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Once a year, publicly traded companies issue a comprehensive report of their business, called a 10-K. A component mandated in the 10-K is the ‘Risk Factors’ section, where companies disclose any major potential risks that they may face. This dashboard highlights all major changes and additions in new 10K reports, allowing investors to quickly identify new potential risks and opportunities.

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Risk Factors - CUZ

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Item 1A. Risk Factors, include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. The Company does not undertake a duty to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other matters, except as otherwise required by law.

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PART I

Item 1.Business

Corporate Profile

Cousins Properties Incorporated (the “Registrant” or “Cousins”), a Georgia corporation, is a fully integrated, self-administered, and self-managed real estate investment trust (“REIT”). Cousins conducts substantially all of its business through Cousins Properties LP ("CPLP"). Cousins owns in excess of 99% of CPLP and consolidates CPLP. CPLP wholly owns Cousins TRS Services LLC ("CTRS"), a taxable entity that owns and manages its own real estate portfolio and performs certain real estate related services.

Cousins, CPLP, CTRS, and their subsidiaries develop, acquire, lease, manage, and own primarily Class A office properties and opportunistic mixed-use developments in the Sun Belt markets of the United States with a focus on lifestyle office properties in Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Phoenix, Dallas, and Nashville. Cousins has elected to be taxed as a REIT and intends to, among other things, distribute at least 100% of its net taxable income to stockholders. Cousins' common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CUZ.” Cousins, CPLP, their subsidiaries, and CTRS combined are hereafter referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company.”

Our operations are conducted principally in the office real estate segment which we measure by geographical area.

We consider “lifestyle offices” to be well-located buildings that are modern structures or have been modernized to compete with newer buildings, are professionally managed and maintained, and offer a number and type of amenities that are in high demand by customers that are focused on the importance of the physical work environment in recruiting and retaining employees. We believe our “lifestyle office” portfolio improves our ability to renew leases and obtain new customers which results in consistently higher occupancy than the remainder of the office buildings in our markets. We do not consider the expression “lifestyle office” a classification of our properties in accordance with any standard listing criteria in the real estate industry. We, therefore, caution investors that our use and definition of “lifestyle office” may be different than the use and definition of similar expressions and traditional classifications that may be used by other companies.

Company Strategy

Our strategy is to create value for our stockholders through ownership of the premier office portfolio in the Sun Belt markets of the United States, with a particular focus on Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Phoenix, Dallas, and Nashville. This strategy is based on a disciplined approach to capital allocation that includes opportunistic acquisitions, selective developments, and timely dispositions of non-core assets, with a goal of maintaining a portfolio of newer and more efficient properties with lower capital expenditure requirements. To implement this disciplined approach, we maintain a simple, flexible, and low-leveraged balance sheet, which allows us to pursue compelling growth opportunities at the most advantageous points in the cycle. We utilize our strong local operating platforms within each of our major markets to implement this strategy.

2025 Activities

During 2025, we acquired one office property, completed an offering of senior unsecured notes, and generated positive operating results in our property portfolio. The following is a summary of our significant 2025 activities:

Investment Activity

•Acquired The Link, a 292,000 square foot lifestyle office property in Uptown Dallas, for a purchase price of $218.0 million.

•Sold our bankruptcy claim with SVB Financial Group for $4.6 million.

•Received repayment at par of the $138.0 million mortgage loan investment secured by Saint Ann Court in Dallas.

•Received repayment at par of the $12.8 million mezzanine loan investment secured by Radius in Nashville.

•Loaned our Neuhoff joint venture partner $19.6 million at an interest rate of SOFR plus 625 basis points.

Financing Activity

•Issued $500.0 million of 5.250% public unsecured senior notes due 2030 ("2030 Notes"), generating net proceeds of $496.9 million.

•Repaid in full $250.0 million of our 3.91% privately placed senior notes at maturity in July 2025.

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•Sold 2.9 million shares under our at-the-market stock offering program ("ATM"), on a forward basis, at an average price of $30.44 per share.

•Our 50% owned Neuhoff joint venture amended its existing construction loan, with the joint venture repaying $39.2 million of the outstanding principal, extending the maturity date to September 2026, and lowering the spread over SOFR to 300 basis points from 345 basis points.

Development Activity

•Continued development and growth of operations at Neuhoff, a mixed-use property in Nashville, that consists of 450,000 square feet of office and retail space and 542 apartments.

•Stabilized the operations of our recently developed Domain 9 office building in Austin.

Portfolio Activity

•Executed 2.1 million square feet of office leases, including 1.2 million square feet of new and expansion leasing, representing 55% of total leasing activity.

•Increased second generation net rent per square foot by 3.5% on a cash-basis.

•Increased same property net operating income by 0.9% on a cash-basis.

•As of December 31, 2025, the leased percentage of our stabilized office portfolio was 90.7%.

•For the three months ended December 31, 2025, the weighted average economic occupancy of our stabilized office portfolio was 88.3%.

Corporate Responsibility

We publish annual reports reflecting our corporate social responsibility practices, which are available on the Sustainability page of our website at www.cousins.com. These reports provide detailed information on our Corporate Responsibility ("CR") philosophy, practices, initiatives, and goals.

Our CR vision is based on a commitment to advancing positive economic, environmental, and social outcomes for our customers, shareholders, employees, and the communities where we live and work. We pursue this vision by creating and maintaining a portfolio of high-quality and resilient lifestyle office buildings that are operated in an environmentally efficient and socially responsible manner, which we believe encourages office users to select us for their corporate operations, while enhancing the communities in which our buildings are located. Additionally, we invest in the professional development and wellness of our employees and seek ways to support and serve our communities. Our strategy is developed, and our operations occur, within a strong corporate governance framework, which is guided by our commitment to conduct our business in accordance with the highest ethical principles, under the oversight and direction of an experienced board of directors, with an integrated approach to risk management. Our Board-level Sustainability Committee advises the Board and provides oversight of management on sustainability objectives, initiative, strategy, and the setting of and performance against sustainability goals. This oversight is complementary to that of three other key committees - the Compensation & Human Capital Committee (oversight of human capital matters, including executive and director compensation), the Nominating & Governance Committee (oversight of our adherence to corporate governance best practices), and the Audit Committee (oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, accounting and financial reporting processes, our system of internal controls, and our risk management, including cyber risk and insurance risks).

Competition

We compete against other real estate owners with similar properties located in our markets and distinguish ourselves to tenants and buyers primarily on the basis of location; rental rates and sales prices; services provided; proximity to public transit; reputation; design, condition, and resiliency of our facilities; operational efficiencies; and availability of amenities. We also compete against other real estate companies, financial institutions, pension funds, partnerships, individual investors, and others when attempting to acquire, develop, or sell properties, or acquire all or a portion of real estate debt.

Human Capital

Our executive offices are located at 3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, Georgia 30326-4802, and we maintain regional offices in each of our additional key operating markets of Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Tampa, and Dallas.

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We recognize that our achievements and progress on our corporate strategy are made possible by the attraction, development, and retention of our dedicated employees. From time to time, we evaluate, modify, and enhance our internal processes and technologies to increase employee engagement, productivity, and efficiency, which we believe benefits our operations and performance. We also invest in training and development opportunities to enhance our employees’ engagement, effectiveness, and well-being.

All of our employees are responsible for upholding our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) and our Core Values, which includes the embrace of diversity in the backgrounds, cultures, interests, and experiences within our Company. Our Code and Core Values are available on our website at www.cousins.com. As of December 31, 2025, we had 351 full-time employees, which includes the seven executive officers listed on page 26. We also recognize the importance of experienced leadership; as of December 31, 2025, the average tenure at Cousins for the executive team was fifteen years.

More information regarding our approach to human capital management, including engagement, priorities, compensation philosophy and structure, benefits offerings, and philanthropic initiatives, may be found in our annual Proxy filing and CR reports.

