benefit of one or more Series does not affect the interests of Securityholders of any other Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

32



Section 9.03.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or any Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.04.
Revocation and Effect of Consents.
A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Unless otherwise provided in the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such subsequent Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be at least 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent. If a record date is fixed, and if Holders otherwise have a right to revoke their consent under the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph , those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.
An amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite consents, (ii) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver (or the related supplemental indenture) by the Company and the Trustee. After an amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of such Series, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (9) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security; provided that no such waiver shall impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.
Section 9.05.
Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

33



If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee, at which time the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.
Section 9.06.
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
Subject to Section 7.02(b), the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE 10    

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 10.01.
Applicability of Article.
Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any Series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular Series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Securities of such Series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee may determine.
ARTICLE 11    

MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01.
Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.
Section 11.02.
Notices.

34



Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Cousins Properties Incorporated
191 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

if to the Trustee:

[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]

Attention: [ ]

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.
If the Company mails notice or communications to the Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee at the same time.
Section 11.03.
Communications by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 11.04.
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

35



(1)
an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2)
an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action or inaction, have been complied with and that any such section does not conflict with the terms of this Indenture.
Section 11.05.
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1)
a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2)
a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3)
a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4)
a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 11.06.
Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.
Section 11.07.
Legal Holidays.
A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Houston, Texas and New York, New York are not required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day. A “Business Day” is any day other than a Legal Holiday.
Section 11.08.
Governing Law.

36



The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Indenture and the Securities of each Series.
Section 11.09.
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 11.10.
No Recourse Against Others.
All liability described in Paragraph 12 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company.
Section 11.11.
Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.
Section 11.12.
Duplicate Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 11.13.
Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of a Series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities.

SIGNATURES


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

COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED



By:    
Name:
Title:

37










[___________________], as Trustee


By:    
Name:
Title:








EXHIBIT A


No. _________    CUSIP/ISIN No.:__________

[Title of Security]

COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
a Georgia corporation



promises to pay to _____________________________________________or registered assigns the principal sum of_________________________ [Dollars]* on ______________________ Interest Payment Dates: _______________________ and ____________________________ Record Dates: ___________________________and _______________________________ Authenticated:                                                                Dated:                                                        

COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED



By:    
Title:

[___________________], as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

By:     
Authorized Signatory


____________________
*
Or other currency. Insert corresponding provisions on reverse side of Security in respect of foreign currency denomination or interest payment requirement.


A-1



COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED

[Title of Security]


COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED, a Georgia corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), issued this Security under an Indenture dated as of __________________, (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of __________________ (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company and [_________________], as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authorized and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.
1.
Interest.
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on _________________ and _____________________ of each year, commencing, ___________________, __________, until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from _________________, ________, provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest, and if this Security is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding interest payment date, interest shall accrue from such interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
2.
Method of Payment.
The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest, if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) to the persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the [Insert record dates] immediately preceding the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of [Insert applicable country or currency] that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3.
Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
4.
Optional Redemption.

A-2



The Company may redeem the Securities at any time on or after ________________, in whole or in part, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of their principal amount) together with interest accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption:
If redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on _____________ and ending on _______________ in each of the following years __________ Percentage

[Insert provisions relating to redemption at option of Holders, if any]

Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than ____________ may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption, provided that if the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price together with accrued interest, interest shall continue to accrue at the rate borne by the Securities.
5.
Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall redeem [ ]% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities originally issued under the Indenture on each of [ ], which redemptions are calculated to retire [ ]% of the Securities originally issued prior to maturity. Such redemptions shall be made at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. The Company may reduce the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Paragraph 5 by the principal amount of any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired, otherwise than pursuant to this Paragraph 5, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and not previously credited to the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 5. Each such Security shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price and the amount of such mandatory redemption payment shall be reduced accordingly.
6.
Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.
The Securities are in registered form only without coupons in denominations of _________ and integral multiples of __________ in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities by presentation of such Securities to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or purchase, except the unredeemed or unpurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or purchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or purchased.
7.
Persons Deemed Owners.

A-3



The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
8.
Unclaimed Money.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.
9.
Amendment, Supplement, Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment and any past default or compliance with any provision relating to any Series of the Securities may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series. Without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities in certain respects as specified in the Indenture.
10.
Successor Corporation.
When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations.
11.
Trustee Dealings With Company.
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not Trustee, including owning or pledging the Securities.
12.
No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
13.
Discharge of Indenture.
The Indenture contains certain provisions pertaining to defeasance and discharge, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.
14.
Authentication.

A-4



This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
15.
Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
16.
GOVERNING LAW.
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
17.
CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
18.
Copies.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and the applicable Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture. Requests may be made to: Cousins Properties Incorporated, 191 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1740, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

A-5



ASSIGNMENT FORM


If you the Holder want to assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

________________________________________
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number)

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________
(Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

    

agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date: __________________________


Your signature:     
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

Signature Guarantee:     



A-6
EX-5.1 3 ex51cousins-ksopinion.htm EXHIBIT Ex51Cousins-KSOpinion



Exhibit 5.1
King & Spalding



King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309-3521



 
 
 

March 29, 2013
Cousins Properties Incorporated
191 Peachtree Street
Suite 500

Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Re: Cousins Properties Incorporated — Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Cousins Properties Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Registration Statement relates to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus, of an indeterminate amount of (i) the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (“Warrants”), (iii) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (iv) the Company’s preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Preferred Stock”) and (v) depositary shares, each representing a fractional interest in a share of Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”). The Warrants are to be issued from time to time pursuant to warrant agreements to be entered into between the Company and warrant agents. The Depositary Shares are to be issued from time to time pursuant to a deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company selected by the Company. The Debt Securities are to be issued from time to time pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the “Trustee”).
In such capacity, we have examined the form of Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have also examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, original, certified, conformed or photographic copies of such corporate records of the Company, such other agreements and instruments, such certificates of public officials, officers of the Company and other persons, and such other documents, records, agreements and certificates as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In such examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies,





and, as to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to be accurate and to have been given properly.
We have assumed that the execution and delivery of, and the performance of all obligations under, the Indenture will be duly authorized by all requisite action by each party thereto, and that such agreement will be executed and delivered by the parties thereto, and will be a valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto (other than the Company) enforceable against the parties thereto (other than the Company) in accordance with its terms.
The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of Georgia, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the other limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
(i) Upon the due authorization of the issuance thereof, any shares of Common Stock, when (a) the underwriting or similar agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and (b) the shares of Common Stock have been delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock;
(ii) Upon due authorization thereof, the Debt Securities, when (a) the definitive terms and provisions of the Debt Securities have been duly authorized and established and (b) executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee under the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof, will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of equity;
(iii) The Warrants, when (a) the warrant agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (b) the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof has taken all necessary corporate action to approve and establish the terms of the Warrants and to authorize and approve the issuance thereof and (c) the Warrants have been delivered and paid for by the purchasers thereof, will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to the effect of general principles of equity;
(iv) Upon the due authorization of the issuance thereof, any shares of Preferred Stock, when (a) the underwriting or similar agreement has been duly authorized, executed





and delivered by the parties thereto and (b) the shares of Preferred Stock have been delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock; and
(v) Upon the due authorization of the issuance thereof, any Depositary Shares, when (a) the underwriting or similar agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and (b) the Depositary Shares have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement, will have been validly issued and will represent a fractional interest in a validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Preferred Stock.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the opinions contained herein. This opinion is being rendered for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ King & Spalding LLP

