-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, L+vGRBKShoEYaoQRuXrVXpsfjWCTnwtSoMNK7BdetGmRtjHxAOXO1PW7oAD3z5uf ahEvW6Y3qFFth2CRX/98xA== 0000893220-07-000741.txt : 20070315 0000893220-07-000741.hdr.sgml : 20070315 20070315103555 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000893220-07-000741 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070315 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070315 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20070315 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000921112 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 237768996 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-141314 FILM NUMBER: 07695345 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 CHESTERFIELD PARKWAY CITY: MALVERN STATE: PA ZIP: 19355 BUSINESS PHONE: 6106481700 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 CHESTERFIELD PARKWAY CITY: MALVERN STATE: PA ZIP: 19355 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ROUSE & ASSOCIATES PROPERTY TRUST DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940421 S-8 1 w31658sv8.htm FORM S-8 sv8
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2007
Registration No. 333-     
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST
 
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation of organization)
  23-7768996
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
500 Chesterfield Parkway
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
(Address of principal executive offices)
Liberty Property Trust Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
James J. Bowes, Esquire
Secretary and General Counsel
Liberty Property Trust
500 Chesterfield Parkway
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
(610) 648-1700
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Justin W. Chairman, Esquire
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921
(215) 963-5000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                             
 
  Title of Securities     Number of     Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum            
  to be     Shares to be     Offering Price       Aggregate       Amount of    
  Registered     Registered     Per Share(1)       Offering Price(1)       Registration Fee (1)    
 
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.001 par value(2)
      1,400,000 (3)       $49.53         $69,342,000         $2,129    
 
 
(1)   Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low reported sale prices of the common shares of beneficial interest of Liberty Property Trust on the New York Stock Exchange on March 13, 2007.
 
(2)   Includes rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares of Liberty Property Trust. No separate consideration is paid for these rights and, as a result, the registration fee for these rights is included in the fee for the common shares.
 
(3)   Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers such additional shares as may hereafter be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or certain other capital adjustments.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Item 4. Description of Securities
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Item 8. Exhibits
Item 9. Undertakings
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Consent of Saul Ewing LLP
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP


Table of Contents

PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
     Information required by Part I of Form S-8 shall be included in documents to be sent or given to participants in the Liberty Property Trust Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act of 1933.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
               The following documents filed by Liberty Property Trust (the “Registrant”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:
               (a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006;
               (b) The description of the Registrant’s common shares contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A registering the common shares under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, filed with the SEC on June 8, 1994;
               (c) The description of the Registrant’s preferred share purchase rights contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A registering the preferred share purchase rights under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, filed with the SEC on December 23, 1997, as amended by the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the SEC on September 14, 2004; and
               (d) All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
               Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part hereof.
Item 4.   Description of Securities.
               Not applicable.

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Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
               Not applicable.
Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Trust
     Under Section 8-301(15) and 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended, the Trust has the power to indemnify trustees and officers under certain prescribed circumstances (including when authorized by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested trustees, by a majority vote of a committee of two or more disinterested trustees, by independent legal counsel, or by shareholders) and, subject to certain limitations (including, unless otherwise determined by the proper court, when such trustee or officer is adjudged liable to the Trust), against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which any of them is a party by reason of his or her being a trustee or officer of the Trust if it is determined that he or she acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provisions including when such trustee or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the Trust’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
     Article XII of the Trust’s By-laws provides that the Trust has the power to indemnify trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust against expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the successful defense of a proceeding to which such person was made a party by reason of such status, whether the success of such defense was on the merits or otherwise, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust also have the right, in certain circumstances, to be paid in advance for expenses incurred in connection with any such proceedings. In addition, Section 9.4 of the Trust’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as amended, provides that the Trust has the power to indemnify trustees, officers and shareholders of the Trust, and pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding.
The Operating Partnership
     Section 8570 of the Pennsylvania Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act authorizes the Operating Partnership to indemnify any partner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever, unless it is determined by a court that the act or omission giving rise to the claim of indemnification constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.
     Amended Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended to the date hereof (the “Partnership Agreement”), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1.2 to the Registration Statement, which provides for indemnification of the general partners and others. Section 7.8(d) of the Partnership Agreement authorizes the Operating Partnership to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the general partner and others against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such person regardless of whether the Operating