Environmental Matters

Our business operations are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations governing land, water, and wetlands resources. Among these are certain laws and regulations under which an owner or operator of real estate could become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous or toxic substances present on or in such property. The presence of such substances, or the failure to properly remediate such substances, may subject the owner to substantial liability and may adversely affect the owner’s ability to develop the property or to borrow using such real estate as collateral.

We typically manage this potential liability through performance of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and, as necessary, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, which may include environmental sampling on properties we acquire or develop. Even with these assessments and testings, no assurance can be given that environmental liabilities do not exist, that the reports revealed all environmental liabilities, or that no prior owner created or permitted any material environmental condition not known to us. Additionally, new laws may be enacted or existing laws may be amended to be more stringent, which may increase the potential liability or negatively impact the owner's ability to develop the property or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In certain situations, we have sought to avail ourselves of legal and regulatory protections offered by federal and state authorities to prospective purchasers of property, including so-called "brown fields" designation. Where applicable studies have resulted in the determination that remediation was required by applicable law, the necessary remediation is typically incorporated into the operational or development activity of the relevant property. We are not presently aware of any environmental liability that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, assets, results of operations, or ability to borrow using the real estate as collateral.

Certain environmental laws impose liability on a previous owner of a property to the extent that hazardous or toxic substances were present during the prior ownership period. A transfer of the property does not necessarily relieve an owner of such liability. Thus, although we are not aware of any such situation, we may have such liabilities on properties previously sold by us or our predecessors. We believe that we and our properties are in compliance in all material respects with applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations governing the environment. For additional information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors - "Environmental issues."

Available Information

We make available free of charge on the “Investor Relations” page of our website, www.cousins.com, our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and any amendments thereto, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Director Independence Standards, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (including our Vendor Code of Conduct), Bylaws, and the Charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee, the Nominating & Governance Committee, and the Sustainability Committee of the Board of Directors are also available on the “Investor Relations” page of our website. The information contained on our website is not incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents (without exhibits, when applicable) are also available free of charge upon request to us at 3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, Georgia 30326-4802, Attention: Investor Relations or by telephone at (404) 407-1104 or by facsimile at (404) 407-1105. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Below are the risks we believe investors should consider carefully in evaluating an investment in our securities.

General Risks of Owning and Operating Real Estate

Our ownership of commercial real estate involves a number of risks, the effects of which could adversely affect our business.

General economic and market risks. In a general economic decline or recessionary climate, our commercial real estate assets may not generate sufficient cash to pay expenses, service debt, or cover operational, improvement, or maintenance costs, and, as a result, our results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected. Factors that may adversely affect the economic performance and value of our properties include, among other things:

•changes or volatility within the national, regional, and local economic climate, including dislocations and volatility in the capital markets;

•Risks associated with real estate assets, including:

•competition from other available properties and other local real estate conditions such as an oversupply of rentable space caused by increased development of new properties, a reduction in demand for rentable space caused by a change in the preferences and requirements of our tenants (including space usage), such as work-from-home practices and utilization of open workspaces or "co-working" space, or local economic conditions decreasing the desirability of our locations,

•the financial condition of our tenants, including potential adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of one or more major tenants,

•the attractiveness of our properties to tenants or buyers,

•changes in market rental rates and related concessions granted to tenants including, but not limited to, free rent and tenant improvement allowances,

•the need to periodically repair, renovate, and re-lease properties, and

•potential delays in completion of development and re-development projects due to supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs;

•the impact of common stock, debt, or operating partnership issuances;

•uninsured losses (including those resulting from high deductibles) or losses in excess of our insurance coverage as a result of casualty events or other claims or events;

•insolvency of our insurance carriers or increased cost or unavailability of insurance;

•the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners;

•sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism resulting in a disruption of day-to-day building operations;

•the immediate and long-term impact of a public health crisis, such as a pandemic, epidemic, or outbreak of a contagious disease and the governmental and third party response to such a crisis;

•changes in federal, state, and local income laws and regulations (including tax laws and environmental or other regulatory requirements) as they affect real estate companies and real estate investors;

•changes in interest rates and availability and cost of corporate and property financing sources, and the inability to comply with debt covenants under credit agreements;

•risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks (as hereafter defined) or otherwise;

•changes in senior management, the Board of Directors, or key personnel; and

•risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as compliance with regulatory efforts intended to address those risks.

Uncertain economic conditions may adversely impact current tenants in our various markets and, accordingly, could affect their ability to pay rent owed to us pursuant to their leases. In periods of economic uncertainty, tenants are more likely to downsize and/or to declare bankruptcy; and, pursuant to various bankruptcy laws, leases may be rejected and thereby terminated. Furthermore, our ability to sell or lease our properties at favorable rates, or at all, may be negatively impacted by general or local economic conditions.

Our ability to collect rent from tenants may affect our ability to pay for adequate maintenance, insurance, and other operating costs. Also, the expense of owning and operating a property is not necessarily proportionally reduced when

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circumstances such as reduced occupancy or other market factors cause a reduction in revenue from the property. If a property is mortgaged and we are unable to meet the mortgage payments, the lender could foreclose on the mortgage and take title to the property.

Impairment risks. We regularly review our real estate assets for impairment in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"); and based on these reviews, we may record impairments that have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Negative or uncertain market and economic conditions, as well as market volatility, increase the likelihood of incurring impairment. If we decide to sell a real estate asset rather than holding it for long-term investment or if we reduce our estimates of future cash flows on a real estate asset, the risk of impairment increases. In some cases, our joint venture partners may elect to require a sale of a real estate asset that we intended to hold for a longer period, which could increase the risk of impairment. The magnitude and frequency with which these charges occur could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Leasing risk. Our operating office properties were 90.7% leased at December 31, 2025. Our 20 largest tenants account for a meaningful portion of our revenues. Our operating revenues are dependent upon entering into leases with, and collecting rents from, our tenants. Tenants whose leases are expiring may want to decrease the space they lease and/or may be unwilling to continue their lease. When leases expire or are terminated, replacement tenants may not be available upon acceptable terms and market rental rates may be lower than the previous contractual rental rates. Also, our tenants may approach us for additional concessions in order to remain open and operating.

Tenant and market concentration risk. As of December 31, 2025, our top 20 tenants represented 38.6% of total annualized rent with our largest single tenant accounting for 8.9% of annualized rent. The inability or refusal of any of our significant tenants to pay rent or a decision by a significant tenant to terminate their lease prior to, or at the conclusion of, their lease term (including as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding) could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations or financial condition if a suitable replacement tenant is not secured in a timely manner.

These percentages represent net operating income from operating properties, which excludes our Neuhoff joint venture mixed-use development which has commenced initial operations but is not yet stabilized. Because our portfolio consists primarily of lifestyle office buildings (as opposed to a more diversified real estate portfolio), a decrease in demand for this type of workplace could adversely affect our overall results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, some of our markets (and the submarkets within which we operate) have an outsized concentration of a limited number of industries. A significant downturn in one or more of our markets could result in decreased leasing demand and have an adverse effect on our overall results of operations and financial condition.

The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant may adversely affect the income produced by our properties. On the other hand, a bankrupt tenant may reject and terminate its lease with us. In such a case, our claim against the bankrupt tenant for unpaid and future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent actually owed under the lease, and, even so, our claim for unpaid rent would likely not be paid in full. This shortfall could adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations.

