4. Common Shares

In May 2012, we created an at-the-market ("ATM") share offering program through which we can, but have no obligation to, sell common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $300 million (the "2012 ATM program"), in amounts and at times as we determine, into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. Actual sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors including, among others, market conditions, the trading price of our common shares, and determinations by management of the appropriate sources of funding for us. The net proceeds for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were used for general corporate purposes, which included funding for development and capital improvement projects.

The following table presents activity under our 2012 ATM program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Total net consideration	$	—	$	88,915.9	$	40,097.6	$	173,627.6
Common shares sold	—		1,302.5		555.1		2,607.9
Average price per share	$	—	$	69.34	$	73.73	$	67.63

At September 30, 2013, we had common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $82.7 million remaining available for sale under the 2012 ATM program. No additional shares were sold subsequent to quarter end through the date of this filing.

In May 2011, we created an ATM share offering program through which we could, but had no obligation to, sell common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $300 million (the “2011 ATM program”), in amounts and at times as we determined, into the existing trading market at current market prices as well as through negotiated transactions. The net proceeds resulting from the 2011 ATM program were used to redeem all of our outstanding redeemable perpetual preferred units and for other general corporate purposes, which included funding for development activities, financing of acquisitions, repayment of notes payable and borrowings under our $500 million unsecured line of credit. The 2011 ATM program terminated in the second quarter of 2012, and no further common shares are available for sale under the 2011 ATM program.

The following table presents activity under our 2011 ATM program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (in thousands, except per share amounts):



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2012		September 30, 2012
Total net consideration	$	—	$	128,128.0
Common shares sold	—		1,971.4
Average price per share	$	—	$	66.01

We currently have an automatic shelf registration statement which allows us to offer, from time to time, common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, or warrants. Our Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides we may issue up to 185 million shares of beneficial interest, consisting of 175 million common shares and 10 million preferred shares.