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Partnership would have the power to indemnify such person against liability under the Partnership Agreement.
     Reference is made to Section 7.9 of the Partnership Agreement which limits the general partner’s liability for monetary or other damages.
Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed.
               None.
Item 8.   Exhibits.
               The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
  4   Liberty Property Trust Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan, as adopted May 18, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders for 2006, filed with the Commission on April 18, 2006).
 
  5   Opinion of Saul Ewing LLP.
 
  23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
 
  23.2   Consent of Saul Ewing LLP (included in Exhibit 5).
 
  24   Power of Attorney (included in signature page).
Item 9.   Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
               (ii) To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

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               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
     (4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
               (i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
                    (A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
                    (B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
               (ii) If the registration is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statement relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall

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be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
     (5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
     The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
               (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
               (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
               (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
               (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such

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indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Malvern, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 15th day of March, 2007.
         
  LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST
 
 
  By:   /s/ William P. Hankowsky    
    William P. Hankowsky   
    Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
President and Chief Executive Officer 
 
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints William P. Hankowsky and George J. Alburger, Jr., his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and any additional related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement and any such related registration statements), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and any other documents in connection therewith, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
         
Signature   Title   Date
 
       
/s/ William P. Hankowsky
 
William P. Hankowsky
  Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ George J. Alburger, Jr.
 
George J. Alburger, Jr.
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
  March 15, 2007

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Signature   Title   Date
 
       
/s/ Frederick F. Buchholz
 
Frederick F. Buchholz
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ Thomas C. DeLoach, Jr.
 
Thomas C. DeLoach, Jr.
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ Daniel P. Garton
 
Daniel P. Garton
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ J. Anthony Hayden
 
J. Anthony Hayden
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ M. Leanne Lachman
 
M. Leanne Lachman
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ David L. Lingerfelt
 
David L. Lingerfelt
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ Jose A. Mejia
 
Jose A. Mejia
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ John A. Miller
 
John A. Miller
  Trustee   March 15, 2007
 
       
/s/ Stephen B. Siegel
 
Stephen B. Siegel
  Trustee   March 15, 2007

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LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit Number   Document
4
  Liberty Property Trust Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan, as adopted May 18, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders for 2006, filed with the Commission on April 18, 2006.)
 
   
*5
  Opinion of Saul Ewing LLP
 
   
*23.1
  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
   
23.2
  Consent of Saul Ewing LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
 
   
24
  Power of Attorney (included in signature page)
 
*  Filed herewith

9

EX-5 2 w31658exv5.htm CONSENT OF SAUL EWING LLP exv5
 

     
(SAUL EWING LOGO)   lawyers@saul.com

www.saul.com
March 15, 2007
Liberty Property Trust
500 Chesterfield Parkway
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
         
 
  Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8
 
      Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     We are issuing this opinion in connection with the registration by Liberty Property Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “S-8 Registration Statement”) filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of 1,400,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value, of the Company (the “Common Shares”) that may be issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”).
     As a basis for our opinions, we have examined the following documents (collectively, the “Documents”):
     (i) The S-8 Registration Statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Act;
     (ii) The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Company recorded by Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (“SDAT”) on May 29, 1997, as amended June 22, 2004 (the “Declaration of Trust”);
     (iii) Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on August 7, 1997; Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on December 23, 1997; Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on July 28, 1999; Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on April 18, 2000; Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on June 10, 2002, Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on September 1, 2004, Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on June 17, 2005, Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on June 30, 2005, Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on August 23, 2005 and Articles Supplementary of the Company recorded on December 15, 2006
Lockwood Place u 500 East Pratt Street u Baltimore, MD 21202-3171
Phone: (410) 332-8600 u Fax: (410) 332-8862
BALTIMORE CHESTERBROOK HARRISBURG NEWARK PHILADELPHIA PRINCETON WASHINGTON WILMINGTON
A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP

 


 

Liberty Property Trust
March 15, 2007
Page 2
(collectively, the “Articles Supplementary”);
     (iv) the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”);
     (v) resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Company on May 18, 2006 (the “Resolutions”);
     (vi) a good standing certificate for the Company from SDAT dated March 8, 2007;
     (vii) the Plan;
     (viii) a certificate of the secretary of the Company as to the authenticity of the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws of the Company, the resolutions of the Company’s trustees approving the filing of the S-8 Registration Statement, and other matters that we have deemed necessary and appropriate; and
     (ix) such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary and appropriate to express the opinions set forth in this letter, subject to the limitations, assumptions and qualifications noted below.
     In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed:
          (a) the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified or photographic copies, and the accuracy and completeness of all documents;
          (b) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing any documents, whether on behalf of themselves or other persons;
          (c) that all persons executing the Documents on behalf of any party are duly authorized;
          (d) that there will be no changes in applicable law between the date of this opinion and any date of issuance or delivery of the Common Shares;
          (e) that at the time of delivery of the Common Shares, all contemplated additional actions shall have been taken and the authorization of the issuance of the Common Shares will not have been modified or rescinded;
          (f) that the issuance, execution and delivery of the Common Shares, and the compliance by the Company with the terms of the Common Shares, will not violate any then-applicable law or result in a default under, breach of, or violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding on the Company, or any restriction imposed by any court

 


 

Liberty Property Trust
March 15, 2007
Page 3
or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company;
          (g) that the consideration received or proposed to be received for the issuance and sale or reservation for issuance of any offering of the Common Shares of the Company as contemplated by the S-8 Registration Statement is not less than the par value per share; and
          (h) that the aggregate number of shares of the Company which would be outstanding after the issuance or reservation for issuance of the Common Shares, and any other contemporaneously issued or reserved common shares or preferred shares, together with the number of common shares and preferred shares previously issued and outstanding and the number of common shares and preferred shares previously reserved for issuance upon the conversion or exchange of other securities issued by the Company, does not exceed the number of then-authorized shares of the Company.
     As to various questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon a certificate and representations of James J. Bowes, as Secretary of the Company, and have assumed that the Secretary’s Certificate and representations continue to remain true and complete as of the date of this letter. We have not examined any court records, dockets, or other public records, nor have we investigated the Company’s history or other transactions, except as specifically set forth in this letter.
     Based on our review of the foregoing and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth in this letter, it is our opinion, as of the date of this letter, that:
     1. The Company is a real estate investment trust duly formed and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland.
     2. The Common Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when the Common Shares are issued and delivered in the manner and for the consideration contemplated by the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
     In addition to the qualifications set forth above, the opinions set forth in this letter are also subject to the following qualifications:
     (i) We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Maryland. We express no opinion as to the principles of conflict of laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of the State of Maryland.
     (ii) We assume no obligation to supplement our opinions if any applicable law changes after the date of this letter or if we become aware of any facts that might alter the opinions expressed in this letter after the date of this letter.

 


 

Liberty Property Trust
March 15, 2007
Page 4
     (iii) We express no opinion on the application of federal or state securities laws to the transactions contemplated in the Documents.
     This opinion is being furnished to you, for your benefit, and for your transfer agent, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., who may rely on this opinion. The opinions expressed in this letter are furnished only with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Documents. The opinions expressed in this letter are limited to the matters set forth in this letter, and no other opinions shall be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the S-8 Registration Statement and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Very truly yours,
SAUL EWING LLP

 

EX-23.1 3 w31658exv23w1.htm CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP exv23w1
 

Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-00000) pertaining to the Liberty Property Trust Amended and Restated Share Incentive Plan of our reports dated February 23, 2007, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Liberty Property Trust included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2006, Liberty Property Trust management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Liberty Property Trust, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 9, 2007

 

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