Uninsured losses and condemnation costs. Although we, or our joint venture partners where applicable, maintain casualty insurance under policies we believe to be adequate and appropriate, including commercial general liability, fire, flood, and rent loss insurance on operating properties, as well as cyber coverage, some types of losses, such as those related to the termination of longer-term leases and other contracts, generally are not insured. Property ownership also involves potential liability to third parties for such matters as personal injuries occurring on

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the property. There may be certain losses that are not generally insured against or that are not generally fully insured against because it is not deemed economically feasible or prudent to do so, including losses due to floods, wind, earthquakes, acts of war, acts of terrorism, riots, or pandemics. A number of our properties are located in areas that are known to be subject to hurricane, hail, or flood risk. In Tampa and Houston, our wind storm insurance is subject to deductibles from 2% to 5% of the value of the affected building. We evaluate our insurance coverage annually in light of current industry practice through an analysis prepared by outside consultants. If an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occurs with respect to one or more of our properties, then we could lose the capital we invested in the properties, as well as the anticipated future revenue from the properties. We continue to monitor the state of the insurance market in general, but we cannot anticipate what insurance coverage will be available on commercially reasonable terms in future policy years. In addition to uninsured losses, various government authorities may condemn all or parts of operating properties. Such condemnations could adversely affect the viability of such projects.

Environmental issues. Federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment may require a current or previous owner or operator of real estate to investigate and clean up hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products or other chemicals which are discovered at or migrating from a property, simply because of our past ownership or operation of the real estate. If determined to be liable, the owner or operator may have to pay a governmental entity or third parties for property damage and for investigation and clean-up costs incurred by such parties in connection with the contamination, or perform such investigation and clean up itself. Although certain legal protections may be available to prospective purchasers of property, these laws typically impose remediation responsibility and liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of or caused the presence of the regulated substances. Even if more than one person may have been responsible for the release of regulated substances at the property, each person covered by the environmental laws may be held responsible for all of the remediation costs incurred. In addition, third parties may sue the owner or operator of a site for damages and costs resulting from regulated substances emanating from that site. We manage this risk through Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and, as necessary, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, which may include environmental sampling on properties we acquire or develop. Most of our properties are located in urban or previously developed areas, and the historic use of some sites may have resulted in contamination. Although we generally seek "brown fields" designation where available, this designation may not be available for all urban properties in our portfolio or for properties we may acquire in the future.

Inquiries about indoor air quality and water quality may necessitate special investigation and, depending on the results, remediation beyond our regular testing and maintenance programs. Indoor air quality and water quality issues can stem from inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor or outdoor sources, and biological contaminants such as molds, pollen, viruses, and bacteria. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Indoor exposure to mold or other chemical or biological contaminants above certain levels can be alleged to be connected to allergic reactions or other health effects and symptoms in susceptible individuals. If these conditions were to occur at one of our properties, we may be subject to third-party claims for personal injury or may need to undertake a targeted remediation program, including without limitation, steps to increase indoor ventilation rates and eliminate sources of contaminants. Such remediation programs could be costly, necessitate the temporary relocation of some or all of the property’s tenants, or require rehabilitation of the affected property. In addition, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants could expose us to liability from our tenants, employees of our tenants, or others if property damage or personal injury occurs.

We are not currently aware of any environmental liabilities at locations that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, assets, financial condition, or results of operations.

Sustainability strategies. Our sustainability strategy is to develop and maintain resilient buildings that are operated in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, encouraging office users to select us for their corporate operations while enhancing the communities in which our buildings are located.

Climate change and severe weather event risks. The physical effects of climate change could have a material adverse effect on our properties, operations, and business. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns or severity, our markets could experience increases in storm intensity (including floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, wind storms, ice storms, hail storms, and earthquakes), rising sea-levels, and changes in precipitation, temperature, air

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quality, and quality and availability of water. Over time, these conditions could result in physical damage to, or declining demand for, our properties or our inability to operate the buildings efficiently or at all. Climate change may also indirectly affect our business by increasing the cost of (or making unavailable) property insurance on terms we find acceptable, increasing the cost of required resources, including energy, other fuel sources, water, and waste removal services, and increasing the risk and severity of floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, wind storms, ice storms, hail storms, and earthquakes at our properties. Should the impact of climate change be severe or occur for lengthy periods of time, our financial condition or results of operations could be adversely impacted. In addition, compliance with new or more stringent laws or regulations or stricter interpretations of existing laws may require material expenditure by us. For example, various federal, state, and local laws and regulations have been implemented or are under consideration to mitigate the effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Among other things, "green" building codes may seek to reduce emissions through the imposition of standards for design, construction materials, water and energy usage and efficiency, and waste management. Such codes could require us to make improvements to our existing properties, increase the costs of maintaining or improving our existing properties or developing new properties, or increase taxes and fees assessed on us or our properties. We have historically voluntarily disclosed relevant information regarding our sustainability practices; however, federal, state, and local laws and regulations are evolving and future regulation may require more stringent data reporting. Expenditures required for compliance with such codes may affect our cash flow and results of operations. Additionally, although we pursue a robust sustainability strategy, new approaches and trends regarding building resiliency emerge from time to time in this rapidly evolving focus area. Our approaches and priorities may differ from those of our peers, and the perception of the public or investors of these differences may adversely impact our portfolio attractiveness and our ability to lease space at competitive rates.

Joint venture structure risks. We hold ownership interests in a number of joint ventures with varying structures and may in the future invest in additional real estate through joint ventures. We currently have joint ventures that are and are not consolidated within our financial statements. A venture partner may have economic and/or other business interests or goals that are incompatible with our business interests or goals and that venture partner may be in a position to take action contrary to our interests, including declining to sell at a time or price that we find attractive or determining to sell at a time or price that we do not find attractive or making a comparable decision regarding financing. In addition, such venture partners may default on their obligations, including loans secured by property owned by the joint venture that could have an adverse impact on the financial condition and operations of the joint venture. Such defaults may result in our fulfilling the defaulting partners' obligations that may, in some cases, require us to contribute additional capital to the ventures. Furthermore, the success of a project may be dependent upon the expertise, business judgment, diligence, and effectiveness of our venture partners in matters that are outside our control. Thus, the involvement of venture partners could adversely impact the development, operation, ownership, financing, or disposition of the underlying properties.

Title insurance risk. We did not acquire new title insurance policies in connection with the mergers with Parkway Properties, Inc. ("Parkway") in 2016 or TIER REIT, Inc. ("TIER") in 2019, instead relying on existing policies benefiting those entities' subsidiaries. Nevertheless, because we acquired these properties indirectly through the acquisition of these subsidiaries, the title insurance policies benefiting those entities may continue to benefit us. We generally do acquire title insurance policies for all developed and acquired properties; however, these policies may be for amounts less than the current or future values of the covered properties. If there were a title defect related to any of these properties, or to any of the properties acquired in connection with the mergers with Parkway or TIER where title insurance policies are ruled unenforceable, we could lose both our capital invested in and our anticipated profits from such property.

Liquidity risk. Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and can be difficult to sell and convert to cash quickly. As a result, our ability to sell one or more of our properties may be limited. In the event we want to sell a property, we may not be able to do so in the desired time period, the sales price of the property may not meet our expectations or requirements, and/or we may be required to record an impairment on the property.

Ground lease risks. Many of these ground leases and other restrictive agreements impose significant limitations on our uses of the subject property and restrict our ability to sell or otherwise transfer our interests in the property. These restrictions may limit our ability to timely sell or exchange the

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property, may impair the property's value, or may negatively impact our ability to find suitable tenants for the property. In addition, if we default under the terms of any particular lease, we may lose the ownership rights to the property subject to the lease. Upon expiration of a lease, we may not be able to renegotiate a new lease on favorable terms, if at all. The loss of the ownership rights to these properties or an increase of rental expense could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance risks. The Americans with Disabilities Act generally requires that certain buildings, including office buildings, be made accessible to disabled persons. We believe that we are currently in compliance with these requirements. Noncompliance could result in the imposition of fines by the federal government or the award of damages to private litigants. If, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are required to make substantial alterations and capital expenditures in one or more of our properties, including the removal of access barriers or the addition of access enhancements, it could adversely impact our earnings and cash flows, thereby impacting our ability to service debt and make distributions to our stockholders.

Our properties are subject to various federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, such as state and local fire, health, and life safety requirements. We believe that we are currently in compliance with these requirements. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we could incur fines or other monetary damages. We do not know whether existing requirements will change or whether compliance with future requirements will require significant unanticipated expenditures that will affect our cash flow and results of operations.