King & Spalding LLP

EX-8.1 4 ex81cousins-ksopinion.htm EXHIBIT Ex81Cousins-KSOpinion


Exhibit 8.1
King & Spalding


King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309-3521



 
 
 

March 29, 2013
Cousins Properties Incorporated
191 Peachtree Street
Suite 500

Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Re: Cousins Properties Incorporated — Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Cousins Properties Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus, of an indeterminate amount of (i) the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (“Warrants”), (iii) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (iv) the Company’s preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Preferred Stock”) and (v) depositary shares, each representing a fractional interest in a share of Preferred Stock (“Depositary Shares”). In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Company has requested our opinion with respect to the discussion included in the Prospectus under the heading “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be accurate. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon statements and representations of representatives of the Company.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the other limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, although the discussion set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” does not




purport to discuss all possible United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Common Stock, the discussion, although general in nature, to the extent it constitutes statements of law, constitutes, in all material respects, a fair and accurate summary under current law of certain material United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Common Stock, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Common Stock by an investor will depend on that investor’s particular situation, and we express no opinion as to the completeness of the discussion set forth in “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” as applied to any particular holder.
Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion on any issue relating to the Company or to any investment therein. In particular, we express no opinion on the Company’s qualification as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the qualification of any entities in which the Company has invested as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, or any other tax consequences that may apply to the Company or to an investment in the Common Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.
The opinion expressed herein is based upon the current provisions of the Code, the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative positions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and existing judicial decisions, any of which could be changed at any time, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such changes could adversely affect the accuracy of the opinion rendered herein, the statements in the Prospectus, and the tax consequences to the Company and the investors in its securities. In addition, as noted above, our opinion is based solely on the documents that we have examined, the additional information that we have obtained, and the representations that have been made to us, and cannot be relied upon if any of the facts contained in such documents or in such additional information is, or later becomes, inaccurate or if any of the representations made to us is, or later becomes, inaccurate.  
This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the opinions contained herein. This opinion is being rendered for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein.




We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ King & Spalding LLP

King & Spalding LLP


EX-8.2 5 ex82deloittes-3cpiopinion3.htm EXHIBIT Ex82DeloitteS-3CPIOpinion32913


Exhibit 8.2
March 29, 2013

Cousins Properties Incorporated                            
191 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30303-1740

Re:
Federal Income Tax Status of Cousins Properties Incorporated
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On June 24, 2003 Cousins Properties Incorporated (the “Company”), a Georgia corporation, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-106401) (the “Initial Registration Statement”) registering the offer and sale, from time to time, of an aggregate of $132,140,625 of: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, (ii) warrants to purchase Common Stock, (iii) unsecured non-convertible debt securities and (iv) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. On July 10, 2003, the Company filed Amendment No. 1 to the Initial Registration Statement increasing the aggregate amount of securities to be offered pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement to $133,140,625. On July 24, 2003, the Company issued and sold in an underwritten offering 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock registered for offer and sale on the Initial Registration Statement, with a total public offering price of $100,000,000, leaving $33,140,625 of unsold securities registered pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement.
On November 18, 2004, the Company filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-120612) (the “2004 Registration Statement”) registering the offer and sale from time to time, of an additional $166,859,375 of securities of the same type as were registered pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement as well as convertible debt securities, such 2004 Registration Statement to also include the unsold securities registered pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement, for a total registered amount of securities covered by the Registration Statement of $200,000,000. On December 17, 2004, the Company issued and sold in an underwritten offering 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock registered for offer and sale on the 2004 Registration Statement, with a total public offering price of $100,000,000, leaving $100,000,000 of unsold securities registered pursuant to the 2004 Registration Statement.
On March 27, 2009, the Company filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-158234) (the “2009 Registration Statement”) registering to offer and sell from time to time, common stock, warrants debt securities, preferred stock and depository shares in an aggregate amount equal to the remaining unsold securities of $100,000,000 under the Initial Registration Statement and 2004 Registration Statement plus an additional $400,000,000, as more fully described in the Company’s prospectus included in the 2009 Registration Statement dated March 27, 2009. On May 6, 2009, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized





the issuance of up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on April 14, 2009. Additionally, on August 12, 2009, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on July 15, 2009. On September 16, 2009, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 46,000,000 shares of common stock. On November 5, 2009, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on October 15, 2009. On February 9, 2010, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on January 15, 2010.
On March 16, 2010, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-165498) (the “Prior Registration Statement”), registering to offer and sell from time to time, common stock, warrants debt securities, preferred stock and depository shares in an aggregate amount equal to the remaining unsold securities of $140,792,883 under the 2009 Registration Statement plus an additional $359,207,117, as more fully described in the Company’s prospectus included in the Prior Registration Statement dated March 16, 2010 (together with all exhibits, supplements and amendments thereto, the “Prior Prospectus”). On May 11, 2010, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on April 15, 2010. On August 10, 2010, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on July 15, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement which authorized the issuance of up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock in connection with a dividend declared on October 15, 2010.
The Company is filing a Registration Statement on Form S-3 pursuant to which the Company may offer, from time to time, common stock, warrants, debt securities, preferred stock and depository shares in an indeterminate amount (the “Registration Statement”), as more fully described in the Company’s prospectus included in the Registration Statement dated March 29, 2013 (together with all exhibits, supplements and amendments thereto, the “Prospectus”). In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, you have requested Deloitte Tax LLP (“Deloitte Tax”) to issue an opinion regarding the status, for federal income tax purposes, of the Company and its Subsidiary Partnerships (as later defined). The Company intends to continue to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) as defined in Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) §§856-860.
As discussed below under the section entitled “LIMITATIONS ON OPINION” you understand and agree that this opinion is solely for the Company’s information and benefit, is limited to the described transaction, and may not be relied upon by any other person or entity, other than the addresses of this opinion, without the prior written consent of Deloitte Tax or as otherwise described herein.
Except as otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prior Registration Statement, the Prior Prospectus, the 2009 Registration Statement, the 2004 Registration Statement, the Initial Registration Statement, or the Company’s Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation. It is our understanding that the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of any of the

