SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 5, 1998 LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ------------------------------------ (Exact names of registrants as specified in their respective governing documents) MARYLAND 1-13130 23-7768996 PENNSYLVANIA 1-13132 23-2766549 - --------------------------- ------------- ------------------- State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 65 VALLEY STREAM PARKWAY, SUITE 100 MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA 19355 - --------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrants' telephone number, including area code: (610) 648-1700 ITEM 5: OTHER EVENTS - --------------------- Liberty Property Limited Partnership is a Pennsylvania limited partnership (the "Operating Partnership"). Liberty Property Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the "Trust"), owns an approximate 91.86% interest in the Operating Partnership (as of December 31, 1997) (the Trust and the Operating Partnership are collectively referred to as the "Company"). On March 5, 1998, the Company acquired title to four industrial properties, comprising 314,365 leaseable square feet, located in Allentown and Reading, Pennsylvania, (the "First Industrial Properties"). The Company's Total Investment (as defined below) in these properties is anticipated to be approximately $16.9 million. The "Total Investment" for a property is defined as the property's purchase price plus closing costs and management's estimate, as determined at the time of acquisition, of the cost of necessary building improvements in the case of acquisitions, or land costs and land and building improvement costs in the case of development projects, and where appropriate, other development costs and carrying costs required to reach rent commencement. Pursuant to Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X, audited historical financial information concerning the First Industrial Properties, is provided in Item 7 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Additionally, certain pro forma information is provided in Item 7. Factors considered by the Company in determining the price to be paid for the First Industrial Properties, included their historical and expected cash flow, the nature of tenants and terms of leases in place, occupancy rates, opportunities for alternative and new tenancies, current operating costs and real estate taxes on the properties and anticipated changes therein under Company ownership, physical condition and locations of the properties, the anticipated effect to the Company's financial results (particularly funds from operations), the ability to sustain and potentially increase its distributions to Company shareholders, and other factors. The Company took into consideration the capitalization rates at which it believed other comparable buildings were recently sold, but determined the price it was willing to pay primarily on factors discussed above relating to the properties themselves and their fit into the Company's operations. The Company, after investigation of the properties, is not aware of any material fact, other than those enumerated above, that would cause the financial information reported not to be necessarily indicative of future operating results. - ------------------------------- Statements contained in this report contain forward-looking statements with respect to estimates of Total Investment, pro forma financial information and their underlying assumptions. As such, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that could affect future results, and accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties affecting real estate businesses generally, risks relating to acquisition activities and risks relating to leasing and releasing activities and rates. -2- ITEM 7: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS - ------------------------------------------ PAGE ---- (a) Financial Statements of Real Estate Operations Acquired Historical Summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses of the First Industrial Properties Report of Independent Auditors........................ 4 Historical Summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses for the First Industrial Properties for the year ended December 31, 1997................................................. 5 Notes to Historical Summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses for the First Industrial Properties for the year ended December 31, 1997...... 6 (b) Pro Forma Financial Information (unaudited) Liberty Property Trust...................................... 8 Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1997.................................... 9 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 1997..................... 10 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997.... 11 Liberty Property Limited Partnership......................... 12 Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1997.................................... 13 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 1997..................... 14 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997.... 15 Signatures......................................................... 