Financing Risks

At certain times, interest rates and other market conditions for obtaining capital could be unfavorable, and, as a result, we may be unable to raise the capital needed to invest in acquisition or development opportunities, maintain our properties, or otherwise satisfy our commitments on a timely basis, or we may be forced to raise capital at a higher cost or under restrictive terms, which could adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

We generally finance our acquisition and development projects through one or more of the following: our $1 billion senior unsecured line of credit (the "Credit Facility"), public and private unsecured debt, non-recourse mortgages, construction loans, the sale of assets, joint venture equity, the issuance of common stock, the issuance of preferred stock, and the issuance of units of CPLP. Each of these sources may be constrained from time to time because of market conditions, and the related cost of raising this capital may be unfavorable at any given point in time. These sources of capital, and the risks associated with each, include the following:

•Credit Facility. Terms and conditions available in the marketplace for unsecured credit facilities vary over time. We can provide no assurance that the amount we need from our Credit Facility will be available at any given time, or at all, or that the rates and fees charged by the lenders will be reasonable. We incur interest under our Credit Facility at a variable rate. Variable rate debt creates higher debt service requirements if market interest rates increase, which would adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations. Our Credit Facility contains customary covenants, requirements, and other limitations on our ability to incur indebtedness, including covenants on unsecured debt outstanding, restrictions on secured recourse debt outstanding, and requirements to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Our continued ability to borrow under our Credit Facility is subject to compliance with these covenants. Our credit facility has a scheduled maturity, and there can be no assurances regarding our ability to extend that maturity or enter into a replacement credit facility, and the terms and conditions of such extension or replacement and the covenants thereunder may be less favorable to us than the existing terms covenants and conditions.

•Unsecured debt. Terms and conditions available in the marketplace for unsecured debt vary over time. Unsecured debt generally contains restrictive covenants that may place limitations on our ability to conduct our business similar to those placed upon us by our Credit Facility.

•Non-recourse mortgages. The availability of non-recourse mortgages is dependent upon various conditions, including the willingness of mortgage lenders to lend at any given point in time. Interest rates and loan-to-value ratios may be volatile. If a property is mortgaged to secure payment of indebtedness and we are unable to make the mortgage payments, the lender may foreclose, potentially generating defaults on other debt.

•Asset sales. Real estate markets tend to experience market cycles. Because of such cycles, the potential terms and conditions of sales, may be unfavorable for extended periods of time. Our status as a REIT can limit our ability to sell properties. In addition, mortgage financing on an asset may prohibit prepayment and/or impose a prepayment penalty upon the sale of that property, which may decrease the proceeds from a sale or make the sale impractical.

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•Construction loans. Construction loans relate to specific assets under construction and fund costs above an initial equity amount as negotiated with the lender. Terms and conditions of construction loans vary, but they generally carry a term of two to five years, charge interest at variable rates, require the lender to be satisfied with the nature and amount of construction costs prior to funding, and require the lender to be satisfied with the level of pre-leasing prior to funding. Construction loans can require a portion of the loan to be recourse to us. In addition, construction loans generally require a completion guarantee by the borrower and may require a limited payment guarantee from the Company which may be disproportionate to any guaranty required from a joint venture partner. Uncertain economic conditions may adversely impact our construction lenders and, accordingly, impact their ability to advance loan proceeds to us as required by the construction loans. In such event, alternative financing may be difficult or more expensive to obtain, and the progress of our development and leasing activity may be negatively impacted or delayed, as well as impacting our ability to achieve the returns we expect. There may be times when construction loans are not available, or are only available upon unfavorable terms, which could have an adverse effect on our ability to fund development projects or on our ability to achieve the returns we expect.

•Joint ventures. Joint ventures, including partnerships or limited liability companies, tend to be complex arrangements and there are only a limited number of parties willing to undertake such investment structures. There is no guarantee that we will be able to undertake these ventures at the times we need capital and on favorable terms. Our ability to exit existing joint ventures may be limited by the terms of the joint venture agreement, which may limit our ability to liquidate our investment in a joint venture.

•Common stock. We can provide no assurance that conditions will be favorable for future issuances of common stock when we need capital. In addition, common stock issuances may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share and funds from operations per share. The actual amount of dilution, if any, from any future offering of common stock will be based on numerous factors, particularly the use of proceeds and any return generated from these proceeds. The per share trading price of our common stock could decline as a result of the sale of shares of our common stock in the market in connection with an offering or as a result of the perception or expectation that such sales could occur.

•Preferred stock. The availability of preferred stock at favorable terms and conditions is dependent upon a number of factors including the general condition of the economy, the overall interest rate environment, the condition of the capital markets, and the demand for this product by potential holders of the securities. Issuance of preferred stock, if convertible, could be dilutive to earnings per share and have an adverse effect on the trading price of common stock. We can provide no assurance that conditions will be favorable for future issuances of preferred stock when we need the capital.

•Operating partnership units. The issuance of units of CPLP in connection with property, portfolio, or business acquisitions could be dilutive to our earnings per share and could have an adverse effect on the per share trading price of our common stock.

Any additional indebtedness incurred may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

As of December 31, 2025, we had $3.3 billion of outstanding indebtedness. The incurrence of additional indebtedness could have adverse consequences on our business, such as:

•requiring us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, which would reduce the available cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, development projects, distributions, and other general corporate purposes;

•limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our working capital needs, capital expenditures, development projects, or other debt service requirements or for other purposes;

•increasing our exposure to floating interest rates;

•limiting our ability to compete with other companies who have less leverage, as we may be less capable of responding to adverse economic and industry conditions;

•restricting us from making strategic acquisitions, developing properties, or capitalizing on business opportunities;

•restricting the way in which we conduct our business due to financial and operating covenants in the agreements governing our existing and future indebtedness;

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•exposing us to potential events of default under covenants contained in our debt instruments;

•increasing our vulnerability to a downturn in general economic conditions; and

•limiting our ability to react to changing market conditions in our industry.

The impact of any of these potential adverse consequences could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Covenants contained in our Credit Facility, senior unsecured notes, term loans, and mortgages could restrict our operational flexibility, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our Credit Facility, senior unsecured notes, and unsecured term loans impose financial and operating covenants on us. These restrictions may be modified from time to time, but restrictions of this type include limitations on our ability to incur debt, as well as limitations on the amount of our secured debt, unsecured debt, and on the amount of joint venture activity in which we may engage. These covenants may limit our flexibility in making business decisions. If we fail to comply with these covenants, our ability to borrow may be impaired, which could potentially make it more difficult to fund our capital and operating needs. Our failure to comply with such covenants could cause a default, and we may then be required to repay our outstanding debt with capital from other sources. Under those circumstances, other sources of capital may not be available to us or may be available only on unattractive terms, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the cross default provisions on the Credit Facility, senior unsecured notes and term loans may affect business decisions on other debt.

Compliance with these covenants could harm our operational flexibility and financial condition.

Our degree of leverage could limit our ability to obtain additional financing or affect the market price of our securities.

Net debt as a percentage of either total asset value or total market capitalization and net debt as a multiple of annualized EBITDAre are non-GAAP metrics often used by analysts to gauge the financial health of REITs like us. If our degree of leverage is viewed unfavorably by common equity investors, lenders, or potential joint venture partners, it could affect our ability to obtain additional capital. In general, our degree of leverage could also make us more vulnerable to a downturn in business or the economy. In addition, increases in our debt ratios may have an adverse effect on the market price of common stock and debt securities.

Adverse changes to our credit ratings could limit our access to funding and increase our borrowing costs.

Rating agencies could make adjustments to our credit ratings at any time, and there can be no assurance that they will maintain our ratings at current levels or that downgrades will not occur.

