HEALTH & RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST
424B5, 1998-02-13
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
Previous: HEALTH & RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST, 8-K, 1998-02-13
Next: HEALTH & RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST, 424B5, 1998-02-13




                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
                                                              File No. 333-26887

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated May 30, 1997)

                                1,490,780 Shares

                        Health and Retirement Properties
                                      Trust
                      Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

                               ------------------

         Health and  Retirement  Properties  Trust (the "Company" or "HRP") is a
real estate  investment trust (a "REIT"),  which invests primarily in healthcare
related  real  estate and office  buildings  leased to various  agencies  of the
United States  Government.  The Company's  common shares of beneficial  interest
(the "Shares") offered hereby (this "Offering") are being issued and sold by the
Company. The Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under
the symbol  "HRP." On  February  12, 1998 the last  reported  sale price for the
Shares on the NYSE was $20.125 per Share.

                               ------------------

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
       EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
           PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. ANY
              REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Underwriting Discounts
                                                  Price to Public    and Commissions (1)       Proceeds to Company (2)
                                                  ---------------    -------------------       -----------------------
<S>                                              <C>                 <C>                      <C>                
Per Share                                         $20.125             $1.00625                 $19.11875
Total                                             $30,001,947.50      $1,500,097.37            $28,501,850.13
<FN>
(1)  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain liabilities,  including  liabilities under the
     Securities Act of 1933.
(2)  Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $150,000.
</FN>
</TABLE>
                               ------------------

      The Shares are offered by the Underwriter  subject to prior sale, when, as
and if accepted by the  Underwriter  and  subject to certain  conditions.  It is
expected that delivery of the Shares will be made on or about February 18, 1998,
at the offices of Smith Barney Inc., 333 West 34th Street, New York, New York.

                           ---------------------------


                              Salomon Smith Barney
February 12, 1998
      
<PAGE>

      References in this Prospectus Supplement to the "Company" or "HRP" include
consolidated  subsidiaries  unless  the  context  indicates  otherwise.   Unless
otherwise  noted,  the  data set  forth  below  with  respect  to the  Company's
investments  and tenants is presented as of December 31, 1997 and without giving
effect to acquisitions which occurred or may occur after that date.

                                   THE COMPANY

      The  Company is one of the  largest  publicly  traded  REITs in the United
States with an equity market  capitalization  of  approximately  $2.0 billion at
December 31, 1997. The Company has investments of approximately  $2.2 billion in
217  properties  located in 33 states and the District of Columbia.  The Company
principally  invests in  healthcare  related  real  estate and office  buildings
leased to various agencies of the United States Government.  In addition,  5% of
the Company's assets, at cost, is an equity investment in Hospitality Properties
Trust ("HPT"), a NYSE listed REIT formed by the Company which invests in hotels.

      The principal  executive  offices of the Company are located at 400 Centre
Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02158; and its telephone number is (617) 332-3990.

                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

      From January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997 (or as otherwise  described
below), the Company engaged in the following significant activities:

Investments

      Government Office  Properties.  In February 1997, the Company entered into
an agreement to acquire 30 office  buildings  containing 3.4 million square feet
("Government  Office  Properties"),  substantially  all of which  are  leased to
various agencies of the United States  Government.  As of December 31, 1997, the
Company acquired 29 properties, one of which is under construction,  and elected
not to acquire one  property.  Subsequent  to December 31,  1997,  one of the 29
properties  was  sold.  The  Company's  aggregate  purchase  price  for  the  29
properties (3.3 million square feet) was approximately  $439 million.  The total
purchase price for the Government  Office Properties was paid by the issuance of
$77 million in shares,  the assumption of  approximately  $27 million of debt by
subsidiaries of the Company  secured by mortgages on three acquired  properties,
and a net cash payment of approximately $335 million,  which was used in part to
retire  other  debt  of  the  seller  assumed  by the  Company  as  part  of the
acquisition transaction and to pay closing costs.