16 (c) Exhibits 23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP....................... 17 -3- REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS To the Management of Liberty Property Trust We have audited the accompanying historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of the First Industrial Properties (the "Properties") for the year ended December 31, 1997. This statement is the responsibility of the Properties' management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses. An audit also includes assessing the basis of accounting used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. The accompanying historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses of the Properties was prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Liberty Property Trust as described in Note 1, and is not intended to be a complete presentation of the Properties' revenue and expenses. In our opinion, the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the gross income and direct operating expenses described in Note 1 of the Properties for the year ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP ERNST & YOUNG LLP February 12, 1998 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -4- FIRST INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF GROSS INCOME AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (IN THOUSANDS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 ------------ Gross income: Rental income $ 1,653 Operating expense reimbursement 282 ------- 1,935 ------- Direct operating expenses: Real estate taxes 211 Rental property expenses 81 ------- 292 ------- Gross income in excess of direct operating expenses $ 1,643 ======= See accompanying notes. -5- FIRST INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES NOTES TO HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF GROSS INCOME AND DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - -------------------------------------------------------------- ORGANIZATION The First Industrial Properties (the "Properties") consist of four individual single and multi-tenant office and industrial buildings located in Allentown and Reading, Pennsylvania. The Properties are owned and managed by First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. which provides operating services as well as accounting and recordkeeping services for the Properties. The Properties are expected to be acquired by Liberty Property Trust. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying historical summary has been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The accounts of each of the facilities comprising the Properties are combined in the historical summary of gross income and direct operating expenses. There are no interproperty accounts to be eliminated. The historical summary is not representative of the actual operations for the periods presented as certain expenses that may not be comparable to the expenses expected to be incurred in the proposed future operations of the Properties have been excluded. Expenses excluded consist of interest, depreciation, amortization, professional fees, management fees, and other costs not directly related to the future operations of the Properties. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. REVENUE RECOGNITION Rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 2. PROPERTIES - ------------- The four properties are as follows: PROPERTY NAME LOCATION - -------------------------- -------------------- 6923 Schantz Spring Road Allentown, PA 794 Roble Road Allentown, PA 7355 Williams Avenue Allentown, PA 2600 Beltline Avenue Reading, PA -6- 3. LEASE ACTIVITY - ----------------- The Properties earn rental income under noncancelable operating leases. Generally, leases provide for minimum rent and require each tenant to pay its pro rata share of building operating expenses, except for 794 Roble Road for which the sole tenant pays its own operating expenses. The following schedule of future minimum rental payments due under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 1997 does not include any amounts due upon exercise of renewal options under existing leases. Year ending December 31: 1998 $1,586,000 1999 1,638,000 2000 1,621,000 2001 977,000 2002 594,000 Thereafter 406,000 ---------- $6,822,000 ========== In 1997, two tenants combined to contribute approximately 68% of total gross income. ABX Air, Inc. contributed 28% and Daytimers, Inc. contributed 40%. -7- LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) The unaudited, pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1997 reflects the incremental effect of the First Industrial Properties described in Item 5 as if the acquisitions had occurred on December 31, 1997. The accompanying unaudited, pro forma consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 1997 reflects the incremental effect of the First Industrial Properties, as if such acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 1997. These statements should be read in conjunction with the respective consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. In the opinion of management, the unaudited, pro forma consolidated financial information provides for all adjustments necessary to reflect the effects of the First Industrial Properties. These pro forma statements may not necessarily be indicative of the results that would have actually occurred if the acquisition of the First Industrial Properties had been in effect on the dates indicated, nor does it purport to represent the financial position, results of operations or cash flows for future periods. -8- LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS) LIBERTY THE