UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 30, 2008 (October 29, 2008)

 

CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

6711 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300

Columbia, Maryland 21046

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(443) 285-5400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 2.02.              Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On October 29, 2008, the Registrant issued a press release relating to its financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2008.  A copy of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information included herein, including the exhibits, shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, including the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or subject to liabilities of that Section.  The information included herein, including the exhibits, shall also not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

The Registrant uses non-GAAP financial measures in earnings press releases and information furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Registrant believes that these measures are helpful to investors in measuring its performance and comparing such performance to other real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  Descriptions of these measures are set forth below.

 

Funds from operations (“FFO”)

 

FFO is defined as net income computed using GAAP, excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate, plus real estate-related depreciation and amortization after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Gains from the sale of real estate that are attributable to sales of non-operating properties are included in FFO.  Gains from sales of newly-developed properties less accumulated depreciation, if any, required under GAAP are also included in FFO on the basis that development services are the primary revenue generating activity; the Registrant believes that inclusion of these development gains is in accordance with the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts’ (“NAREIT”) definition of FFO, although others may interpret the definition differently.

 

Accounting for real estate assets using historical cost accounting under GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time.  NAREIT stated in its April 2002 White Paper on Funds from Operations that “since real estate asset values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions, many industry investors have considered presentations of operating results for real estate companies that use historical cost accounting to be insufficient by themselves.”  As a result, the concept of FFO was created by NAREIT for the REIT industry to “address this problem.”  The Registrant agrees with the concept of FFO and believes that FFO is useful to management and investors as a supplemental measure of operating performance because, by excluding gains and losses related to sales of previously depreciated operating real estate properties and excluding real estate-related depreciation and amortization, FFO can help one compare the Registrant’s operating performance between periods.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide FFO information to the investment community, the Registrant believes that FFO is useful to investors as a supplemental measure for comparing its results to those of other equity REITs. The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to FFO.

 

Since FFO excludes certain items includable in net income, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  FFO is not necessarily an indication of the Registrant’s cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the

 

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Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  The FFO presented by the Registrant may not be comparable to the FFO presented by other REITs since they may interpret the current NAREIT definition of FFO differently or they may not use the current NAREIT definition of FFO.

 

Funds from operations-Basic (“Basic FFO”)

 

Basic FFO is FFO adjusted to (1) subtract (a) preferred share dividends and (b) issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares and (2) add back GAAP net income allocated to common units in Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”) not owned by the Registrant.  With these adjustments, Basic FFO represents FFO available to common shareholders and common unitholders.  Common units in the Operating Partnership are substantially similar to common shares of beneficial interest in the Registrant (“common shares”); common units in the Operating Partnership are also exchangeable into common shares, subject to certain conditions.  The Registrant believes that Basic FFO is useful to investors due to the close correlation of common units to common shares.  The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Basic FFO. Basic FFO has essentially the same limitations as FFO; management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for FFO.

 

Diluted funds from operations or funds from operations-diluted (“Diluted FFO”)

 

Diluted FFO is Basic FFO adjusted to add back any changes in Basic FFO that would result from the assumed conversion of securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares.  However, the computation of Diluted FFO does not assume conversion of securities other than common units in the Operating Partnership that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase Diluted FFO per share in a given period.  The Registrant believes that Diluted FFO is useful to investors because it is the numerator used to compute Diluted FFO per share, discussed below.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Diluted FFO information to the investment community, the Registrant believes that Diluted FFO is a useful supplemental measure for comparing the Registrant to other equity REITs.  The Registrant believes that the numerator for diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO.  Since Diluted FFO excludes certain items includable in the numerator to diluted EPS, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  Diluted FFO is not necessarily an indication of the Registrant’s cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  The Diluted FFO presented by the Registrant may not be comparable to the Diluted FFO presented by other REITs.

 

FFO per diluted share or diluted FFO per common share (“Diluted FFO per share”)

 

Diluted FFO per share is (1) Diluted FFO divided by (2) the sum of the (a) weighted average common shares outstanding during a period, (b) weighted average common units outstanding during a period and (c) weighted average number of potential additional common shares that would have been outstanding during a period if other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into common shares were converted or exchanged.  However, the computation of Diluted FFO per share does not assume conversion of securities other than common units in the Operating Partnership that are convertible into common shares if the conversion of those securities would increase Diluted FFO per share in a given period.  The Registrant believes that Diluted FFO per share is useful to investors because it provides investors with a further context for evaluating the Registrant’s FFO results in the same manner that investors use earnings per share (“EPS”) in evaluating net income available to common shareholders.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Diluted FFO per share

 

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information to the investment community, the Registrant believes that Diluted FFO per share is a useful supplemental measure for comparing the Registrant to other equity REITs.  The Registrant believes that diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted FFO per share.  Diluted FFO per share has most of the same limitations as Diluted FFO (described above); management compensates for these limitations in essentially the same manner as described above for Diluted FFO.

