8.    SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES

On May 8, 2013, the Company completed the sale of $275 million face amount of 3.15 percent senior unsecured notes due May 15, 2023 with interest payable semi-annually in arrears.  The net proceeds from the issuance of approximately $266.5 million, after underwriting discount and offering expenses, were used primarily to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s unsecured revolving credit facility.

A summary of the Company’s senior unsecured notes as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is as follows:  (dollars in thousands)

(1)Includes the cost of terminated treasury lock agreements (if any), offering and other transaction costs and the discount/premium on the notes, as applicable.

(2)These notes were paid at maturity using available cash. 

The terms of the Company’s senior unsecured notes include certain restrictions and covenants which require compliance with financial ratios relating to the maximum amount of debt leverage, the maximum amount of secured indebtedness, the minimum amount of debt service coverage and the maximum amount of unsecured debt as a percent of unsecured assets.