2




securities under the Registration Statement to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
In rendering our opinion, we have examined and, with your consent, have relied upon the following documents:
1.
Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cousins Properties Incorporated as amended August 9, 1999, and as further amended July 22, 2003, and as further amended December 15, 2004, and as further amended May 4, 2010 (the “Articles of Incorporation”);
2.
Bylaws of Cousins Properties Incorporated, as amended April 29, 1993, as further amended August 14, 2007, as further amended February 17, 2009, as further amended June 6, 2009, and as further amended December 4, 2012 (the “By-Laws”);
3.
The Prospectus, the Prior Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement dated May 11, 2010, the Prospectus Supplement dated August 10, 2010, and the Prospectus Supplement dated November 9, 2010;
4.
A letter dated March 29, 2013 and signed by Gregg Adzema as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, on behalf of the Company, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “Certificate of Representations”);
5.
A letter from King & Spalding LLP, counsel to the Company, dated March 29, 2013, which states that the Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia;
6.
Such other records, certificates, agreements, schedules and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering the opinion set forth herein.
In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed, with your consent, that (i) the documents are original documents, or true and accurate copies of original documents, and have not been subsequently amended; (ii) the signatures on each original document are genuine; (iii) where any such document required execution by a person, the person who executed the document had proper authority and capacity; (iv) all representations and statements set forth in such documents are true and correct; (v) where any such document imposes obligations on a person, such obligations have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms; and (vi) the Company at all times has been and will be organized and operated in accordance with the terms of such documents.
For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have assumed that the issuance contemplated by the foregoing documents will be consummated in accordance with the operative documents, and that such documents accurately reflect the material facts of the registration.



3




I. Background, Facts and Representations, and Significant Assumptions
A. Background
Cousins Properties Incorporated is a Georgia corporation, which since 1987 has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"). Cousins Real Estate Corporation and its subsidiaries ("CREC") is a taxable entity wholly-owned by the Company, which is consolidated with the Company for financial reporting purposes, which owns, develops, and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services for other parties.

The Company is an Atlanta, Georgia-based, fully integrated, self administered equity REIT. The Company has extensive experience in the real estate industry, including the acquisition, financing, development, management and leasing of properties. Cousins Properties Incorporated has been a public company since 1962, and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CUZ." The Company’s Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZPRA.” The Company’s Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZPRB.” The Company’s strategy is to produce strong stockholder returns by creating value through the acquisition, development and redevelopment of high-quality, well-located office, multi-family, retail and residential properties. The Company has developed substantially all of the income producing real estate assets it owns and operates. A key element in the Company’s strategy is to actively manage its portfolio of investment properties and, at the appropriate times, to engage in timely and strategic dispositions either by sale or through contributions to ventures in which the Company retains an ownership interest. These transactions seek to maximize the value of the assets the Company has created, generate capital for additional development properties, and return a portion of the value created to stockholders.
B. Facts and Representations
In addition to the foregoing, our opinion is based on the factual information and assumptions contained herein and representations made to us in the Certificate of Representations attached as Attachment A.
Without limiting the foregoing, we have assumed that all statements and descriptions of the Company’s past and intended future activities herein and in the Certificate of Representations are true and accurate. No facts have come to our attention, however, that would cause us to question the accuracy or completeness of such facts, assumptions or documents in a material way. To the extent the representations set forth in the Certificate of Representations are with respect to matters set forth in the IRC or Treasury Regulations, we have reviewed with the Company the relevant provisions of the IRC, the applicable Treasury Regulations and published administrative interpretations thereof.




4




C. Significant Assumptions
Our opinion is expressly based upon any assumption set forth herein and as follows:
1.
Beginning with the Company’s REIT election for the taxable year beginning January 1, 1987 and ending with the Company’s taxable year ending December 31, 2004, the Company met the requirements for qualification as a REIT and was taxed as such.

2.
Each Subsidiary Partnership was properly classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes at all times prior to January 1, 2005.
3.
The facts and representations as made by Gregg Adzema on behalf of the Company in the Certificate of Representations are true and correct.
4.
The Company intends to continue to be organized and operate in a manner which will allow it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for the remainder of the tax year ending December 31, 2013 and future years.    
5.
Each Subsidiary Partnership intends to continue to be organized and operate in a manner which will allow it to be treated as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation for the remainder of the tax year ending December 31, 2013 and future years.
6.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement will be issued in violation of the Limit as set forth in Article 11 of the Articles of Incorporation.
7.
The Company is duly formed and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia and is duly authorized to transact business in the State of Georgia.
II. Issues Considered
A.
REIT Status
Since the commencement of the Company’s taxable year which began January 1, 2005 through the tax year ending December 31, 2012, has the Company been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the IRC, and has its actual method of operation enabled, and will its proposed method of organization and operation enable, the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT?
B. Subsidiary Partnership Status
Since January 1, 2005, have the Subsidiary Partnerships been treated as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes, and will their proposed method of organization and operation allow them to continue to be treated as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes?



5




III. Conclusions Reached
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
A.
REIT Status
Since the commencement of the Company’s taxable year which began January 1, 2005 through the tax year ending December 31, 2012, the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC, and its actual method of operation has enabled, and its proposed method of organization and operation will enable, the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31, 2013, and thereafter. As noted in the Prospectus, the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon its ability to meet, through actual, annual operating results, certain requirements including requirements relating to distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, composition of assets and sources of income, and the various qualification tests imposed under the IRC. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s organization and operation for any period subsequent to the date of this opinion will satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT under the IRC.

B.
Subsidiary Partnership Status

The Subsidiary Partnerships have from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2012 been treated as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes, and their proposed method of organization and operation will continue to allow them to be treated as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes for their taxable years ending December 31, 2013, and thereafter. The Subsidiary Partnerships’ treatment as partnerships for federal income tax purposes depends upon their form of organization and method of operation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the future organization and operations of the Subsidiary Partnerships will allow them to continue to be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes.

IV. Law & Analysis
A. REIT Status
1. Organizational Requirements. In order to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, IRC §856 requires that an entity meet the following organizational tests:
(1)
it must be organized as a corporation, trust, or association;
(2)
it must be managed by one or more trustees or directors;
(3)
beneficial ownership must be evidenced by transferable shares or certificates;
(4)
it must be taxable as a domestic corporation but for the operation of IRC §§856 through 859;

