UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) August 5, 2011

 

CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

6711 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300

Columbia, Maryland 21046

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(443) 285-5400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Item 1.01                                             Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On August 5, 2011, the Registrant and its operating partnership, Corporate Office Properties, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), entered into a credit agreement, dated and to be effective as of September 1, 2011, with a group of lenders for which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and KeyBanc Capital Markets acted as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners, KeyBank National Association acted as administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A. acted as co-syndication agents (the “Credit Agreement”).  See the description of this matter in Item 2.03 below.

 

Also on August 5, 2011, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership entered into a term loan agreement, dated and to be effective as of September 1, 2011, with a group of lenders for which J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and KeyBanc Capital Markets acted as joint lead arrangers and joint book runners, KeyBank National Association acted as administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A. acted as co-syndication agents (the “Term Loan Agreement”).  See the description of this matter in Item 2.03 below.

 

Item 2.03                                             Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

Credit Agreement

On August 5, 2011, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership and the other parties thereto entered into the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate commitment by the lenders of $1.0 billion, with a right for the Operating Partnership to further increase the lenders’ aggregate commitment during the term to a maximum of $1.5 billion, subject to certain conditions.  The aggregate commitment under the Credit Agreement includes a $100.0 million letter of credit subfacility and a $100.0 million swingline facility (same-day draw requests).  The obligation of the lenders to effect or permit the occurrence of the first loans or letters of credit issuances under the Credit Agreement is subject to certain conditions precedent defined in the agreement, including the receipt by the administrative agent of documents in connection with the closing of the agreement and determination, in the good faith judgment of the administrative agent and lenders, that no significant unexpected events or changes in circumstances occurred through September 1, 2011 that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the transactions contemplated under the agreement.  The facility matures on September 1, 2014, and may be extended by one year at the option of the Operating Partnership, subject to certain conditions.

 

The variable interest rate on the facility is based on one of the following, to be selected by the Operating Partnership: (1) the LIBOR rate for the interest period designated by the Operating Partnership (customarily the 30-day rate) plus 1.75% to 2.50%, as determined by the Registrant’s leverage levels at different points in time; or (2)(a) the greater of: (i) the prime rate of the lender then acting as the administrative agent, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus 0.50% or (iii) the LIBOR rate for a one-month interest period plus 1.0%; plus (b) 0.75% to 1.50%, as determined by the Registrant’s leverage levels at different points in time.  Interest is payable at the end of each interest period, and principal outstanding under the facility is payable on the maturity date.  The facility also carries a quarterly fee that is based on the unused amount of the facility multiplied by a per annum rate of 0.25% to 0.35%.  The variable interest rate and fees under the facility are subject to change in the future should the Operating Partnership obtain an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Fitch Ratings Ltd.

 

Under the Credit Agreement, the Registrant must comply with customary operating covenants.  In addition, the Credit Agreement contains financial covenants, which are summarized as follows (all capitalized terms used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement).  Neither the Registrant nor the Operating Partnership shall permit:

 

·                  the ratio of (1) Total Indebtedness to (2) Total Asset Value, to exceed 0.60 to 1.0 at any time.

·                  the ratio of (1) Adjusted EBITDA of the Parent and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for the fiscal quarter of the Parent most recently ending to (2) Fixed Charges for such period, to be less than 1.50 to 1.00 at any time.

 

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·                  the ratio of (1) Secured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis to (2) Total Asset Value, to be greater than (a) 0.45 to 1.00 from the Effective Date to the date that is 24 months after the Effective Date or (b) 0.40 to 1.00 at all times after the date that is 24 months after the Effective Date.

·                  the ratio of (1) Unsecured Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to (2) Unencumbered Asset Value, to be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time.

·                  the ratio of (1) Unencumbered Adjusted NOI for the fiscal quarter of the Parent most recently ending to (2) Unsecured Interest Expense for such period, to be less than 1.75 to 1.00 at any time.

·                  Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than (1) $1.0 billion plus (2) 75% of the Net Proceeds of all Equity Issuances effected by the Parent or any Subsidiary after the Effective Date.

 

All outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees under the Credit Agreement could, at the option of the lenders, become immediately due and the facility could be terminated upon events of default, including, among other things, noncompliance with financial covenants, failure to make required payments on the facility or other material loans of the Registrant and its subsidiaries, failure of the Registrant to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust or bankruptcy.

 

Term Loan Agreement

On August 5, 2011, the Registrant and the Operating Partnership and the other parties thereto entered into the Term Loan Agreement.  The Term Loan Agreement provides for the lenders to make a loan of $400.0 million to the Operating Partnership, with a right for the Operating Partnership to obtain up to four additional loans during the term to a maximum, including the initial loan and additional loans, of $500.0 million, subject to certain conditions.  The obligation of the lenders to make the initial loan under the Term Loan Agreement is subject to certain conditions precedent defined in the agreement, including the receipt by the administrative agent of documents in connection with the closing of the agreement and determination, in the good faith judgment of the administrative agent and lenders, that no significant unexpected events or changes in circumstances occurred through September 1, 2011 that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the transactions contemplated under the agreement.  The Term Loan Agreement matures on September 1, 2015, and may be extended by one year at the option of the Operating Partnership, subject to certain conditions.  Loans under the Term Loan Agreement may also be prepaid by the Operating Partnership without premium or penalty.

 

The variable interest rate on the facility is based on one of the following, to be selected by the Operating Partnership: (1) the LIBOR rate for the interest period designated by the Operating Partnership (customarily the 30-day rate) plus 1.65% to 2.40%, as determined by the Registrant’s leverage levels at different points in time; or (2)(a) the greater of: (i) the prime rate of the lender then acting as the administrative agent, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as defined in the Term Loan Agreement, plus 0.50% or (iii) the LIBOR rate for a one-month interest period plus 1.0%; plus (b) 0.65% to 1.40%, as determined by the Registrant’s leverage levels at different points in time.  Interest is payable at the end of each interest period, and principal outstanding under the agreement is payable on the maturity date.  The variable interest rate and fees under the agreement are subject to change in the future should the Operating Partnership obtain an investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Fitch Ratings Ltd.

 

Under the Term Loan Agreement, the Registrant must comply with customary operating covenants and the same financial covenants to which the Credit Agreement is subject.  All outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees under the Term Loan Agreement could, at the option of the lenders, become immediately due and the agreement could be terminated upon events of default, including, among other things, noncompliance with financial covenants, failure to make required payments on the agreement or other material loans of the Registrant and its subsidiaries, failure of the Registrant to maintain its status as a real estate investment trust or bankruptcy.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Date:  August 9, 2011

 

	CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
	By:	/s/ Randall M. Griffin
	Name:	Randall M. Griffin
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

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