Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On March 11, 2021, Corporate Office Properties, L.P. ("COPLP"), the operating
partnership of Corporate Office Properties Trust ("COPT" and, collectively with
its subsidiaries, including COPLP, the "Company"), consummated the offering of
$600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.750% Senior Notes due 2031
(the "Notes"). The offering of the Notes was registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), pursuant to the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-230764) filed by COPT and COPLP with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2019 (the "Registration
Statement").
The terms of the Notes are governed by a senior indenture, dated as of April 8,
2019, by and among COPLP, as issuer, COPT, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee (the "Base Indenture"), as supplemented and amended by a
second supplemental indenture thereto, dated as of March 11, 2021 (the "Second
Supplemental Indenture," and together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture").
A copy of the Base Indenture was previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
Registration Statement and is incorporated by reference herein. The Second
Supplemental Indenture is filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
Results of Tender Offer for 3.600% Notes due 2023
On March 11, 2021, COPT issued a press release announcing the expiration of the
previously announced cash tender offer (the "2023 Notes Tender Offer") for any
and all of COPLP's outstanding 3.600% Senior Notes due 2023, fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by COPT (the "2023 Notes") at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on March 9, 2021 (the "2023 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time"). As
of the 2023 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time, $184,424,000, or 52.69%, of the
$350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes outstanding prior to
the 2023 Notes Tender Offer had been validly tendered and not withdrawn in the
2023 Notes Tender Offer, excluding 2023 Notes tendered pursuant to a 2023 Notes
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined below) in the 2023 Notes Tender Offer
at or prior to the 2023 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time.
COPT accepted for purchase all of the 2023 Notes validly tendered and delivered
(and not validly withdrawn) in the 2023 Notes Tender Offer at or prior to the
2023 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time. Payment for the 2023 Notes purchased
pursuant to the 2023 Notes Tender Offer is being made on March 11, 2021 (the
"2023 Notes Tender Offer Settlement Date"), and payment for 2023 Notes tendered
by a 2023 Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is anticipated to be made on March
12, 2021 (the "2023 Notes Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date").
Any 2023 Notes tendered by a 2023 Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and
accepted for purchase will be purchased on the third business day after the 2023
Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time, but payment of accrued interest, if any, on
such 2023 Notes will only be made to, but not including, the 2023 Notes Tender
Offer Settlement Date.
The consideration being paid under the 2023 Notes Tender Offer is $1,066.81 per
$1,000 principal amount of 2023 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
up to, but not including, the 2023 Notes Tender Offer Settlement Date. The 2023
Notes Tender Offer is being funded from a portion of the net proceeds from the
previously announced issuance and sale by COPLP of the Notes.
The 2023 Notes Tender Offer was made pursuant to the 2023 Notes Offer to
Purchase (the "2023 Notes Offer to Purchase") and the related 2023 Notes Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery attached to the 2023 Notes Offer to Purchase (the "2023
Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery"), each dated March 3, 2021. Wells Fargo
Securities, LLC acted as dealer manager for the 2023 Notes Tender Offer.
Redemption of 3.600% Notes due 2023
On March 11, 2021, COPT announced that it has elected to redeem all of the 2023
Notes that remain outstanding following the 2023 Notes Tender Offer. In
accordance with the redemption provisions of the 2023 Notes and the Indenture,
dated as of May 6, 2013 (the "2013 Indenture"), by and between COPLP, as issuer,
COPT, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, the 2023
Notes will be redeemed at a price equal to the principal amount plus an
applicable premium calculated pursuant to the terms of the 2013 Indenture,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to, but not including, the
redemption date, which has been set for April 12, 2021.
Results of Tender Offer for 5.250% Notes due 2024
On March 11, 2021, COPT issued a press release announcing the expiration of the
previously announced cash tender offer (the "2024 Notes Tender Offer" and
together with the 2023 Notes Tender Offer, the "Tender Offers") for any and all
of COPLP's outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2024, fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by COPT (the "2024 Notes") at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March
10, 2021 (the "2024 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time"). As of the 2024 Notes
Tender Offer Expiration Time, $145,415,000, or 58.17%, of the $250,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes outstanding prior to the 2024 Notes
Tender Offer had been validly tendered and not withdrawn in the 2024 Notes
Tender Offer, excluding 2024 Notes tendered pursuant to a 2024 Notes Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery (as defined below) in the 2024 Notes Tender Offer at or
prior to the 2024 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time.