6




(5)
it must not be a financial institution or insurance company;
(6)
beneficial ownership must be held by 100 or more persons;
(7)
subject to the provisions of IRC §856(k), it must not be closely held as determined under IRC §856(h);
(8)
it must use the calendar year as its taxable year; and
(9)
it must elect to be taxed as a REIT or have in effect such an election made for a previous taxable year.
The requirements described in (1) through (5) above must be met during the entire taxable year. The requirement described in (6) above must exist during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. The requirement described in (7) above must be met during the last half of each taxable year of the REIT. The requirements described in (6) and (7) above do not apply to the first taxable year for which an election is made under IRC §856(c)(1).
The Company has represented that it has satisfied the requirements of (1) through (5) above for all years since January 1, 1987. The Company has also represented that it has satisfied the requirements of (6) and (7) above for all tax years for which it elected to be taxed as, or otherwise has calculated its taxable income as, a REIT consistent with the provisions of IRC §857(b)(2). Further, the Company has represented that it expects, and intends, to take all necessary measures within its control to ensure that the beneficial ownership of the Company will at all times be held by 100 or more persons.
In addition, subject to certain exceptions, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, Article 11 A (1), states that after December 31, 1986, shares of stock of the Company shall not be transferable to any person if such transfer would cause the person to be an owner of more than 3.9 percent in value of the outstanding shares, including both common and preferred stock (the “Limit”). If such a transfer occurs, the Articles of Incorporation provide that the transfer will be void and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares. Article 11 A (2) states that other than a shareholder who already exceeded the Limit at December 31, 1986 (a “Prior Owner”), no shareholder shall at any time own shares that exceed the Limit. The Board of Directors, however, is provided authority to exempt shareholders from the operation of Articles 11 A (1) and (2). The Company has represented that the Board of Directors granted Exemptions on June 15, 2004, as amended on April 25, 2008, as further terminated on January 25, 2011, on February 21, 2007, on March 31, 2008, on May 15, 2008, as superseded on December 8, 2009, as further superseded on October 19, 2011, on September 15, 2009, as amended on December 8, 2009, as further amended on December 24, 2010, and on December 9, 2010 (cumulatively, the “Waivers”). The Company has represented that each shareholder granted a Waiver was widely held, as defined in that respective Waiver. Article 11 A (3) restricts Prior Owners from receiving additional shares except in certain circumstances. The shares causing a violation of any of these provisions (“Excess Shares”) are deemed transferred to the Company as trustee for a trust. The interest in the trust will be freely transferable by the intended transferee. Once the intended transferee of the Excess Shares has transferred the trust interest to

7




an owner not violating the Limit, the shares are no longer Excess Shares and the intended transferee’s interest in the trust is extinguished.
Article 11 A (6) states that if a person acquires shares in excess of the Limit and such acquisition causes the Company to not qualify as a REIT under the five or fewer rule applicable for purposes of IRC §856(h), such person shall be liable for the corporate taxes that are due until REIT status can be re-elected.
Pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.856-1(d)(2), “…Provisions in the trust instrument or corporate charter or bylaws which permit the trustee or directors to redeem shares or to refuse to transfer shares in any case where the trustee or directors, in good faith, believe that a failure to redeem shares or that a transfer of shares would result in the loss of status as a real estate investment trust will not render the shares ‘nontransferable’…”1 
The Company has represented that it does not and will not impose, and is not aware of, any transfer restrictions on its outstanding shares of beneficial interest other than those restrictions contained in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (as described above), which are intended to enable the Company to comply with certain REIT qualification requirements as set forth in IRC §856(a)(6).
The Company has represented that it has used the calendar year as its taxable year since 1987. The Company has also represented that it made an election to be taxed as a REIT for each year commencing with the taxable year beginning January 1, 1987 and that it intends to take all necessary measures within its control to ensure that it meets the REIT organizational requirements in the current and future years. Furthermore, the Company has represented that it qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2004.
In addition to the organizational requirements listed above, a REIT must satisfy ongoing requirements concerning the nature of its income and assets, the payment of dividends and the maintenance of records.
2. Income Tests. For each taxable year, a REIT must satisfy certain income tests under IRC §856(c).
(1)
at least 75 percent of a REIT’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and hedging transactions described in IRC §856(c)(5)(G) entered into after July 30, 2008) must consist of rents from real property, interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, gain from the sale of real property that was not held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, dividends from other REITs and gain from the sale of REIT shares, refunds and abatements of real property taxes, income and gain from foreclosure property, loan commitment and certain other fees, qualified temporary investment income (as that term is defined in IRC §856(c)(5)(D)) and gain from the sale of certain other property; and
___________________________
1 See e.g., Priv. Ltr. Ruls. 9430022 (April 29, 1994) (excess shares deemed transferred to a charity) and 8921067 (February 28, 1989).

8




(2)
at least 95 percent of a REIT’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and hedging transactions described in IRC §856(c)(5)(G)(i) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005 and hedging transactions described in IRC §856(c)(5)(G)(ii) entered into after July 30, 2008) must consist of items that would be includible in (1) above, and dividends, interest and gain from the sale or other disposition of stocks or securities.

For purposes of applying the income and the asset tests, the Company is treated as owning directly the assets and receiving the income of (i) any subsidiary (exclusive of any “taxable REIT subsidiary” as such term is defined in IRC §856(l)) of the Company in which: (a) with respect to all taxable years beginning on or before August 5, 1997, the Company has owned 100 percent of the stock at all times during the period of such subsidiary’s existence, and (b) with respect to all taxable years beginning after August 5, 1997, the Company owns, or has owned, 100 percent of such subsidiary (a “Qualified REIT Subsidiary” or “QRS”), (ii) each of any partnership (within the meaning of (and including any limited liability company or other entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes) IRC §7701(a)(2) and the regulations promulgated thereunder) in which the Company or any QRS has held an interest, directly or indirectly (a “Subsidiary Partnership”)2, and (iii) any limited liability company (which has not elected to be classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes) all of the interests in which are held by the Company, any QRS, or any Subsidiary Partnership directly, and/or indirectly through one or more other such limited liability companies (a “Disregarded LLC”).3 
Based upon this “look through” approach, the rents received by the Company will qualify as “rents from real property” for the 75 percent test provided they are rents from interests in real property, charges for services customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of real property and rent attributable to personal property which is leased under, or in connection with, a lease of real property, but only if the rent attributable to such personal property for the taxable year does not exceed 15 percent of the total rent, for both real and personal property, for the taxable year. Specifically excluded from the definition of rents from real property is (1) rent determined on the basis, in whole or part, of any person’s income or profits from the property (exclusive of rent based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales); (2) rent received, directly or indirectly, from a tenant in which the REIT has an ownership interest (directly or indirectly) of 10 percent or more; and (3) for tax years beginning on or before August 5, 1997, rent from real property if the
_______________________
2 In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership, as defined in IRC §7701(a)(2) and the regulations thereunder, the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share. For purposes of IRC §856, the interest of a partner in the partnership's assets shall be determined in accordance with his capital interest in the partnership. The character of the various assets in the hands of the partnership and items of gross income of the partnership shall retain the same character in the hands of the partners for all purposes of IRC §856. Treas. Reg. §1.856-3(g).