FIRST PROPERTY HISTORICAL INDUSTRIAL TRUST <F1> PROPERTIES CONSOLIDATED ---------- ------------- ------------ ASSETS: Investment in real estate, net $1,947,026 $ 16,914 <F2> $1,963,940 Cash and cash equivalents 55,079 - 55,079 Deferred financing and leasing costs, net 32,536 - 32,536 Other assets 59,696 - 59,696 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total assets $2,094,337 $ 16,914 $2,111,251 ========== =========== =========== LIABILITIES: Mortgage loans $ 363,591 $ - $ 363,591 Unsecured notes 350,000 - 350,000 Credit facility 135,000 16,914 <F3> 151,914 Convertible debentures 111,543 - 111,543 Other liabilities 93,930 - 93,930 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total liabilities 1,054,064 16,914 1,070,978 ---------- ----------- ----------- MINORITY INTEREST 84,678 - 84,678 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Series A preferred shares 120,814 - 120,814 Common shares 53 - 53 Additional paid-in capital 846,949 - 846,949 Unearned compensation (985) - (985) Dividends in excess of net income (11,236) - (11,236) ---------- ----------- ----------- Total shareholders' equity 955,595 - 955,595 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $2,094,337 $ 16,914 $2,111,251 ========== =========== =========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited, pro forma condensed consolidated financial statement. -9- LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED AND IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNT) THE FIRST LIBERTY INDUSTRIAL PRO PROPERTY HISTORICAL PROPERTIES FORMA TRUST <F1> <F4> ADJUSTMENTS CONSOLIDATED ---------- ------------- ------------ ------------ REVENUE Rental $ 169,859 $ 1,653 $171,512 Operating expense reim- bursement 55,502 282 55,784 Management fees 673 - 673 Interest and other 6,483 - 6,483 ---------- --------- ----------- Total revenue 232,517 1,935 234,452 ---------- --------- ----------- OPERATING EXPENSES Rental property expenses 43,118 211 43,329 Real estate taxes 17,961 81 18,042 General and administrative 10,650 - 10,650 Depreciation and amorti- zation 40,752 - $ 423 <F5> 41,175 ---------- --------- --------- ----------- Total operating expenses 112,481 292 423 113,196 ---------- --------- --------- ----------- Operating income 120,036 1,643 (423) 121,256 Premium on debenture conversion 98 - - 98 Interest expense 53,888 - 1,148 <F6> 55,036 ---------- --------- --------- ----------- Income (loss) before minority interest 66,050 1,643 (1,571) 66,122 Minority interest 5,606 149 (143) <F7> 5,612 ---------- --------- --------- ----------- Net income (loss) 60,444 1,494 (1,428) 60,510 <F8> Preferred dividends 4,247 - - 4,247 ---------- --------- --------- ----------- Income available to common shareholders $ 56,197 $ 1,494 $(1,428) $ 56,263 ========== ========= ========== =========== Income per common share - basic $ 1.39 $ 1.39 ========== =========== Income per common share - diluted $ 1.38 $ 1.38 ========== =========== Weighted average number of common shares out- standing - basic 40,493 40,493 ========== =========== Weighted average number of common shares out- standing - diluted 40,806 40,806 ========== =========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited, proforma consolidated financial statement. -10- LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED, DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) <F1> Reflects historical financial information of the Company as of December 31, 1997 and for the year ended December 31, 1997. <F2> Reflects the Total Investment in the First Industrial Properties. <F3> Reflects the use of $16,914 from the credit facility to finance the Total Investment in the First Industrial Properties. <F4> Reflects incremental addition of revenues and certain expenses of the First Industrial Properties in order to reflect a full year of operations for these acquisitions. <F5> Reflects incremental depreciation of the First Industrial Properties based on asset lives of 40 years. <F6> Reflects an incremental increase in interest expense from the assumed borrowings of $16,914 on the credit facility to fund the purchase of the First Industrial Properties. <F7> Reflects the allocation of the pro forma adjustment to minority interest based upon pro forma minority interest in the Operating Partnership of approximately 9.07%. <F8> The Company's pro forma taxable income for the year ended December 31, 1997 is approximately $47,171 which has been calculated as pro forma income from operations of approximately $60,510 plus GAAP depreciation and amortization of $41,175 less tax basis depreciation and amortization and other tax differences of approximately $54,514. -11- LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) The unaudited, pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1997 reflects the incremental effect of the First Industrial Properties described in Item 5 as if the acquisitions had occurred on December 31, 1997. The accompanying unaudited, pro forma consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 1997 reflects the incremental effect of the First Industrial Properties, as if such acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 1997. These statements should be read in conjunction with the respective consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. In the opinion of management, the unaudited, pro forma consolidated financial information provides for all adjustments necessary to reflect the effects of