COPT accepted for purchase all of the 2024 Notes validly tendered and delivered
(and not validly withdrawn) in the 2024 Notes Tender Offer at or prior to the
2024 Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time. Payment for the 2024 Notes purchased
pursuant to the 2024 Notes Tender Offer is being made on March 11, 2021 (the
"2024 Notes Tender Offer Settlement Date"), and payment for 2024 Notes tendered
by a 2024 Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is anticipated to be made on March
15, 2021 (the "2024 Notes Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date").
Any 2024 Notes tendered by a 2024 Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and
accepted for purchase will be purchased on the third business day after the 2024
Notes Tender Offer Expiration Time, but payment of accrued interest, if any, on
such 2024 Notes will only be made to, but not including, the 2024 Notes Tender
Offer Settlement Date.
The consideration being paid under the 2024 Notes Tender Offer is $1,131.31 per
$1,000 principal amount of 2024 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
up to, but not including, the 2024 Notes Tender Offer Settlement Date. The 2024
Notes Tender Offer is being funded from a portion of the net proceeds from the
previously announced issuance and sale by COPLP of the Notes.
The 2024 Notes Tender Offer was made pursuant to the 2024 Notes Offer to
Purchase (the "2024 Notes Offer to Purchase") and the related 2024 Notes Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery attached to the 2024 Notes Offer to Purchase (the "2024
Notes Notice of Guaranteed Delivery"), each dated March 3, 2021. Wells Fargo
Securities, LLC acted as dealer manager for the 2024 Notes Tender Offer.
Redemption of 5.25% Notes due 2024
On March 11, 2021, COPT announced that it has elected to redeem all of the 2024
Notes that remain outstanding following the 2024 Notes Tender Offer. In
accordance with the redemption provisions of the 2024 Notes and the Indenture,
dated as of September 16, 2013 (the "2013 Base Indenture"), by and between
COPLP, as issuer, COPT, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as
trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of
September 16, 2013 (the "2013 First Supplemental Indenture" and, together with
the 2013 Base Indenture, the "Indenture for 2024 Notes"), the 2024 Notes will be
redeemed at a price equal to the principal amount plus an applicable premium
calculated pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for 2024 Notes, together with
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to, but not including, the redemption
date, which has been set for April 12, 2021.
This Current Report on Form 8-K is neither an offer to purchase nor a
solicitation to buy any of the 2023 Notes or 2024 Notes nor is it a solicitation
for acceptance of the 2023 NotesTender Offer or the 2024 Notes Tender Offer. A
copy of the press release announcing the expiration of the Tender Offers and the
redemptions referenced above is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report
on Form 8-K.
The information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K under this Item 7.01
(including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed
incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Exchange
Act or the Securities Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such a filing.
Guidance Update
The Company is modifying its previously announced guidance to reflect the
expected effect of early extinguishment losses resulting from the purchases and
redemptions of the 2023 Notes and 2024 Notes described above.
The Company previously announced guidance for:
· Diluted Earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") of between $0.19 and $0.21 for the
three months ending March 31, 2021 and between $0.76 and $0.82 for the year
ending December 31, 2021;
· Diluted FFO per share ("FFOPS") of between $0.54 and $0.56 for the three months
ending March 31, 2021 and between $2.16 and $2.22 for the year ending December
31, 2021; and
· FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability, of between $0.54 and $0.56 for the three
months ending March 31, 2021 and between $2.16 and $2.22 for the year ending
December 31, 2021.
The Company has modified its guidance as follows:
· Diluted EPS is modified to between ($0.09) and ($0.07) for the three months
ending March 31, 2021 and between $0.25 and $0.31 for the year ending December
31, 2021;
· FFOPS is modified to between $0.26 and $0.28 for the three months ending March
31, 2021 and between $1.65 and $1.71 for the year ending December 31, 2021; and
· the Company is affirming its previously announced guidance for FFOPS, as
adjusted for comparability.