Any downgrade in our credit ratings could potentially adversely affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to borrow or obtain funding, increase our cost of capital, and/or limit our access to capital markets. In particular, interest rate spreads on some of our corporate floating rate debt are based on our current corporate credit ratings. If these ratings were to decrease, the Company would see an increase in the interest expense related to these loans, which could have a material impact to earnings.

Credit rating downgrades or negative watch warnings could negatively impact our reputation with lenders, investors, and other third parties, which could also impair our ability to compete in certain markets or engage in certain transactions. In particular, holders of securities or debt instruments may perceive such a downgrade or warning negatively and pursue divestment of all or a portion of such securities or debt instruments.

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Real Estate Acquisition and Development Risks

We face risks associated with operating property acquisitions.

Operating property acquisitions contain inherent risks. These risks may include:

•difficulty in leasing vacant space or renewing existing tenants at the acquired property;

•the need for, along with the costs and timing of, repositioning or redeveloping the acquired property;

•disproportionate concentrations of earnings in one or more markets;

•the acquisitions may fail to meet internal projections or otherwise fail to perform as expected;

•the acquisitions may be in markets that are unfamiliar to us and could present unforeseen business and operating challenges;

•the timing of acquisitions may not match the timing of raising the capital necessary to fund the acquisitions;

•a change in our sustainability or resiliency profile, including an increase in key performance metrics like energy consumption intensity and greenhouse gas emissions, and/or a decrease in the percentage of our operating portfolio with key sustainability certifications;

•the inability to obtain financing or other sources of capital for acquisitions on favorable terms, or at all;

•the inability to successfully integrate the operations, maintain consistent standards, controls, policies, and procedures, or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions within the anticipated time frames, or at all;

•the inability to effectively monitor and manage our expanded portfolio of properties, retain key employees, or attract highly qualified new employees;

•the possible decline in value of the acquired asset;

•the diversion of our management’s attention away from other business concerns; and

•the exposure to any undisclosed or unknown issues, expenses, or potential liabilities relating to acquisitions.

In addition, we may acquire properties subject to liabilities with no, or limited, recourse against the prior owners or other third parties. As a result, if a liability were asserted against us based upon ownership of those properties, we might have to pay substantial sums to settle or contest it, which might not be fully covered by owner's title insurance policies or other insurance policies.

Our acquisition and investment process requires that we pursue a large number of opportunities, with a smaller number actually being acquired or completed; we may incur significant costs related to the pursuit of acquisitions that do not close, which could directly or indirectly affect our results of operations. We have procedures and controls in place that are intended to minimize this risk, but it is likely that we will continue to incur costs related to pursuing acquisitions on projects or other investments that we do not successfully acquire or complete.

Any of these risks could cause a failure to realize the intended benefits of our acquisitions and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and the market price of our common stock.

We face risks associated with the development of real estate.

Development activities contain inherent risks. Although we seek to minimize risks from development through various management controls and procedures, development risks cannot be eliminated. These risks may include:

•Abandoned predevelopment costs. The development process requires a large number of opportunities be pursued with only a few actually being developed. We may incur significant costs for predevelopment activity for projects that are ultimately abandoned, which would directly affect our results of operations. For projects that are abandoned, we must expense certain costs, such as salaries and interest on debt, that would have otherwise been capitalized. We have procedures and controls in place that are intended to minimize this risk, but it is likely that we will incur predevelopment costs on abandoned projects on an ongoing basis.

•Project costs. Construction and leasing of a development project involves a variety of costs that cannot always be identified at the beginning of a project. Costs may arise that have not been anticipated or actual costs may exceed estimated costs. These additional costs can be significant and can adversely impact our return on a project and the expected results of operations upon completion of the project. Also, construction costs vary over time based upon many factors, including the cost of labor, building materials, and compliance with applied regulations. We attempt to mitigate the risk of unanticipated increases in construction costs on our development projects through guaranteed maximum price contracts and pre-ordering of certain materials, but we may be adversely affected by increased construction costs on our current and future projects.

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•Construction delays. Development activity carries the risk that a project could be delayed due to, but not limited to, weather and other forces of nature, availability of materials, availability of skilled labor, supply chain disruption, the financial health and project capacity of general contractors or sub-contractors, and the competing demands on plan-approving authorities. Construction delays could cause adverse financial impacts to us which could include incurring more interest and other carrying costs than originally budgeted, monetary penalties from tenants pursuant to their leases, and higher construction costs. Delays could also result in a violation of terms of construction loans that could increase fees, interest, or trigger additional recourse of a construction loan.

•Leasing risk. The success of a commercial real estate development project is heavily dependent upon entering into leases with acceptable terms within a predefined lease-up period. Although our policy is generally to achieve certain pre-leasing goals (which vary by market, product type, and circumstances) before committing to a project, it is expected that sometimes not all the space in a project will be leased at the time we commit to the project. If the additional space is not leased on schedule and upon the expected terms and conditions, our returns, future earnings, and results of operations from the project could be adversely impacted. Whether or not tenants are willing to enter into leases on the terms and conditions we project and on the timetable we expect will depend upon a number of factors, many of which are outside our control. These factors may include:

•general business conditions in the local or broader economy or in the prospective tenants’ industries;

•supply and demand conditions for space in the marketplace; and

•level of competition in the marketplace.

•Reputation risks. We have historically developed and managed a significant portion of our real estate portfolio and believe that we have built a positive reputation for quality and service with our lenders, joint venture partners, and tenants. If we developed under-performing properties, suffered sustained losses on our investments, defaulted on a significant level of loans, or experienced significant foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of our properties, our reputation could be damaged. Damage to our reputation could make it more difficult to successfully develop properties in the future and to continue to grow and expand our relationships with lenders, joint venture partners, and tenants, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

•Governmental approvals. All necessary zoning, land-use, building, occupancy, and other required governmental approvals, permits, and authorizations may not be obtained, may only be obtained subject to onerous conditions, or may not be obtained on a timely basis resulting in possible delays, decreased profitability, and increased management time and attention.

•Competition. We compete for tenants in our Sun Belt markets by highlighting our locations, rental rates, quality and breadth of services, amenities, reputation, and the design, condition, and resiliency of our facilities including operational efficiencies and sustainability improvements. As the competition for tenants is intense, we may be required to provide rent abatements, increase our capital improvement expenditures, incur charges for tenant improvements and other concessions, and may not be able to lease vacant space in a timely manner. Additionally, competing properties may have vacancy rates higher than our properties, which may result in their owners being willing to lease available space at lower rates than the space in our properties.

•Risks associated with the development of mixed-use properties. We operate, are currently developing, and may in the future develop properties, either alone or through joint ventures, that are known as "mixed-use" developments. This means that in addition to the development of office space, the project may also include space for retail, residential, or other commercial purposes. We may seek to develop the non-office component ourselves, sell the right to that component to a third-party developer, or we may partner with a third party who has more non-office real estate experience. If we do choose to develop other components ourselves, we would be exposed not only to those risks typically associated with the development of commercial real estate generally, but also to specific risks associated with the development and ownership of non-office real estate. In addition, even if we sell the rights to develop the other components or elect to participate in the development through a joint venture, we may be exposed to the risks associated with the failure of the other party to complete the development as expected. These include the risk that the other party would default on its obligations necessitating that we complete the other component ourselves, including potential financing of the project. If we decide to hire a third-party manager, we would be dependent on them and their key personnel to provide services to us, and we may not find a suitable replacement if the management agreement is terminated or if key personnel leave or otherwise become unavailable to us. Due to the complexity of mixed use projects, they may be more difficult to finance or sell, or the terms and conditions may be less favorable than is customary for non-mixed-use properties.

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We regularly review our existing portfolio to confirm alignment of each property with our standards for a high-quality tenant experience. Where additional investment in an existing property is anticipated to result in greater leasing success and higher property value, we may undertake selective redevelopment activities, including with respect to lobbies and other common areas. Such redevelopment activities bear many of the risks associated with new development, as identified above.