3 Solely for purposes of applying the 10 percent value test in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, in looking through any partnership to determine the REIT's allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, the REIT's share of the assets of the partnership will correspond not only to the REIT's interest as a partner in the partnership but also to the REIT's proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership. See IRC §856(m)(3) as added by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

9





REIT furnishes or renders certain services to a tenant or manages or operates such property other than through an independent contractor from which the REIT receives no income (exclusive of any amount if such amount would be excluded from unrelated business taxable income under IRC §512(b)(3) if received by an organization described in IRC §511(a)(2)), and for tax years beginning after August 5, 1997, any “impermissible tenant service income” (as that term is defined in IRC §856(d)(7)).
The Company has represented that it has satisfied both of the income tests outlined above for each taxable year since January 1, 1987. It has also represented that it intends to take all necessary measures within its control to ensure that it meets such tests during each of its future taxable years. In addition, the Company has represented that it qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2004.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2005, if the Company fails to meet either income test (1) or (2) above, it may still qualify as a REIT in such taxable year if it reports the source and nature of each item of its gross income in its federal income tax return for such year, the inclusion of any incorrect information in its return is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax and the failure to meet such tests is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. Under a relief provision enacted on October 22, 2004 as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, a REIT may continue to qualify as a REIT if following the Company’s identification of a failure to satisfy one or both of the income tests for any taxable year, a description of each item of its gross income that qualifies for the tests is set forth in a schedule for such taxable year filed in accordance with Treasury Regulations, and such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Under both relief provisions, the Company would be subject to a tax of 100 percent based on the excess non-qualifying income. The Company has represented that if it fails to meet the requirements of either IRC §§856(c)(2) or (c)(3) (or both) in any taxable year, it intends to avail itself of the provisions of IRC §856(c)(6) (whereby it will be considered to have satisfied the requirements of such paragraphs) if such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.
3. Asset Tests. At the close of each quarter during each taxable year, a REIT must satisfy four tests under IRC §856(c)(4).
For tax years beginning on or before December 31, 2000:
(1)
at least 75 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets must consist of real estate assets, cash and cash items (including receivables) and Government securities;
(2)
not more than 25 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of securities, other than those includible under (1) above;
(3)
not more than 5 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of securities of any one issuer, other than those securities includible under (1) above; and
(4)
not more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer may be held by the REIT, other than those securities includible under (1) above.

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For tax years beginning after December 31, 2000:
(1)
at least 75 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets must consist of real estate assets, cash and cash items (including receivables) and Government securities;
(2)
not more than 25 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of securities, other than those includible under (1) above;
(3)
not more than 20 percent4 of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries, as defined under IRC §856(l) (“TRS”);
(4)
except with respect to a TRS and securities includible under (1) above (i) no more than 5 percent of the value of a REIT’s total assets may consist of securities of any one issuer; (ii) a REIT may not hold securities possessing more than 10 percent of the total voting power of the outstanding securities of any one issuer; and (iii) a REIT may not hold securities having a value of more than 10 percent of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer (the “Single Issuer Security Limitation”).
The following assets are not treated as “securities” held by a REIT for purposes of the 10 percent value test described in (4)(iii) above:
(1)
“Straight debt” meeting certain requirements described in IRC §856(m)(2), unless the REIT holds (either directly or through controlled TRSs) certain other securities of the same corporate or partnership issuer that have an aggregate value greater than 1 percent of such issuer’s outstanding securities;
(2)
Loans to individuals or estates;
(3)
Certain rental agreements calling for deferred rents or increasing rents that are subject to IRC §467, other than with certain related persons;
(4)
Obligations to pay the REIT amounts qualifying as “rents from real property” under the 75 percent and 95 percent gross income tests;
(5)
Securities issued by a state or any political subdivision of a state, the District of Columbia, a foreign government, any political subdivision of a foreign government, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but only if the determination of any payment received or accrued under the security does not depend in whole or in part on the profits of any entity not described in this category or payments on any obligation issued by such an entity;
(6)
Securities issued by a qualifying REIT;
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4 Effective for tax years beginning after July 30, 2008, not more than 25 percent of the value of a REIT's total assets may consist of securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

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(7)
Other arrangements identified in Treasury Regulations (which have not yet been issued or proposed).
In addition, any debt instrument issued by a partnership will not be treated as a “security” for purposes of the 10 percent value test if at least 75 percent of the partnership’s gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) is derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75 percent gross income test. If at least 75 percent of the partnership’s gross income is not derived from sources meeting the requirements of the 75 percent gross income test, then the debt instrument issued by the partnership nevertheless will not be treated as a “security” to the extent of the REIT’s interest as a partner in the partnership. Also, in looking through any partnership to determine the REIT’s allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, the REIT’s share of the assets of the partnership, solely for purposes of applying the 10 percent value test in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, will correspond not only to the REIT’s interest as a partner in the partnership but also to the REIT’s proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership.
Failure to satisfy any of the asset tests discussed above at the end of any quarter, without curing such failure within 30 days after the end of such quarter, would generally result in the disqualification of the entity as a REIT5, unless certain relief provisions enacted as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 are available. Under a de minimis failure relief provision, the failure of the 5 percent asset test, the 10 percent voting securities test, or the 10 percent value test, would not disqualify the REIT if the failure is due to the ownership of assets having a total value not exceeding the lesser of 1 percent of the total value of the REIT’s assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000, and the REIT disposes of such assets (or otherwise meets such asset tests) within six months after the end of the quarter in which the failure was identified. If the REIT were to fail to meet any of the REIT asset tests for a particular quarter and the REIT did not qualify for the de minimis failure exception described in the preceding sentence, then the REIT would nevertheless be deemed to have satisfied the relevant asset tests if:
(1)
following the REIT’s identification of the failure, the REIT files, in accordance with the Treasury Regulations, a schedule setting forth a description of each asset that caused the failure;
(2)
the failure to meet the requirements was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect;
(3)
the REIT disposes of the assets set forth in the schedule (or otherwise meets the relevant asset test) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the identification of the failure occurred; and
(4)
the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the amount determined by multiplying the highest corporate tax rate by the net income generated by the assets set forth in the schedule for the period beginning on the first date of the failure to
___________________________
5 See IRC §856(c)(4), flush language.

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meet the requirements and ending on the earlier of the date the REIT disposes of such assets or the end of the first quarter when there is no longer a failure to satisfy the asset tests.
  
These relief provisions apply to taxable years beginning after the date of enactment, but it is unclear whether they would apply to failures occurring in prior years, which are identified in tax years beginning after the date of enactment.
In the case of a REIT which is a partner in a partnership, as defined in IRC §7701(a)(2) and the regulations thereunder, a REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of each of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to be entitled to the income of the partnership attributable to such share. For purposes of IRC §856, the interest of a partner in the partnership's assets shall be determined in accordance with his capital interest in the partnership, except that solely for purposes of applying the 10 percent value test in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, in looking through any partnership to determine the REIT’s allocable share of any securities owned by the partnership, the REIT’s share of the assets of the partnership will correspond not only to the REIT’s interest as a partner in the partnership but also to the REIT’s proportionate interest in certain debt securities issued by the partnership. The character of the various assets in the hands of the partnership and items of gross income of the partnership shall retain the same character in the hands of the partners for all purposes of IRC §8566. As such, a REIT’s ownership interest in a partnership is not subject to the Single Issuer Security Limitation. See discussion at ‘B. Subsidiary Partnership Status’ below for requirements for entities to qualify as partnerships for federal income tax purposes.