 

Adjusted funds from operations-diluted (“Diluted AFFO”)

 

Diluted AFFO is Diluted FFO adjusted for the following: (1) the elimination of the effect of (a) noncash rental revenues (comprised of straight-line rental adjustments, which includes the amortization of recurring tenant incentives, and amortization of deferred market rental revenue, both of which are described under “Cash NOI” below) and (b) accounting charges for original issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred shares; and (2) recurring capital expenditures (defined below).  The Registrant believes that Diluted AFFO is an important supplemental measure of liquidity for an equity REIT because it provides management and investors with an indication of its ability to incur and service debt and to fund dividends and other cash needs.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Diluted AFFO information to the investment community, the Registrant believes that Diluted AFFO is a useful supplemental measure for comparing the Registrant to other equity REITs.  The Registrant believes that the numerator to diluted EPS is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Diluted AFFO.  Since Diluted AFFO excludes certain items includable in the numerator to diluted EPS, reliance on the measure has limitations; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  In addition, see the discussion below regarding the limitations of recurring capital expenditures, which is used to derive Diluted AFFO.  Diluted AFFO is not necessarily an indication of the Registrant’s cash flow available to fund cash needs.  Additionally, it should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  The Diluted AFFO presented by the Registrant may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other equity REITs.

 

Recurring capital expenditures

 

Recurring capital expenditures are defined as capital improvements, tenant improvements and incentives and leasing costs associated with operating properties that are not (1) items contemplated prior to the acquisition of a property, (2) improvements associated with the expansion of a building or its improvements, (3) renovations to a building which change the underlying classification of the building (for example, from industrial to office or Class C office to Class B office) or (4) capital improvements that represent the addition of something new to the property rather than the replacement of something (for example, the addition of a new heating and air conditioning unit that is not replacing one that was previously there).  The Registrant believes that recurring capital expenditures is an important measure of performance for a REIT because it provides a measure of the capital expenditures that the Registrant can expect to incur on an ongoing basis, which is significant to how the Registrant manages its business since these expenditures are funded using cash flow from operations.  As a result, the measure provides a further indication of the cash flow from operations that is available to fund other uses.  The Registrant believes that tenant improvements and incentives, capital improvements and leasing costs associated with operating properties are the most directly comparable GAAP measures.  Recurring capital expenditures do not reflect all capital expenditures incurred by the Registrant for the periods reported; the Registrant compensates for this limitation by also using the comparable GAAP measure.  The recurring capital expenditures presented by the Registrant may not be comparable to the recurring capital expenditures presented by other REITs.

 

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Net operating income (“NOI”)

 

NOI is total revenue from real estate operations, including rental revenue and tenant recoveries and other revenue, reduced by total property expenses associated with real estate operations, including discontinued operations; total property expenses, as used in this definition, do not include depreciation, amortization or interest expense associated with real estate operations.  The Registrant believes that NOI is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for a REIT’s operating real estate because it provides a measure of the core real estate operations, rather than factoring in depreciation and amortization or corporate financing and general and administrative expenses; this measure is particularly useful in the opinion of the Registrant in evaluating the performance of geographic segments, same-office property groupings and individual properties.  The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to NOI.  The measure excludes many items that are includable in net income, including construction contract and other service operations revenues, as well as expenses including those mentioned above; management compensates for this limitation by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  It should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  NOI presented by the Registrant may not be comparable to NOI presented by other equity REITs that define the measure differently.

 

Cash net operating income (“Cash NOI”)

 

Cash NOI is NOI (defined above) adjusted to eliminate the effects of noncash rental revenues (comprised of straight-line rental adjustments, which includes the amortization of recurring tenant incentives, and amortization of deferred market rental revenue).  Under GAAP, rental revenue is recognized evenly over the term of tenant leases.  Many leases provide for contractual rent increases and the effect of accounting under GAAP for such leases is to accelerate the recognition of lease revenue.  Since some leases provide for periods under the lease in which rental concessions are provided to tenants, the effect of accounting under GAAP is to allocate rental revenue to such periods.  Also under GAAP, when a property is acquired, in-place operating leases carrying rents above or below market are valued as of the date of the acquisition; such value is then amortized into rental revenue over the lives of the related leases.

 

The Registrant believes that Cash NOI is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for a REIT’s operating real estate because it makes adjustments to NOI for revenue that is not associated with cash to the Registrant.  As is the case with NOI, the measure is useful in the opinion of the Registrant in evaluating and comparing the performance of geographic segments, same-office property groupings and individual properties, although, since it adjusts for noncash items, it provides management and investors with a further indication of the Registrant’s ability to incur and service debt and to fund dividends and other cash needs.  The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Cash NOI.  The measure excludes many items that are includable in net income; management compensates for this limitation by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.  It should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  The Cash NOI that the Registrant presents may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other equity REITs.