Investment in Real Estate Debt Risks

Our investments in real estate debt face prepayment risk and interest rate fluctuations that may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

During periods of declining interest rates, a borrower under a loan may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Company to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayment into potentially lower yielding securities or loans, which may result in a decline in return. Debt investments frequently have call features that allow the borrower to prepay the loan at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met. An issuer or borrower may choose to prepay a loan if, for example, the issuer or borrower can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer or borrower. In addition, the market price of the investments will change in response to changes in interest rates and other factors. The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of debt investments is generally greater for loans with longer maturities. These changes could have an impact on the value of our investments and have a material impact on earnings as these investments are carried at fair value.

We will face risks related to our investments in mezzanine loans.

Our mezzanine loans are secured by a pledge of the ownership interests of the entity or entities that own(s) the property. These types of assets involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior mortgage lending secured by income-producing real property because the loan may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by the senior lender. Repayment of a mezzanine loan is dependent on the successful operation of the underlying commercial properties. Therefore, mezzanine loans are subject to similar considerations and risks as our investments in operating real estate. In the event of a bankruptcy of the entity providing the pledge of its ownership interests as security, we may not have full recourse to the assets of such entity, the assets of the entity may not be sufficient to satisfy our mezzanine loan, or, as the mezzanine loans are generally non-recourse to the borrowers, there is a risk that at foreclosure the value of the ownership interest in the entity is less than the carrying value of the investment resulting in a charge from the decrease in carrying value of our investment. Additionally, in the event of a foreclosure of the pledged interests, there may not be a robust market of willing purchasers to acquire interests in an entity that would be willing to undertake the cure of senior mortgages necessary to prevent real property foreclosures. If a borrower defaults on our mezzanine loan or debt senior to our loan, or in the event of a borrower bankruptcy, our mezzanine loan will be satisfied only after the senior debt. Thus, while there may be sufficient revenue from the property to service the mortgage loan, those revenues may be exhausted before the mezzanine loan is serviced. The same would be true for casualty situations. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment.

The mortgage loans in which we may invest are subject to delinquency, foreclosure, and loss, which could result in losses to us.

The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by, among other things: tenant mix and tenant bankruptcies, success of tenant businesses, property management decisions, including with respect to capital improvement, particularly in older building structures, property location and condition, competition from comparable types of properties offering the same or similar services, changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged, changes in interest rates, and in the state of the credit markets and the debt and equity capital markets, including diminished availability or lack of debt financing for commercial real estate, any need to address environmental contamination at the property, the occurrence of any uninsured casualty at the property, changes in national, regional, or local economic conditions or specific industry segments, declines in regional or local real estate values, declines in regional, or local rental or occupancy rates, increases in real estate tax rates, tax credits and other operating expenses, changes in governmental rules, regulations, and fiscal policies, including environmental legislation, natural disasters, terrorism, social unrest, and civil disturbances, and adverse changes in zoning laws.

In the event of any default under a mortgage loan held directly by us, we will bear a risk of loss of principal to the extent of any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the principal and accrued interest of the mortgage loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow from operations and limit amounts available for distribution to our

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shareholders. In the event of the bankruptcy of a mortgage loan borrower, the mortgage loan to such borrower will be deemed to be secured only to the extent of the value of the underlying collateral at the time of bankruptcy (as determined by the bankruptcy court), and the lien securing the mortgage loan will be subject to the avoidance powers of the bankruptcy trustee or debtor-in-possession to the extent the lien is unenforceable under state law. Foreclosure of a mortgage loan can be an expensive and lengthy process, which could have a substantial negative effect on our anticipated return on the foreclosed mortgage loan.

We are exposed to the risk of judicial proceedings with our borrowers, including bankruptcy or other litigation, as a strategy to avoid foreclosure or enforcement of other rights by us as a lender or investor. In the event that any of the properties or entities underlying or collateralizing our loans or investments experiences or continues to experience any of the other foregoing events or occurrences, the value of, and return on, such investments could be reduced, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We may need to foreclose on certain of the loans we originate or acquire, which could result in losses that harm our results of operations and financial condition. We may find it necessary or desirable to foreclose on certain of the loans we originate or acquire, and the foreclosure process may be lengthy and expensive. If we foreclose on an asset, we may take title to the property securing that asset, and if we do not or cannot sell the property, we would then come to own and operate it as “real estate owned.” Owning and operating real property involves risks that are different (and in many ways more significant) than the risks faced in owning an asset secured by that property.

Whether or not we have participated in the negotiation of the terms of any such loans, we cannot be assured as to the adequacy of the protection of the terms of the applicable loan, including the validity or enforceability of the loan and the maintenance of the anticipated priority and perfection of the applicable security interests. Furthermore, claims may be asserted by lenders or borrowers that might interfere with enforcement of our rights. Borrowers may resist foreclosure actions by asserting numerous claims, counterclaims and defenses against us, including, without limitation, lender liability claims and defenses, even when the assertions may have no basis in fact, in an effort to prolong the foreclosure action and seek to force the lender into a modification of the loan or a favorable buy-out of the borrower’s position in the loan. Foreclosure actions in some U.S. states can take several years or more to litigate and may also be time consuming and expensive to complete in other U.S. states and foreign jurisdictions in which we do business. At any time prior to or during the foreclosure proceedings, the borrower may file for bankruptcy, which would have the effect of staying the foreclosure actions and further delaying the foreclosure process, and could potentially result in a reduction or discharge of a borrower’s debt. Foreclosure may create a negative public perception of the related property, resulting in a diminution of its value. Even if we are successful in foreclosing on a loan, the liquidation proceeds upon sale of the underlying real estate may not be sufficient to recover our cost basis in the loan, resulting in a loss to us. Furthermore, any costs or delays involved in the foreclosure of the loan or a liquidation of the underlying property will further reduce the net sale proceeds and, therefore, increase any such losses to us.

Federal Income Tax Risks

Any failure to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes could have a material adverse impact on us and our stockholders.

We intend to continue to operate in a manner intended to qualify us as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations. Certain facts and circumstances not entirely within our control may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT. In addition, we can provide no assurance that legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations, or court decisions will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of our REIT status.

If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income. In this case, we would be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Unless entitled to relief under certain Code provisions, we also would be disqualified from operating as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost. As a result, we would be subject to federal and state income taxes which could adversely affect our results of operations and distributions to stockholders. Although we currently intend to operate in a manner designed to qualify as a REIT, it is possible that future economic, market, legal, tax, or other considerations may cause us to revoke the REIT election.

In order to qualify as a REIT, under current law, we generally are required each taxable year to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our net taxable income (excluding any net capital gain). To the extent that we do not distribute

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all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our other taxable income, we are subject to tax on the undistributed amounts at regular corporate rates. In addition, we are subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax to the extent that distributions paid by us during the calendar year are less than the sum of the following:

•85% of our ordinary income;

•95% of our net capital gain income for that year; and

•100% of our undistributed taxable income (including any net capital gains) from prior years.

We intend to make distributions to our stockholders to comply with the 90% distribution requirement, to avoid corporate-level tax on undistributed taxable income, and to avoid the nondeductible excise tax. Distributions could be made in cash, in stock, or in a combination of cash and stock. Differences in timing between taxable income and cash available for distribution could require us to borrow funds to meet the 90% distribution requirement, to avoid corporate-level tax on undistributed taxable income, and to avoid the nondeductible excise tax.

Certain property transfers may be characterized as prohibited transactions.

