Note 16 - Preferred Stock, Common Stock and Convertible Unit Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

16. Preferred Stock, Common Stock and Convertible Unit Transactions:

Preferred Stock

The Company’s outstanding Preferred Stock is detailed below (in thousands, except share information and par values):

As of December 31, 2015
Series of Preferred Stock	Shares Authorized		Shares Issued and Outstanding		Liquidation Preference		Dividend Rate			Annual Dividend per Depositary Share		Par Value
Series I		18,400		16,000	$	400,000		6.00	%	$	1.50000	$	1.00
Series J		9,000		9,000		225,000		5.50	%	$	1.37500	$	1.00
Series K		8,050		7,000		175,000		5.625	%	$	1.40625	$	1.00
		35,450		32,000	$	800,000

Series of  Preferred Stock	Date Issued	Depositary Shares Issued		Fractional Interest per Share	Net Proceeds, After Expenses (in millions)		Offering/ Redemption Price		Optional Redemption Date
Series I (2)	3/20/2012		16,000,000	1/1000	$	387.2	$	25.00	3/20/2017
Series J (3)	7/25/2012		9,000,000	1/1000	$	217.8	$	25.00	7/25/2017
Series K (4)	12/7/2012		7,000,000	1/1000	$	169.1	$	25.00	12/7/2017

As of December 31, 2014
Series of  Preferred Stock	Shares Authorized		Shares Issued and Outstanding		Liquidation Preference		Dividend Rate			Annual Dividend per Depositary Share		Par Value
Series H		70,000		70,000	$	175,000		6.90	%	$	1.72500	$	1.00
Series I		18,400		16,000		400,000		6.00	%	$	1.50000	$	1.00
Series J		9,000		9,000		225,000		5.50	%	$	1.37500	$	1.00
Series K		8,050		7,000		175,000		5.625	%	$	1.40625	$	1.00
		105,450		102,000	$	975,000

Series of  Preferred Stock	Date Issued	Depositary Shares Issued		Fractional Interest per Share	Net Proceeds, After Expenses (in millions)		Offering/ Redemption Price		Optional Redemption Date
Series H (1)	8/30/2010		7,000,000	1/100	$	169.2	$	25.00	8/30/2015
Series I (2)	3/20/2012		16,000,000	1/1000	$	387.2	$	25.00	3/20/2017
Series J (3)	7/25/2012		9,000,000	1/1000	$	217.8	$	25.00	7/25/2017
Series K (4)	12/7/2012		7,000,000	1/1000	$	169.1	$	25.00	12/7/2017

(1) The net proceeds received from this offering were used for general corporate purposes, including the reduction of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility and the redemption of shares of the Company’s preferred stock.

(2) The net proceeds received from this offering were used for the redemption of all the outstanding depositary shares representing the Company’s Class F preferred stock, which redemption occurred on August 15, 2012 with the remaining proceeds used towards the redemption of outstanding depositary shares representing the Company’s Class G preferred stock, which redemption occurred on October 10, 2012 and general corporate purposes.

(3) The net proceeds received from this offering were used for general corporate purposes, including funding towards the repayment of maturing Senior Unsecured Notes.

(4) The net proceeds received from this offering were used for general corporate purposes, including funding towards the repayment of maturing Senior Unsecured Notes.

The following Preferred Stock series were redeemed during the year ended December 31, 2015:

Series of Preferred Stock	Date Issued	Depositary Shares Issued		Redemption Amount (in millions)		Offering/ Redemption Price		Optional Redemption Date	Actual Redemption Date
Series H (1)	8/30/2010		7,000,000	$	175.0	$	25.00	8/30/2015	11/25/2015

(1) In connection with this redemption the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $5.8 million resulting from the difference between the redemption amount and the carrying amount of the Class H Preferred Stock on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with the FASB’s guidance on Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. The $5.8 million was subtracted from net income to arrive at net income available to common shareholders and is used in the calculation of earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Company’s Preferred Stock Depositary Shares for all series are not convertible or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Company. 

Voting Rights - The Class I Preferred Stock, Class J Preferred Stock and Class K Preferred Stock rank pari passu as to voting rights, priority for receiving dividends and liquidation preference as set forth below.

As to any matter on which the Class I, J, or K Preferred Stock may vote, including any actions by written consent, each share of the Class I, J or K Preferred Stock shall be entitled to 1,000 votes, each of which 1,000 votes may be directed separately by the holder thereof. With respect to each share of Class I, J or K Preferred Stock, the holder thereof may designate up to 1,000 proxies, with each such proxy having the right to vote a whole number of votes (totaling 1,000 votes per share of Class I, J or K Preferred Stock). As a result, each Class I, J or K Depositary Share is entitled to one vote.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, preferred stock holders are entitled to be paid, out of the assets of the Company legally available for distribution to its stockholders, a liquidation preference of $25,000.00 Class I Preferred Stock per share, $25,000.00 Class J Preferred Stock per share and $25,000.00 Class K Preferred Stock per share ($25.00 per each Class I, Class J and Class K Depositary Share), plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of payment, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of the Company’s common stock or any other capital stock that ranks junior to the preferred stock as to liquidation rights.

Common Stock

The Company, from time to time, repurchases shares of its common stock in amounts that offset new issuances of common shares in connection with the exercise of stock options or the issuance of restricted stock awards. These share repurchases may occur in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise subject to prevailing market conditions, the Company’s liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company repurchased 179,696 shares, 128,147 shares and 144,727 shares, respectively, in connection with common shares surrendered to the Company to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards under the Company’s equity-based compensation plans.

Convertible Units

The Company has various types of convertible units that were issued in connection with the purchase of operating properties (see Footnote 14). The amount of consideration that would be paid to unaffiliated holders of units issued from the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries which are not mandatorily redeemable, as if the termination of these consolidated subsidiaries occurred on December 31, 2015, is $24.4 million. The Company has the option to settle such redemption in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. If the Company exercised its right to settle in Common Stock, the unit holders would receive 0.9 million shares of Common Stock.