the First Industrial Properties. These pro forma statements may not necessarily be indicative of the results that would have actually occurred if the acquisition of the First Industrial Properties had been in effect on the dates indicated, nor does it purport to represent the financial position, results of operations or cash flows for future periods. -12- LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS) LIBERTY PROPERTY THE FIRST LIMITED HISTORICAL INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP <F1> PROPERTIES CONSOLIDATED ---------- ------------- ------------ ASSETS: Investment in real estate, net $1,947,026 $ 16,914 <F2> $1,963,940 Cash and cash equivalents 55,079 - 55,079 Deferred financing and leasing costs, net 32,536 - 32,536 Other assets 59,696 - 59,696 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total assets $2,094,337 $ 16,914 $2,111,251 ========== =========== =========== LIABILITIES: Mortgage loans $ 363,591 $ - $ 363,591 Unsecured notes 350,000 - 350,000 Credit facility 135,000 16,914 <F3> 151,914 Convertible debentures 111,543 - 111,543 Other liabilities 93,930 - 93,930 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total liabilities 1,054,064 16,914 1,070,978 ---------- ----------- ----------- OWNERS' EQUITY: General partner's equity 955,595 - 955,595 Limited partners' equity 84,678 - 84,678 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total owners' equity 1,040,273 - 1,040,273 ---------- ----------- ----------- Total liabilities and owners' equity $2,094,337 $ 16,914 $2,111,251 ========== =========== =========== -13- LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED AND IN THOUSANDS) LIBERTY THE FIRST PROPERTY INDUSTRIAL PRO LIMITED HISTORICAL PROPERTIES FORMA PARTNERSHIP <F1> <F4> ADJUSTMENTS CONSOLIDATED ---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ REVENUE Rental $ 169,859 $ 1,653 $ 171,512 Operating expense reim- bursement 55,502 282 55,784 Management fees 673 - 673 Interest and other 6,483 - 6,483 ---------- --------- ------------ Total revenue 232,517 1,935 234,452 ---------- --------- ------------ OPERATING EXPENSES Rental property expenses 43,118 211 43,329 Real estate taxes 17,961 81 18,042 General and administrative 10,650 - 10,650 Depreciation and amorti- zation 40,752 - $ 423 <F5> 41,175 ---------- --------- ---------- ------------ Total operating expenses 112,481 292 423 113,196 ---------- --------- ---------- ------------ Operating income 120,036 1,643 (423) 121,256 Premium on debenture conversion 98 - - 98 Interest expense 53,888 - 1,148 <F6> 55,036 ---------- --------- ---------- ------------ Net income (loss) $ 66,050 $ 1,643 $ (1,571) $ 66,122 ========== ========= ========== ============ Net income (loss) allocated to general partner $ 60,444 $ 1,494 $ (1,428) $ 60,510 Net income (loss) allocated to limited partners 5,606 149 (143) <F7> 5,612 ========== ========= ========== ============ The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited, proforma consolidated financial statement. -14- LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (UNAUDITED, DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) <F1> Reflects historical financial information of the Company as of December 31, 1997 and for the year ended December 31, 1997. <F2> Reflects the Total Investment in the First Industrial Properties. <F3> Reflects the use of $16,914 from the credit facility to finance the Total Investment in the First Industrial Properties. <F4> Reflects the incremental addition of revenues and certain expenses of the First Industrial Properties in order to reflect a full year of operations for these acquisitions. <F5> Reflects incremental depreciation of the First Industrial Properties based on asset lives of 40 years. <F6> Reflects an incremental increase in interest expense from the assumed borrowings of $16,914 on the credit facility to fund the purchase of the First Industrial Properties. <F7> Reflects the allocation of the pro forma adjustment to the net income allocated to the limited partners based upon pro forma ownership in the Operating Partnership of approximately 9.07%. -15- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST Dated: February 27, 1998 BY: /s/ WILLARD G. ROUSE III ---------------------------------------- NAME: Willard G. Rouse III TITLE: Chief Executive Officer LIBERTY PROPERTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP BY: LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST, SOLE GENERAL PARTNER Dated: February 27, 1998 BY: /s/ WILLARD G. ROUSE III ---------------------------------------- NAME: Willard G. Rouse III TITLE: Chief Executive Officer -16- EXHIBIT 23 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-43267), the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-94782), the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-14139), the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-22211), the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-94036) and the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-44149) of Liberty Property Trust and Liberty Property Limited Partnership and in the related Prospectus of our report dated February 12, 1998, with respect to the Historical Summary of Gross Income and Direct Operating Expenses of the First Industrial Properties included in this Current Report (Form 8-K) for the year ended December 31, 1997. March 2, 1998 /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ERNST & YOUNG LLP -17-