From time to time, we may transfer or otherwise dispose of some of our properties. Under the Code, any gains resulting from transfers or dispositions, from other than a taxable REIT subsidiary, that are deemed to be prohibited transactions would be subject to a 100% tax on any gain associated with the transaction. Since we acquire properties primarily for investment purposes, we do not believe that our occasional transfers or disposals of property are deemed to be prohibited transactions. However, whether or not a transfer or sale of property qualifies as a prohibited transaction depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") may contend that certain transfers or disposals of properties by us are prohibited transactions. While we believe that the IRS would not prevail in any such dispute, if the IRS were to argue successfully that a transfer or disposition of property constituted a prohibited transaction, we would be required to pay a tax equal to 100% of any gain allocable to us from the prohibited transaction. In addition, income from a prohibited transaction might adversely affect our ability to satisfy the income tests for qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

Recent changes to the U.S. tax laws could have an adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition, and earnings.

In recent years, numerous legislative, judicial, and administrative changes have been made in the provisions of federal and state income tax laws applicable to investments similar to an investment in our shares. In particular, the comprehensive tax reform legislation enacted in December 2017 and commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") made many significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax laws that have profoundly impacted the taxation of individuals and corporations (including both regular C corporations and corporations that have elected to be taxed as REITs). A number of changes that affect noncorporate taxpayers will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts to extend them. Among other changes, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, signed into law in March 2020, makes certain changes to the TCJA. These changes have impacted us and our stockholders in various ways, some of which are adverse or potentially adverse compared to prior law. Additional changes to tax laws were enacted with the Inflation Reduction Act ("IRA") of 2022, signed into law in August 2022. Many of the material provisions of the IRA exempt REITs. Additionally, on July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was enacted in the United States. The OBBBA includes significant provisions, such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the TCJA and the restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions, including 100% bonus depreciation and the business interest expense limitation. The legislation has multiple effective dates beginning in 2025.

To date, the IRS has issued only limited guidance with respect to certain of the new provisions, and there are numerous interpretive issues that will require further guidance. It is highly likely that technical corrections of legislation will be needed to clarify certain aspects of the new laws and give proper effect to Congressional intent. There can be no assurance, however, that technical clarifications or changes needed to prevent unintended or unforeseen tax consequences will be enacted by Congress in the near future. Additional changes to tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future, and we cannot assure investors that any such changes will not adversely affect the taxation of our stockholders. Any such changes could have an adverse effect on an investment in shares or on the market value or the resale potential of our properties. Investors are urged to consult with their own tax advisor with respect to the impact of recent legislation on ownership of shares and the status of legislative, regulatory, or administrative developments and proposals, and their potential effect on ownership of shares.

We may face risks in connection with Section 1031 Exchanges.

When possible, we dispose of and acquire real properties in transactions that are intended to qualify as Section 1031 Exchanges. If a transaction's gain that is intended to qualify as a Section 1031 deferral is later determined to be taxable, we

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may face adverse consequences, and if the laws applicable to such transactions are amended or repealed, we may not be able to dispose of properties on a tax-deferred basis. In such case, our taxable income and earnings and profits would increase. This could increase the dividend income to our stockholders by reducing any return of capital they received. In some circumstances, we may be required to pay additional dividends or, in lieu of that, corporate income tax, possibly including interest and penalties. In addition, if a Section 1031 Exchange were later to be determined to be taxable, we may be required to amend our tax returns for the applicable year in question.

Disclosure Controls and Internal Control over Financial Reporting Risks

Our business could be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting.

The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements, or misrepresentations. While management will continue to review the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, there can be no guarantee that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives at all times. Deficiencies, including any material weakness, in our internal controls over financial reporting which may occur in the future could result in misstatements of our results of operations, restatements of our financial statements, a decline in our stock price, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

General Risks

Adverse U.S. and global economic conditions could have a negative effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and liquidity.

A general slowdown in the U.S. or global economy, uncertainty and volatility in financial markets, efforts of governments to stimulate or stabilize the economy and other unfavorable changes in economic conditions, such as inflation, higher interest rates, tightening of the credit markets, recession or slowing growth, as well as an increase in trade tensions and related tariffs with U.S. trading partners, could negatively impact our business, financial condition and liquidity, and the business and operations of our tenants. Macroeconomic weakness and uncertainty may also make it more difficult to accurately forecast operating results and raise capital or refinance debt. Sustained uncertainty about, or worsening of, current global economic conditions and further tariffs and escalations of trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners and the decoupling of the global economies could result in an economic slowdown. Given this uncertainty, we cannot predict the impact, if any, of these conditions to our business.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate.

The market price of shares of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, subject to fluctuation in many events and factors such as those described in this report including:

•actual or anticipated variations in our operating results, funds from operations, or liquidity;

•the general reputation of real estate as an attractive investment in comparison to other equity securities and/or the reputation of the product types of our assets compared to other sectors of the real estate industry;

•material changes in any significant tenant industry concentration or in market concentration;

•the general stock and bond market conditions, including changes in interest rates or fixed income securities;

•changes in tax laws, our dividend policy, or in the market valuations of our properties;

•adverse market reaction to the amount of our outstanding debt at any time, the amount of our maturing debt, and our ability to refinance such debt on favorable terms;

•any failure to comply with existing debt covenants;

•any foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of our properties;

•additions or departures of directors, key executives, and other employees;

•actions by institutional stockholders;

•uncertainties in world financial markets;

•general market and economic conditions; in particular, market and economic conditions of Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Phoenix, Dallas, and Nashville; and

•the realization of any of the other risk factors described in this report.

Many of the factors listed above are beyond our control. Those factors may cause the market price of shares of our common stock to decline, regardless of our financial performance, condition, and prospects. The market price of shares of our

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common stock may fall significantly in the future, and it may be difficult for our stockholders or holders of our debt securities to resell our common stock at prices they find attractive.

We face risks associated with cyberattacks with respect to our data and systems.

We maintain information necessary to conduct our business, including confidential and proprietary information as well as personal information regarding our employees, in digital form. We also use computer and cloud-based systems to operate our businesses, and in some cases, certain critical building management systems. Data maintained in digital form is subject to the risk of unauthorized access, modification, exfiltration, destruction or denial of access (collectively, along with any similar unauthorized use of our data, “cyberattacks”). Additionally, all of our systems are subject to the risk of cyberattacks. We also use many third-party systems and software, which are also subject to the risk of cyberattacks. Access to this data and these computer and cloud-based systems is essential to the operation of our business and our ability to perform day-to-day operations (including managing our building systems), and in some cases, our building systems may be critical to the operations of certain of our tenants.

We have developed and maintain an information security program that is designed to assess, identify, and manage the risks of cyberattacks, and the continued development and maintenance of this program is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change (including as a result of the proliferation of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools) and efforts to overcome security measures become more sophisticated. We face an increasingly challenging cybersecurity environment with expanding and evolving threats of cyberattacks from a variety of potential bad actors. While we employ various tools that are designed to protect our data and systems, we can offer no assurance that our protection efforts are effective; additionally, certain of our defenses remain subject to human error. Despite our efforts, the risk of an incident as a result of any cyberattack cannot be eliminated, and any such incident could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial results. A cyberattack could result in reputational damage to us or harm to us, our employees, or our customers. Additionally, a cyberattack could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, and/or the market price of our common stock. Our systems and users and those of third parties with whom we engage are continually subject to attacks, and there can be no assurance that future incidents will not have material adverse effects on our operations or financial results. To date, we have not had a cyberattack that had a material adverse effect on our business or financial results.

Even non-material cyberattacks can affect us by requiring significant management attention and resources to investigate, comply with any applicable reporting requirements, and (if necessary) remedy any potential or actual resulting damages. For example, a cyberattack impacting a building system could result in our inability to maintain that system (or related systems), and if any impacted system is relied upon by our customers for their efficient use of their leased space, then the continuation of that circumstance could entitle the affected tenants to abate a portion of their rent. Further, our vendors or partners could experience a cyberattack which could impact their operations and ability to meet their obligations to us, including their obligations to maintain the security of any of our data they possess or systems on which we rely. While we maintain insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions including deductibles, cover specific aspects of cyberattacks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses.

Use of artificial intelligence presents risks and challenges that could impact our business.

