Friday, February 8, 2013

Cousins Properties Expands in Texas and Affirms Commitment to Atlanta



Larry Gellerstedt
ATLANTA, GA--Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) has completed the following series of off-market transactions:

Purchased the remaining 80% interest in Terminus 200 from a fund managed by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing.

Subsequently formed a 50%/50% joint venture with institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management for both Terminus 100 and Terminus 200, neighboring Class-AA office towers in Atlanta’s Buckhead submarket.

Terminus 100
Purchased a 100% interest in Post Oak Central, a Class-A office complex in the Galleria submarket of Houston, from institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

The off-market transactions provide Cousins with an attractive entry in Houston’s Galleria submarket and the retention of a substantial ownership interest in the Terminus office towers in Atlanta.

Cousins’ net investment is expected to be approximately $206 million, after a new non-recourse mortgage for Terminus 200 is secured. The Company funded the transactions using proceeds from recent non-core asset sales.

Terminus 200
Larry Gellerstedt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cousins, noted, “The Post Oak Central transaction is an outstanding fit with our ongoing strategy of acquiring quality urban office towers in the best Sun Belt submarkets at valuations below replacement cost. 

"This investment also provides a rare combination of a significant future development opportunity and an attractive in-place yield.”

Gellerstedt added, “It’s very exciting to affirm our confidence in the steadily improving Buckhead submarket with the Terminus 100 and 200 transactions. Furthermore, our joint venture with J.P. Morgan Asset Management ensures that both towers will continue to reap the benefits of top-notch sponsorship.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Cousins Properties Incorporated
Cameron Golden, 404-407-1984
Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

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