      Biotech  Facilities  and  Medical and Other  Office and Clinic  Buildings.
During  1997,  the Company  purchased 42 biotech  facilities,  medical and other
office and clinic  buildings for an aggregate  purchase  price of  approximately
$525 million.  Acquisitions  of facilities or buildings with a purchase price of
at least $25 million  included the following:  (a) a first class office building
in midtown Manhattan containing  approximately  420,368 square feet purchased in
October 1997 for  approximately  $110 million  (this  building is 100%  occupied
under long term leases to three tenants, with the majority of the building being
leased to Health  Insurance  Plan of Greater  New York,  a large  not-for-profit
health  maintenance  organization);  (b) two first  class  buildings  containing
330,715  square feet plus two parking  structures for  approximately  1,700 cars
located in West Los Angeles purchased in May 1997 for approximately $109 million
(these  buildings are known as the Cedars Sinai  Medical  Towers and Garages and
are located  adjacent to the Cedars Sinai Medical  Center,  an investment  grade
rated  not-for-profit  hospital  which  is also  the  largest  tenant  in  these
buildings);  (c) an office complex in Austin,  Texas  containing five commercial
office properties,  with approximately 441,145 square feet purchased in December
1997 for $79  million;  (d) a first  class  25 story  office  tower  located  in
Philadelphia containing  approximately 608,161 square feet purchased in November
1997 for approximately $79 million (approximately 98% of this building is leased
on a long-term  basis to SmithKline  Beecham  Corporation,  an investment  grade
rated  international  pharmaceutical  manufacturer and distributor);  and (e) 20
medical office and clinic buildings containing approximately 373,500 square feet
located in central  Massachusetts  purchased in May 1997 for  approximately  $47
million  (these  buildings  are  triple  net  leased on a long  term  basis to a
regional health maintenance organization that is partially owned

                                       S-2

<PAGE>



by Tenet Healthcare  Corporation).  Certain of these properties are gross leased
and the net operating income which the Company  realizes from these  investments
will depend upon the efficiency  with which the Company is able to operate these
buildings.

      Brookdale Living  Communities.  In May 1997, the Company purchased for $14
million a 200-unit  retirement housing property located in Spokane,  Washington.
This  property  and  three  other  retirement  housing  properties  (629  units)
purchased  for $87.5  million in December  1996 are all net leased to  Brookdale
Living  Communities,  Inc. ("BLCI") for an initial term of 23 years plus renewal
options totaling an additional 50 years.  During 1997, BLCI was recapitalized by
two public  offerings of equity and as of December 31, 1997 had an equity market
capitalization  of over $124  million.  At December 31, 1997,  the  occupancy at
these four properties was  approximately 97% and all of the revenues are derived
from sources other than Medicaid and Medicare.


Financing

      Debt  Offerings.  In  July  1997,  the  Company  issued  $200  million  of
Remarketed Reset Notes due July 9, 2007 (the "Reset Notes"). The net proceeds of
that   issuance   (approximately   $199  million)  were  used  to  prepay  other
indebtedness of the Company then due in 1999 ($125 million) and to repay amounts
outstanding under the Company's bank credit facility.  The Reset Notes currently
bear  interest  at a floating  rate equal to three  month LIBOR plus a spread of
 .45% per annum.  In July 1998,  the  Company  will have the option to prepay the
Reset Notes or to have the Reset Notes remarketed and the interest rate reset on
either a floating or fixed rate basis.

      In December  1997,  the Company issued $150 million of 6 3/4% Senior Notes
due 2002 (the "6 3/4% Notes") in a private placement to institutional investors.
The net proceeds  from the offering  (approximately  $149  million) were used to
repay amounts then  outstanding  under the Company's bank credit  facility.  The
Company has agreed with the  initial  purchasers  of the 6 3/4% Notes to use its
best efforts to  consummate  an offer to exchange the 6 3/4% Notes for new notes
with terms substantially identical in all material respects to the 6 3/4% Notes,
which would be  registered  pursuant to the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act").

      Equity Offering.  In March 1997, the Company issued 27,025,000 Shares in a
public offering. The gross proceeds of the offering were $510.1 million ($18.875
per share), and the net proceeds to the Company were $483.2 million.

      Concurrent   Offerings.   The  Company  offered  1,504,996  Shares  to  an
underwriter  other than the  Underwriter  (as  defined  herein)  in an  offering
registered  pursuant to the Securities Act on February 12, 1998. The Company may
offer and sell additional  Shares to underwriters  other than the Underwriter on
or about the same time as the Shares  are  offered  and sold to the  Underwriter
pursuant to this Offering (collectively with the February 12, 1998 offering, the
"Concurrent  Offerings").  The  underwriters  in the  Concurrent  Offerings have
indicated to the Company that they intend to deposit any Shares  purchased  into
registered unit investment  trusts sponsored by them or by an unrelated  entity.
The consummation of this Offering is not contingent upon the consummation of the
Concurrent  Offerings,  and the consummation of the Concurrent  Offerings is not
contingent upon the consummation of this Offering.

      Convertible  Debentures.  In October 1996, the Company sold three tranches
of  convertible  subordinated  debentures  totaling $240  million.  All of these
debentures  are  convertible  into  Shares  at a rate of $18 per  share  and are
callable at par by the Company at any time on or after  October 1, 1999.  During
1997,  the trading  price of the  Company's  Shares has  averaged  above $18 per
share. Through December 31, 1997,  approximately $28 million of these debentures
have been converted into approximately 1.6 million Shares.