We are evaluating technological solutions through the adoption and usage of artificial intelligence tools to, among other things, automate certain tasks and assist with research, content generation, and decisioning. Any perceived or actual technical, legal, privacy, security, ethical, or other issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence, including authorized or unauthorized use by our employees, could undermine the output that our artificial intelligence tools produce and create additional risks, such as risks of cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, any integration of artificial intelligence into the operations, products, or services of our vendors, partners, or other third-parties with whom we do business may pose new or unknown cybersecurity risks and challenges. Any of the foregoing, as well our failure to responsibly deploy artificial intelligence tools in our operations or the failure of artificial intelligence systems, could adversely affect the performance of our business.

One of our objectives is to develop and maintain a strong management group at all levels. At any given time, we could lose the services of key executives, members of the Board of Directors, and other employees, including the managing directors and other leaders of our respective markets. None of our Board members, key executives, or other employees are subject to employment contracts. Further, we do not carry key person insurance on any of our executive officers or other key

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employees. While we believe that we could find replacements for these key personnel, the loss of services of any of these key persons could diminish relationships with investors, lenders, prospective customers, joint venture partners, and others in the industry, and therefore such a loss could have an adverse effect upon our results of operations, financial condition, and our ability to execute our business strategy.

Our reputation is critical to maintaining and developing relationships with tenants, vendors, and investors and there is a risk that our employees or members of the Board of Directors could engage, deliberately or recklessly, in misconduct that creates legal exposure for us and adversely impacts our business. Employees or members of the Board becoming subject to allegations of illegal activity, sexual harassment, or racial and gender discrimination, regardless of the outcome, could result in adverse publicity that could harm our reputation and brand. The loss of reputation could impact our ability to develop and manage relationships with tenants, vendors, and investors and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

Our restated and amended articles of incorporation contain limitations on ownership of our stock, which may prevent a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Our restated and amended articles of incorporation impose limitations on the ownership of our stock. In general, except for certain individuals who owned stock at the time of adoption of these limitations, and except for persons or organizations that are granted waivers by our Board of Directors, no individual or entity may own more than 3.9% of the value of our outstanding stock. We provide waivers to this limitation on a case by case basis, which could result in increased voting control by a stockholder. The ownership limitation may have the effect of delaying, inhibiting, or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

If our future operating performance does not meet the projections of our analysts or investors, our stock price could decline.

Securities analysts publish quarterly and annual projections of our financial performance. These projections are developed independently based on their own analyses, and we undertake no obligation to monitor, and take no responsibility for, such projections. Such estimates are inherently subject to uncertainty and should not be relied upon as being indicative of the performance that we anticipate for any applicable period. Our actual revenues, net income, funds from operations, and funds available for distribution may differ materially from what is projected by securities analysts. If our actual results do not meet analysts’ guidance, our stock price could decline significantly.

Corporate responsibility matters may expose us to negative public perception, impose additional costs on our business, or impact our stock price.

Our efforts to improve our CR profile and practices may require capital expenditures and may result in short- or long-term increases in our operating costs, all of which could adversely impact our financial condition or results of operations. Our ability to achieve our CR goals and objectives and to accurately and transparently report our progress presents numerous operational, financial, legal, and other risks and are partially dependent on the actions of our customers and vendors. A failure, or a perceived failure, to respond to investor, customer, employee, or other stakeholder expectations related to CR concerns, or to comply with regulatory requirements, including a failure, or a perceived failure, to achieve any voluntarily adopted goals or initiatives, could negatively impact our reputation, ability to do business with certain partners, access to capital, stock price, and customer and employee attraction and retention. In addition, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and other matters have developed rating systems for evaluating companies on their approach to CR. Unfavorable CR ratings may lead to negative investor sentiment, which could have a negative impact on our stock price. As the nature, scope, and complexity of CR reporting, diligence, and disclosure requirements expand, we may have to undertake additional costs to control, assess, and report on CR metrics. Any failure or perceived failure, whether or not valid, to pursue or fulfill our CR goals, targets, and objectives or to satisfy various CR reporting standards within the timelines we announce, or at all, could increase the risk of litigation.

Similarly, our approach to and description of our culture, policies, and practices could be perceived by some investors or third parties as failing to meet regulatory or best practices, which could negatively impact our reputation, ability to do business with certain partners, access to capital, and stock price.

Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

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Item 1C. Cybersecurity

The day-to-day management of cybersecurity is the responsibility of our Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, who oversees our Information Technology ("IT") team. The Chief Information Officer reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer. Our Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer ("CIO") has served in this role for over nine years, and has more than 20 years of experience in the aggregate in various roles involving managing information security, technology infrastructure, IT operations, and developing cybersecurity strategy. Together with his IT team and external consultants, our CIO is informed about and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents through the management of and participation in the cybersecurity risk management processes described below, including the operation of our cybersecurity incident response plan.

For many years, we have strategically invested in our cybersecurity programs across the organization, and we have developed and refined our processes for detecting, evaluating, and responding to potential cybersecurity incidents. In particular, we focus on our networks, applications, data, employees, and vendors with a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, informed by nationally recognized frameworks which we use to monitor and improve our program as compared to the framework controls. In addition to our ongoing monitoring, we engage a third-party advisor to perform cybersecurity risk assessments of our information technology security processes and implemented technologies. We have segmented our building networks so that they are separate from our corporate network, and using third party services, we monitor, scan, assess, audit, and remediate identified vulnerabilities across those networks, as appropriate. Furthermore, recognizing that our employees are an essential line of defense in cybersecurity, we engage with our employees in a training and testing program through which we provide education on the risk of potential cybersecurity incidents, methods for identification of such incidents and appropriate responses. Our policies and processes are informed by industry standard practices regarding application security, access management, device protection, network management, and data loss prevention and recovery, and we also maintain a business continuity and disaster recovery plan (including a cybersecurity incident response plan) to reduce the risk and impact of business interruptions across a range of disaster scenarios, including potential impacts from a cybersecurity incident. Our business continuity and disaster recovery plan and our cybersecurity incident response plan are reviewed at least annually, and we also periodically conduct tabletop exercises that include the CIO and key members of management.

Our cybersecurity incident response plan includes retention of external experts for prompt assistance following discovery of any material incident. This cybersecurity incident response plan is part of our ongoing cybersecurity vulnerability management, and we endeavor to maintain appropriate controls to identify, monitor, analyze, and address potential cybersecurity incidents, including potential unauthorized access to our networks and applications, along with detection of potential unusual activity within our networks or applications. Based on the context and details of the potential cybersecurity incident, the incident response plan includes prompt review by one or more members of the IT team, with appropriate responses deployed as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances. Additionally, the CIO receives reports on potential cybersecurity incidents. As part of overall enterprise risk management, additional reporting of potential cybersecurity incidents is also provided to our General Counsel, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the Audit Committee or the full Board, as appropriate.

Our Board of Directors provides oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats, in coordination with our management team and the Audit Committee of the Board. Our Board relies on management to bring significant matters impacting the Company to its attention, including with respect to material risks from cybersecurity threats. Our CIO reports on cybersecurity strategy, status of cybersecurity risk control efforts, and third-party cybersecurity risk assessments of our information technology security processes and implemented technologies to the General Counsel, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and our Audit Committee. Our full Board has access to these Audit Committee presentations, including any provided materials. In the event of any material cybersecurity incidents, these presentations would also include information regarding those incidents, including status of mitigation and remediation.

Our Audit Committee provides an additional layer of cybersecurity oversight and is responsible for discussing cybersecurity concerns (including data privacy risk management) and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures with management. As part of this oversight, the Audit Committee reviews the results of a biannual risk assessment designed to identify and analyze risks to achieving the Company’s business objectives, including material risks from cybersecurity threats. The results of the biannual risk assessment are discussed with management and used to develop the Company’s internal audit plan.

Cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, have not materially affected nor are they reasonably likely to affect the Company, including its business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. For a disclosure of our cybersecurity risks, see Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A.

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