<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-11-048558.txt : 20111110
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-11-048558.hdr.sgml : 20111110
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110824172054
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-11-048558
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110824

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860546
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				232947217
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6711 COLUMBIA GATEWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4432855400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6711 COLUMBIA GATEWAY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980105

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYALE INVESTMENTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROYALE REIT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Morgan, Lewis&nbsp;&amp; Bockius LLP</font></p>
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1701 Market Street</font></p>
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Philadelphia, PA 19103</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Justin W. Chairman</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">215.963.5061</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">jchairman@morganlewis.com</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;24, 2011</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">VIA EDGAR</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F Street, NE</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Attn:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Nicholas   Panos, Senior Special Counsel</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Office   of Mergers and Acquisitions, Division of Corporation Finance</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Corporate   Office Properties Trust</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Schedule   TO-I</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed   on August&nbsp;16, 2011</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">File   No.&nbsp;005-51779</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Panos:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On behalf of Corporate Office Properties Trust (the &#147;Company&#148;), this letter provides certain information in response to the matters discussed by you and the undersigned in telephone conversations on August&nbsp;19 and August&nbsp;23, 2011 with respect to the above-referenced filing.&#160; For sake of clarity, this letter is divided into two sections in order to address the two topics in such conversation.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; We discussed whether the Company&#146;s tender offer (the &#147;Tender Offer&#148;) for the 3.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 (the &#147;Notes&#148;) constitutes a &#147;Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction&#148; as contemplated by Rule&nbsp;13e-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;).&#160; As discussed below, the Company has concluded that the Tender Offer is not a Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction, and that said rule&nbsp;is not applicable to the Tender Offer.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">With respect to whether the Tender Offer constitutes a Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction, the Company notes that a Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction is defined as (emphasis added) &#147;any transaction or series of transactions involving one or more of the transactions described in paragraph (a)(3)(i)&nbsp;of this section which has either a reasonable likelihood or a purpose of producing, either directly or indirectly, any of the effects described in paragraph (a)(3)(ii)&nbsp;of this section.&#148;&#160; This response assumes without analysis that the Tender Offer is a transaction of the type described in paragraph (a)(3)(i)&nbsp;of Rule&nbsp;13e-3.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">With respect to the latter portion of the definition of a Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction, clause (B)&nbsp;of paragraph (a)(3)(ii)&nbsp;is inapplicable because the Notes have never been listed or quoted as contemplated by such clause.&#160; Clause (A)&nbsp;of paragraph (a)(3)(ii)&nbsp;is also inapplicable, as it applies only to equity securities subject to Section&nbsp;12(g)&nbsp;or Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act.&#160; The offer and sale of the Notes was never registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), and thus the Company has not had reporting obligations with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act.&#160; The Notes have also never been registered pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(g)&nbsp;of the Exchange Act, and the Company has not had an obligation to do so, because of the limited number of record holders of the Notes.&#160; (As an illustration of this, the Company notes that according to the DTC Security Position Listing Report listing the institutions that held positions in the Notes on August&nbsp;16, 2011, when the Tender Offer was commenced, a total of 47 accounts held Notes through DTC, which in turn was the only holder of the Notes as reflected in the records of the trustee.&#160; As such, under the applicable rules&nbsp;of the Securities and Exchange Commission and guidance issued by the Staff of the Commission, the Notes were held of record by 47 holders as of the date the Tender Offer was launched.)&#160; Thus, the Tender Offer is not a Rule&nbsp;13e-3 transaction, and said rule&nbsp;is not applicable to the Tender Offer.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We discussed the withdrawal rights under the Tender Offer of Holders of Notes who tender their Notes in accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer.&#160; The Tender Offer currently provides that the Notes may be withdrawn until 10:00&nbsp;a.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, September&nbsp;14, 2011, which is the business day immediately prior to the day on which the Notes will be repurchased.&#160; The Company will file an amendment to the Schedule TO indicating that the right of withdrawal shall extend through 5:00&nbsp;p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, September&nbsp;14, 2011.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2<a name="PB_2_043725_7056"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at 215.963.5061 if you have any questions or comments with regard to these responses.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Sincerely,</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Justin W. Chairman</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Justin   W. Chairman</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:   Karen M. Singer, Esquire</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_043801_5335"></a></font></p>
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