The Company has represented that it has satisfied each of the asset tests outlined above since January 1, 1987. It has also represented that it intends to take all necessary measures to ensure that it meets such tests at the end of each quarter of each of its future taxable years. In addition, the Company has represented that it qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2004.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed that each Subsidiary Partnership has been properly classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes prior to January 1, 2005. In addition, based upon the representations of the Company as set forth in the Certificate of Representations, and the assumption that the Subsidiary Partnerships were properly classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes prior to January 1, 2005, we conclude that the Subsidiary Partnerships have since January 1, 2005 been taxable as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes, and they will continue to be taxable as partnerships and not as associations taxable as corporations for federal income tax purposes. As such, the Company’s ownership interest in each Subsidiary Partnership since January 1, 2005 will not (in, and of, itself) cause it to fail to meet the Single Issuer Security Limitation.
For the current and all future taxable years, the Company has represented that it expects, and the Company intends to take all necessary measures within its control to ensure, that the Company has
_________________________________
6 Treas. Reg. §1.856-3(g).

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or will revalue its assets at the end of each quarter of each taxable year in which securities or other property is acquired and will eliminate within 30 days after the end of each such quarter any discrepancy between the value of the Company’s various investments and the requirements of the asset tests outlined above, to the extent such discrepancy is attributable in whole or in part to acquisitions during such quarter.
For all tax years beginning after December 31, 2000, the Company has represented that all debt securities, other than securities of a TRS, held by the Company (i) have been secured by real property (including interests in real property); (ii) have had a value of less than 10 percent of the total value of the outstanding securities of the issuer; or (iii) are not considered a “security” by reason of IRC §856(m). In addition, the Company has represented that any debt securities, other than securities of a TRS, that it will hold in the future will satisfy at least one of these three requirements.
The Company has represented that the Company and each of CREC, CREC II and MC Düsseldorf Holding B.V. (“Düsseldorf”) joined in a timely filed election to treat each of CREC, CREC II and Düsseldorf as a TRS effective January 1, 2001. The Company has represented that it joined in an election to treat Captivate Network, Inc. (“Captivate”) as a TRS effective July 11, 2001. The Company has represented that the Company has at all times owned less than 10 percent of the vote and value of Captivate’s securities. The Company has also represented that it no longer owns any securities of CREC II, Captivate, or Düsseldorf.
The Company has represented that the Company and Cousins Properties Funding LLC (“Funding”) joined in a timely-filed election to treat Funding as a TRS effective December 29, 2006. Additionally, the Company has represented that Funding filed an election to be taxed as an association effective as of December 29, 2006. The Company has represented that as of May 14, 2007, Funding merged into Cousins Properties Funding II, LLC (“Funding II”), an entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Further, the Company has represented that as of March 1, 2009, Funding II merged into the Company.
The Company has represented that the Company and each of Terminus Master Condominium Association, Inc., King Mill Distribution Park Association, Inc, Wildwood Office Park Association, Inc., Wildwood Plaza Association, Inc., and City Center Property Owners Association, Inc. (collectively, the “Associations”) joined in a timely filed election to treat the Associations as a TRS.
The Company has represented that if it fails to meet the assets tests, it will take all actions necessary to avail itself of any relief provisions that could apply.
4. Distribution Requirement. During each taxable year, in order to qualify as a REIT, the deduction for dividends paid (computed without regard to capital gain dividends) must equal or exceed the following:
(1)
the sum of (a) 95 percent (90 percent for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000) of real estate investment trust taxable income computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, and (b) 95 percent (90 percent for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000) of the excess of net income from foreclosure property over the tax on such income; minus

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(2)
any excess non-cash income.
This requirement (the “Distribution Requirement”) is defined by reference to the dividends paid deduction. Therefore, only distributions that qualify for that deduction will count in meeting the Distribution Requirement.7
Such dividends must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the 12-month period following the close of such taxable year, if declared before the Company timely files it tax return for such taxable year and if paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. Any dividend declared by the Company in October, November, or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been paid on December 31 of such calendar year if such dividend is actually paid by the Company during January of the following calendar year. If a REIT has more than one class of stock, the Distribution Requirement must be met on an aggregate basis and not with respect to each separate class of stock. Distributions within each class of stock must be pro rata and non-preferential. Further, any distribution shall not be considered as a dividend for purposes of computing the dividends paid deduction, unless such distribution is with no preference to one class of stock as compared with another class except to the extent that the former is entitled (without reference to waivers of their rights by shareholders) to such preference.
To the extent that a REIT does not distribute all of its net capital gain or distributes at least 95 percent (90 percent for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000), but less than 100 percent, of its REIT taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate tax rates. A REIT may also be subject to an excise tax if it fails to meet certain other distribution requirements.
The Company has represented that it has satisfied the Distribution Requirement for each of its tax years commencing with the tax year beginning January 1, 1987. In addition, the Company has represented that it qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes from January 1, 1987 through December 31, 2004.
Because of timing differences between the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in arriving at taxable income, and because the amount of nondeductible expenses, such as principal amortization and capital expenditures, could exceed the amount of non cash deductions such as depreciation, it is possible that the Company may not have sufficient cash or liquid assets at a particular time to satisfy the Distribution Requirement. In such event, the Company may declare a consent dividend, which is a hypothetical distribution to shareholders out of the earnings and profits of the Company. The effect of such a consent dividend, to those shareholders who agree to such treatment, would be that such shareholders would be treated for federal income tax purposes as if such amount had been paid to them in cash and they had then immediately contributed such amount back to the Company as additional paid-in capital. This treatment would result in taxable income to those shareholders without the receipt of any actual cash distribution, but it would also increase their tax basis in their stock by the amount of the taxable income recognized. A consent dividend does not include amounts which, if distributed in money would constitute or be part of a preferential
________________________________
7 See IRC §§561 and 562.


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distribution as defined in IRC §562(c).8 

In determining whether it has paid dividends for any year in an amount sufficient to meet the Distribution Requirement, the Company has represented that it will disregard any dividends treated as “preferential dividends” under IRC §562(c) and, if any dividend not so disregarded is determined to be a preferential dividend (or if the Company is determined to have failed for any other reason to pay the amount of dividends required by the preceding sentence), then the Company will pay a deficiency dividend as necessary to avoid being disqualified as a REIT.