 

Cash NOI adjusted for lease termination fees

 

This measure is Cash NOI (defined above) adjusted to eliminate the effects of lease termination fees paid by tenants to terminate their lease obligations prior to the end of the agreed lease terms.  Lease

 

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termination fees are often recognized as revenue in large one-time lump sum amounts upon the termination of tenant leases.  The Registrant believes that Cash NOI adjusted for lease termination fees is a useful supplemental measure of operating performance in evaluating same-office property groupings because it provides a means of evaluating the effect that lease terminations had on the performance of the property groupings.  As in the case of Cash NOI, since the measure adjusts for noncash items, it also provides management and investors with a further indication of the Registrant’s ability to incur and service debt and to fund dividends and other cash needs.  The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to Cash NOI adjusted for termination fees.  The measure has essentially the same limitations as Cash NOI as well as the further limitation of not reflecting the effect of lease termination fees in accordance with GAAP.  Management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

 

Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”)

 

EBITDA is net income adjusted for the effects of interest expense, depreciation and amortization, income taxes and minority interests.  The Registrant believes that EBITDA is an important measure of performance for a REIT because it provides a further tool to evaluate the Registrant’s ability to incur and service debt and to fund dividends and other cash needs that supplements the previously described non-GAAP measures and to compare the Registrant’s operating performance with that of other companies.  The Registrant believes that net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to EBITDA.  EBITDA excludes items that are included in net income, including some that require cash outlays; management compensates for this limitation by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.   It should not be used as an alternative to net income when evaluating the Registrant’s financial performance or to cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities when evaluating the Registrant’s liquidity or ability to make cash distributions or pay debt service.  Additionally, EBITDA as reported by the Registrant may not be comparable to EBITDA reported by other equity REITs.

 

EBITDA Interest Coverage Ratio

 

This measure divides EBITDA by interest expense on continuing and discontinued operations.  The Registrant believes that this ratio is a useful measure in evaluating the relationship of earnings to the total cash flow requirements for interest on loans associated with operating properties and, as such, is an important tool in the Registrant’s finance policy management.

 

EBITDA Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

 

This measure divides EBITDA by the sum of (1) interest expense on continuing and discontinued operations, (2) dividends on preferred shares and (3) distributions on preferred units in the Operating Partnership not owned by the Registrant.  The Registrant believes that this ratio is a useful measure in evaluating the relationship of earnings to the cash flow requirements of (1) interest expense on loans associated with operating properties and (2) dividends to preferred equity holders and, as such, is an important tool in the Registrant’s finance policy management.

 

Diluted FFO Payout Ratio and Diluted AFFO Payout Ratio

 

These measures are defined as (1) the sum of (A) dividends on common shares and (B) dividends on restricted common and convertible preferred shares and distributions to holders of interests in the Operating Partnership when such dividends and distributions are included in Diluted FFO and Diluted AFFO, divided by (2) either Diluted FFO or Diluted AFFO.  The Registrant believes that these ratios are useful to investors as supplemental measures of its ability to make distributions to investors.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide these ratios, the Registrant believes they are useful

 

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supplemental measures for comparing the Registrant to other equity REITs.  The Registrant believes that Earnings Payout Ratio is the most comparable GAAP measure.  Earnings Payout Ratio is defined as dividends on common shares divided by net income available to common shareholders.  Since Payout-FFO Diluted and Payout-AFFO Diluted are derived from Diluted FFO and Diluted AFFO, they share the limitations previously discussed for those measures; management compensates for these limitations by using the measures simply as supplemental measures that are weighed in the balance with other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

 

Debt to Undepreciated Book Value of Real Estate Assets

 

This measure is defined as mortgage loans payable divided by net investment in real estate presented on the Registrant’s consolidated balance sheet excluding the effect of accumulated depreciation incurred to date on such real estate.  The Registrant believes that this measure is useful to management and investors as a supplemental measure of its borrowing levels.  In addition, since most equity REITs provide Debt to Undepreciated Book Value of Real Estate Asset information, the Registrant believes that this measure is a useful supplemental measure for comparing the Registrant to other equity REITs.  The Registrant believes that the measure of Debt to Total Assets, defined as mortgage loans payable divided by total assets, is the most comparable GAAP measure.  Debt to Undepreciated Book Value of Real Estate Assets excludes the effect of accumulated depreciation, other assets and other liabilities; management compensates for these limitations by using the measure simply as a supplemental measure that is weighed with the comparable GAAP measure and other GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

 

Item 9.01.              Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(a)	Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired
	None
(b)	Pro Forma Financial Information
	None
(c)	Shell Company Transactions
	None
(d)	Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Title
99.1		Press release dated October 29, 2008 for Corporate Office Properties Trust.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: October 30, 2008
	CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
	By:	/s/ Randall M. Griffin
	Name:	Randall M. Griffin
	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer
	By:	/s/ Stephen E. Riffee
	Name:	Stephen E. Riffee
	Title:	Executive Vice President and
		Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Title
99.1		Press release dated October 29, 2008 for Corporate Office Properties Trust.

 

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