Shareholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity of the General Partner and Partners' Capital of the Partnership

General Partner

In the first nine months of 2014, pursuant to the share repurchase plan approved by our board of directors, the General Partner repurchased 750,243 preferred shares from among our three outstanding series. The preferred shares repurchased had a total redemption value of approximately $18.8 million and were repurchased for $17.7 million. In conjunction with the repurchases, approximately $618,000 of initial issuance costs, the ratable portion of such costs associated with the repurchased shares, were charged against income attributable to common shareholders. As the result of these repurchases, an adjustment of approximately $483,000 was included as an increase to net income attributable to common shareholders.

In August 2014, the General Partner redeemed all 384,530 shares of its outstanding 6.625% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares ("Series J Shares"). The cash redemption price for the Series J Shares was $96.1 million, or $250.00 per share, plus dividends accrued through the date of redemption. Original offering costs of $3.2 million were included as a reduction to net income attributable to common shareholders in conjunction with the redemption of these shares.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the General Partner issued 14.6 million common shares pursuant to its at the market equity program, generating gross proceeds of approximately $258.6 million and, after deducting commissions and other costs, net proceeds of approximately $256.0 million. The proceeds from these offerings were used for general corporate purposes, which include the funding of development costs.

In April 2014, the General Partner's shareholders approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of the General Partner's common stock from 400 million to 600 million.

Partnership

For each common share or preferred share that the General Partner issues, the Partnership issues a corresponding General Partner Unit or Preferred Unit, as applicable, to the General Partner in exchange for the contribution of the proceeds from the stock issuance. Similarly, when the General Partner redeems or repurchases common shares or preferred shares, the Partnership redeems the corresponding Common Units or Preferred Units held by the General Partner at the same price.