If the Company fails to meet the Distribution Requirement in any taxable year due to an adjustment to the Company’s income by reason of a judicial decision, by agreement with the IRS, or, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, as a result of the Company’s determination and reporting of an adjustment, the Company may pay a deficiency dividend to its shareholders, which would relate back to the taxable year being adjusted for purposes of meeting the Distribution Requirement in such taxable year. In such case, the Company would also be required to pay interest plus a penalty to the IRS.9 The Company has represented that if it is determined to have failed, for any reason, to pay the amount of dividends sufficient to meet the Distribution Requirement, then the Company will pay a deficiency dividend as necessary to avoid being disqualified as a REIT. In the event it is determined that the Company’s income should be adjusted for any taxable year, and such adjustment would otherwise result in disqualification of the Company as a REIT for failure to meet the minimum distribution requirement for such year, the Company has represented that it intends timely to declare and pay a deficiency dividend in accordance with IRC §860 in order to avoid being disqualified as a REIT.
If the Company cannot declare a consent dividend or if it lacks sufficient cash to distribute 95 percent (90 percent for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2000) of its REIT taxable income or to pay a deficiency dividend in appropriate circumstances, the Company could be required to borrow funds or liquidate a portion of its investments in order to pay its expenses, make the required cash distributions to shareholders, or satisfy its tax liabilities. There can be no assurance that such funds will be available to the extent, and at the time, required by the Company, in which case its status as a REIT could be lost.
5. Other Requirements. In addition to the foregoing, a corporation may not compute its taxable income as a real estate investment trust consistent with the provisions of IRC §857(b)(2) unless: (i) the provisions of the IRC, Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter M, Part II (i.e., IRC §§856 through 859, the “REIT Sections”) applied to the corporation for all taxable years beginning after February 28, 1986, or (ii) as of the close of the taxable year, the corporation has no earnings and profits accumulated in any “non-REIT year”10. For this purpose, the term “non-REIT year” means any taxable year to which the provisions of the REIT Sections did not apply with respect to the corporation. The Company has represented that other than earnings and profits that were
_________________________________
8 See IRC §565(b)(1).

9 See IRC §860.

10 See IRC §857(a)(2).

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grandfathered under IRC §857(a)(2)(A) related to taxable years beginning before February 28, 1986, it has no, and will continue to have no, accumulated earnings and profits from any taxable year for which it did not qualify as a REIT and has not succeeded by reason of any merger or other non-taxable acquisition of assets (including any deemed acquisition of assets resulting from an election to treat a subsidiary as a QRS) to the earnings and profits of any other entity taxable as a corporation. If, by reason of any merger (directly or through a QRS) or other non-taxable acquisition of assets (including any deemed acquisition of assets resulting from an election to treat a subsidiary as a QRS), the Company does succeed to the earnings and profits of any other entity taxable as a corporation, then the Company intends to distribute to the Company’s shareholders all of such earnings and profits before the close of the taxable year of such merger or acquisition. In the event of a determination (as defined in IRC §860(e)) that the Company has any such undistributed earnings and profit, the Company intends to timely avail itself of the relief provisions of Treasury Regulation §1.857-11(c) and IRC §852(e) and declare and pay to its shareholders a qualified designated distribution or distributions in an amount or amounts sufficient to eliminate such earnings and profits.

The Company has represented that if it were to fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than an asset or income test violation of a type for which relief is otherwise available as described above, pursuant to section 856(g), the Company would retain REIT qualification if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and the Company would pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. This relief provision is available to a REIT in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005.
B. Subsidiary Partnership Status
Effective as of January 1, 1997, the IRS adopted a classification system that permits a closely held unincorporated business to elect its tax status (the “Check-the-Box Rules”). An unincorporated domestic business entity (an “Eligible Entity” as defined in Treasury Regulation §301-7701-3(a) (as effective January 1, 1997)) with at least two members, formed on or after January 1, 1997, will generally be classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes unless it elects to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation.11 Under the Check-the-Box Rules, an Eligible Entity in existence prior to January 1, 1997, will have the same classification that the entity claimed under Treasury Regulations §§301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3 (as in effect prior to January 1, 1997).12 In the case of a business entity that was in existence prior to January 1, 1997, the entity’s claimed classification will be respected for all periods prior to January 1, 1997, if (i) it had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of IRC §6662) for its claimed classification for federal income tax purposes, (ii) the entity, and all members of the entity recognized the federal income tax consequences of any change in its classification within the sixty months prior to January 1, 1997, and (iii) neither the entity nor any of its partners was notified in writing on or before May 8, 1996, that its classification was under examination.13
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11 See Treas. Reg. §§301-7701-1 through 301-7701-4 (as effective January 1, 1997).
12 Treas. Reg. §301-7701-3(b)(3)(i) (as effective January 1, 1997).
13 Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3(h) (as effective January 1, 1997).


17




A partnership can nonetheless be taxed as a corporation if it is a publicly traded partnership under IRC §7704. In addition, the IRS has adopted final regulations that provide an anti-abuse rule (“Anti-
abuse Rule”) under the partnership provisions of the IRC (“Partnership Provisions”). Under the Anti-abuse Rule, if a partnership is formed or availed of in connection with a transaction with a principal purpose of substantially reducing the present value of the partners’ aggregate federal tax liability in a manner that is inconsistent with the intent of the Partnership Provisions, the IRS can disregard the form of the transaction and recast it for federal income tax purposes. The Anti-abuse Rule states that the intent of the Partnership Provisions is to permit taxpayers to conduct business for joint economic profit through a flexible arrangement that accurately reflects the partners’ economic agreement without incurring an entity level tax. The regulations go on to provide that the Partnership Provisions are not intended to permit taxpayers (i) to structure transactions using a partnership to achieve tax results that are inconsistent with the underlying economic arrangements of the parties or the substance of the transactions; or (ii) to use the existence of a partnership to avoid the purposes of other provisions of the IRC. The purposes for structuring a transaction involving a partnership are determined based on all of the facts and circumstances.14 

The Company has represented that, commencing on or after January 1, 1997, each of any Subsidiary Partnership in existence prior to January 1, 1997 or formed on or after January 1, 1997, has been, and will continue to be, a domestic “eligible entity” as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3(a). For all periods prior to January 1, 1997, the Company represented that (i) each of any Subsidiary Partnership in existence prior to January 1, 1997 claimed partnership classification and had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of IRC §6662) for its claimed classification as a partnership (and not as an association taxable as a corporation) for federal income tax purposes; (ii) each of any Subsidiary Partnership in existence prior to January 1, 1997 and all of its respective partners recognized the federal income tax consequences of any change in its classification within the sixty months prior to January 1, 1997; and (iii) no Subsidiary Partnership in existence prior to January 1, 1997, nor any of its partners was notified in writing on or before May 8, 1996, that its classification was under examination. The Company has represented that none of the Subsidiary Partnerships, with the exception of Funding, has affirmatively elected or will affirmatively elect (on a Form 8832 filed with the IRS or otherwise) to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Moreover, the Company has represented that none of the Subsidiary Partnerships will change its form of organization.
The Company has also represented that since January 1, 1987, none of any amendments to any Subsidiary Partnership agreement have affected the rights of the respective partners under such agreement in a manner so as to alter the number of corporate characteristics applicable to the Subsidiary Partnership for all periods prior to January 1, 1997.
The Company has also represented that no interests in any Subsidiary Partnership are traded on any established securities market or are readily tradable on any secondary market or the substantial equivalent of any secondary market, including any matching system or program.
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14 See Treas. Reg. §1.701-2.