Risk Factor - Results reflected in the Company's earnings guidance may not be
achieved.
The modified guidance disclosed in this Current Report on Form 8-K is based upon
a number of estimates and assumptions. While theCompany believes that these
estimates and assumptions are sufficiently specific and are reasonable, they are
nevertheless subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties. As a
result, the Company's actual results could differ from the estimates. Important
factors that may affect these estimates and assumptions are set forth in the
Company's periodic filings under the Exchange Act.
A reconciliation of projected diluted EPS to projected FFOPS and projected
FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability for the three months ending March 31, 2021
and the year ending December 31, 2021 is provided, as follows:
Quarter ending Year ending
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2021
Low High Low High
EPS $ (0.09 ) $ (0.07 ) $ 0.25 $ 0.31
Real estate-related depreciation and
amortization 0.35 0.35 1.40 1.40
FFOPS, Nareit definition 0.26 0.28 1.65 1.71
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 0.28 0.28 0.51 0.51
FFOPS, as adjusted for comparability $ 0.54 $ 0.56 $ 2.16 $ 2.22
The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measures described below in earnings
press releases and information furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company believes that these measures are helpful to investors in
measuring its performance and comparing such performance to other real estate
investment trusts ("REITs"). Since these measures exclude certain items
includable in their respective most comparable GAAP measures, reliance on the
measures has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using
the measures simply as supplemental measures that are weighed in balance with
other GAAP and non-GAAP measures. These measures are not necessarily indications
of the Company's cash flow available to fund cash needs. Additionally, they
should not be used as an alternative to the respective most comparable GAAP
measures when evaluating the Company's financial performance or to cash flow
from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Company's
liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.
Funds from operations ("FFO" or "FFO per Nareit")
Defined as net income computed using GAAP, excluding gains on sales and
impairment losses of real estate and investments in unconsolidated real estate
JVs (net of associated income tax) and real estate-related depreciation and
amortization. FFO also includes adjustments to net income for the effects of the
items noted above pertaining to unconsolidated real estate joint ventures
("UJVs") that were allocable to the Company's ownership interest in the UJVs.
The Company believes that it uses the National Association of Real Estate
Investment Trust's ("Nareit") definition of FFO, although others may interpret
the definition differently and, accordingly, the Company's presentation of FFO
may differ from those of other REITs. The Company believes that FFO is useful to
management and investors as a supplemental measure of operating performance
because, by excluding gains on sales and impairment losses of real estate (net
of associated income tax) and real estate-related depreciation and amortization,
FFO can help one compare its operating performance between periods. The Company
believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to this
non-GAAP measure.
Basic FFO available to common share and common unit holders ("Basic FFO")
This measure is FFO adjusted to subtract (1) preferred share dividends, (2)
income attributable to noncontrolling interests through ownership of preferred
units in Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (the "Operating Partnership") or
interests in other consolidated entities not owned by the Company, (3)
depreciation and amortization allocable to noncontrolling interests in other
consolidated entities, (4) Basic FFO allocable to share- based compensation
awards and (5) issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares. With
these adjustments, Basic FFO represents FFO available to common shareholders and
holders of common units in the Operating Partnership ("common units"). Common
units are substantially similar to the Company's common shares of beneficial
. . .
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Exhibit Title
4.1 Form of 2.750% Senior Notes due 2031 (included in Exhibit 4.2
below)
4.2 Second Supplemental Indenture, by and among Corporate Office
Properties, L.P., as issuer, Corporate Office Properties Trust, as
guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee
5.1 Opinion of Saul Ewing LLP regarding the validity of the Guarantee
5.2 Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regarding the validity of the
Notes
8.1 Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
23.1 Consent of Saul Ewing LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2)
23.3 Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (contained in Exhibit 8.1)
99.1 Press Release, dated March 11, 2021, issued by Corporate Office
Properties Trust.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL
document).
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