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V. Limitations on Opinion. No assurances are or can be given that the IRS will agree with the foregoing conclusions in whole or in part although it is our opinion that they should. While the opinion represents our considered judgment as to the proper tax treatment to the parties concerned based upon the law as it existed at the relevant time periods and the facts as they were presented to us, it is not binding upon the IRS or the courts. In the event of any change to the applicable law or relevant facts, assumptions or representations, we would of necessity need to reconsider our views. In rendering this opinion, we have also considered and relied upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), the regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Regulations”), administrative rulings and the other interpretations of the IRC and Regulations by the courts and the IRS, all as they exist as of the date hereof. It should be noted, however, that the IRC, Regulations, judicial decisions, and administrative interpretations are subject to change at any time and, in some circumstances, with retroactive effect. We can give no assurance, therefore, that legislative enactments, administrative changes or court decisions may not be forthcoming that would modify or supersede the opinion stated herein. In addition, there can be no assurance that positions contrary to our opinion will not be taken by the IRS, or that a court considering the issues will not hold contrary to such opinion. Moreover, this opinion represents our conclusions based upon the documents, facts, assumptions and representations referred to above. Any material amendments to such documents or changes in any significant facts after the date hereof, or inaccuracy of such assumptions or representations could affect the opinion referred to herein.
This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of matters stated, represented, covenanted, or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law. You understand and agree that this opinion is solely for the Company’s information and benefit, is limited to the described transaction, and may not be relied upon, distributed, disclosed, made available to, or copied by anyone, without prior written consent or as described herein. We understand and agree that our opinion, in its entirety, will be attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also understand that there will be a reference to the Deloitte Tax name under the caption “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus. The Registration Statement may not use or otherwise reference the Deloitte Tax name in any other manner without our prior written approval. Further, subject to the use permitted as described above, our opinion and the Deloitte Tax name may not be used or otherwise referenced in any way in connection with future offerings under the Registration Statement (including, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, in any offering document).
In addition, this opinion is based upon:
a.
the representations, information, documents and facts provided to us, our personnel and any representatives thereof and that we have included or referenced in this opinion letter;
b.
our assumption that all of the representations used in our analysis and all of the originals, copies, and signatures of documents reviewed by us are accurate, true, and authentic;

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c.
our assumption that there will be timely execution and delivery of and performance as required by the representations and documents;
d.
the understanding that we will only be responsible to provide an opinion with respect to the specific tax issues and tax consequences opined upon herein and no other federal, state, or local taxes of any kind were considered;
e.
the law, regulations, cases, rulings, and other taxing authority in effect as of the date of this letter. If there are subsequent changes in or to the foregoing taxing authorities (for which we shall have no specific responsibility to advise you), such changes may result in our opinion being rendered invalid or necessitate (upon your request) a reconsideration of the opinion; and
f.
your understanding and agreement that the results of this opinion may be audited and challenged by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax agencies, who may not agree with our conclusions. In this regard, you understand that the opinion is not binding on the IRS, other tax agencies or the courts and should never be considered a representation, warranty, or guarantee that the IRS, other tax agencies or the courts will concur with the opinion.
g.
your understanding that this opinion letter is limited to the described transaction

    
Very truly yours,

/s/ Deloitte Tax LLP
Deloitte Tax LLP

20

EX-12.1 6 ex121earningstofixedcharges.htm EXHIBIT Ex121EarningstoFixedCharges

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 12.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COUSINS PROPERTIES INCORPORATED
STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED
FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
($ in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
2008
 
Earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss from continuing operations before taxes, unconsolidated joint ventures and sale of investment properties
$
(12,507
)
 
$
(118,757
)
 
$
(44,622
)
 
$
(90,769
)
 
$
(9,633
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributed income of equity investees
37,379
 
8,865
 
11,394
 
7,237
 
23,751
 
 
Amortization of capitalized interest
1,001
 
1,497
 
2,020
 
2,821
 
1,726
 
 
Fixed charges
38,673
 
28,588
 
37,401
 
43,722
 
42,727
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subtract:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capitalized interest
(1,637)
 
(600)
 
-

 
(3,736)
 
(14,894)
 
 
Preferred Stock Dividends
(12,907)
 
(12,907)
 
(12,907)
 
(12,907)
 
(14,957)
 
 
Earnings
$
50,002

 
$
(93,314
)
 
$
(6,714
)
 
$
(53,632
)
 
$
28,720

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
$
23,933

 
$
27,784

 
$
37,180

 
$
39,759

 
$
27,602

 
 
Capitalized interest
1,637
 
600
 
-
 
3,736
 
14,894
 
 
Interest component of rental expense (30%)
196
 
204
 
221
 
227
 
231
 
 
 
25,766
 
28,588
 
37,401
 
43,722
 
42,727
 
 
Preferred stock dividends
12,907
 
12,907
 
12,907
 
12,907
 
14,957
 
 
Fixed charges
$
38,673

 
$
41,495

 
$
50,308

 
$
56,629

 
$
57,684

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
1.94
 
-
(1)
-
(2)
-
(3)
0.67
(4)
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
1.29
 
-
(1)
-
(2)
-
(3)
0.50
(4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2011. Additional earnings of $121,902 and $134,809 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2010. Additional earnings of $44,115 and $57,022 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2009. Additional earnings of $97,354 and $110,261 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(4) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was less than one-to-one for the year ended December 31, 2008. Additional earnings of $14,007 and $28,964 would have been needed to have a one-to-one ratio of earnings to fixed charges and a one-to-one ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, respectively.


EX-23.2 7 ex232dtcousins-consentsxex.htm EXHIBIT Ex232DTCousins-Consents-ExpertsS-3


Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Cousins Properties Incorporated of our report dated March 26, 2013, relating to the statement of revenue over certain operating expenses for Terminus 200 for the year ended December 31, 2012 (which report on the statement of revenues and certain expenses expresses an unmodified opinion and includes an emphasis of matter paragraph referring to the purpose of the statement) appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Cousins Properties Incorporated dated March 26, 2013, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
March 29, 2013




EX-23.3 8 ex233fdconsentofindependen.htm EXHIBIT Ex233FDCONSENTOFINDEPENDENTAUDITORS-S-3

Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Cousins Properties Incorporated of our report dated March 29, 2013, related to the statement of revenues over certain operating expenses of Post Oak Central for the year ended December 31, 2012 (which report on the statement of revenues over certain operating expenses expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs referring of the purpose of the statement), appearing in the Form 8-K/A dated March 26, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement. We further consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ Frazier & Deeter, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
March 29, 2013

EX-23.5 9 ex235dtcousins-consent10kx.htm EXHIBIT Ex235DTCousins-Consent10K-S-3

Exhibit 23.5

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 13, 2013, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Cousins Properties Incorporated, and the effectiveness of Cousins Properties Incorporated's
internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cousins Properties Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2012, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
March 29, 2013


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