      Bank Credit Facility.  In July 1997, the Company's $250 million  unsecured
revolving  credit  facility  with a  syndicate  of banks was  increased  to $450
million (the "Bank Credit  Facility"),  and in March 1997,  the term of the Bank
Credit  Facility  was extended to 2001.  The Company is currently in  discussion
with the  lenders  under  the Bank  Credit  Facility  to amend  the Bank  Credit
Facility to modify certain covenants of the Company and possibly to increase the
maximum principal amount that may be outstanding  thereunder.  No assurances can
be given at this time that the Company and such

                                       S-3
<PAGE>

lenders  will  reach a final  agreement  as to such  changes.  The  Bank  Credit
Facility (which is guaranteed by certain of the Company's  subsidiaries) is used
for  interim  acquisition  funding  until  equity or  long-term  debt is raised,
working capital and general business purposes.  Outstanding borrowings under the
Bank Credit  Facility at December  31, 1997 were $200  million.  Net proceeds of
this  Offering  and the  Concurrent  Offerings  will be used to  reduce  amounts
outstanding under the Bank Credit Facility. See "Use of Proceeds."

      Secured Indebtedness.  The Company has no outstanding secured indebtedness
other than mortgages on three  properties  totaling  approximately  $26 million,
which the Company  assumed in connection  with the acquisition of the Government
Office Properties.


Other Developments

      Horizon/CMS   Healthcare   Corporation;   HEALTHSOUTH   Corporation;   and
Integrated  Health  Services,  Inc. As of  December  31,  1997,  the Company had
invested approximately $168 million, at cost, in properties that had been leased
by, mortgaged to or managed by Horizon/CMS  Healthcare  Corporation  ("HHC"). In
October 1997, HHC merged into HEALTHSOUTH Corporation ("HEALTHSOUTH"). In return
for the  Company's  consent  to this  merger,  HEALTHSOUTH  agreed to  guarantee
unconditionally all of the lease, mortgage and management obligations of HHC due
to the  Company  and to extend the terms of the  management  contracts  of three
properties  that were  scheduled to expire  during 1998 until 2001.  In December
1997, HRP consented to the release of HEALTHSOUTH  from the guarantee and to the
assignment of certain leases and mortgages from HEALTHSOUTH and its predecessor,
HHC, to  Integrated  Health  Services,  Inc.  ("IHS") as part of a $1.2  billion
transaction between  HEALTHSOUTH and IHS for nursing homes,  specialty hospitals
and pharmacy services.  In connection with this consent,  IHS guaranteed leases,
mortgages and management obligations to HRP affecting the former HHC properties,
and the maturities of these leases, mortgages and management obligations,  which
were previously scheduled for 2000, 2001 and 2005, were extended to 2006.

      GranCare,  Inc.;  Living  Centers of America,  Inc.;  and  Paragon  Health
Network,  Inc. As of December 31, 1997,  the Company had invested  approximately
$98 million,  at cost, in  properties  that had been leased to, or mortgaged by,
GranCare,  Inc. ("GC"). In February 1997, GC distributed to its shareholders all
of its nursing home  operations and merged its pharmacy  business into Vitalink,
Inc.  ("Vitalink"),  another public company.  Under the terms of the GC Vitalink
agreement,  the GC nursing home  operations  became a new public  company  ("New
GC"), and certain  subsidiaries of New GC remained  tenants of and mortgagors to
the  Company  (the  "Tenant  Subsidiaries").  The Company  consented  to this GC
Vitalink transaction on certain terms and conditions,  including: (i) all of the
leases and mortgages between the Company and the Tenant Subsidiaries being cross
defaulted, cross collateralized, cross secured and unconditionally guaranteed by
New GC; (ii)  Vitalink  providing a $15 million  unconditional  guarantee of the
obligations  due to the  Company;  and (iii) GC paying an  amendment  fee to the
Company.  In October 1997,  New GC merged into Living  Centers of America,  Inc.
("LCA"),  another public company.  As part of the New GC LCA transaction a large
number of LCA and New GC shares were  repurchased,  LCA was recapitalized by new
investors, the combined New GC LCA enterprise changed its name to Paragon Health
Network, Inc. ("Paragon"), and Paragon solicited the Company to release Vitalink
from its guaranty  obligations to the Company.  The Company consented to the New
GC LCA Paragon  transaction  and released  Vitalink from its guaranty on certain
terms and  conditions,  including:  (a) certain  mortgage  obligations  totaling
approximately  $11.5  million  due to the  Company  being  prepaid in full;  (b)
certain  properties  owned by the Company and leased to the Tenant  Subsidiaries
being  exchanged  for  other  properties  formerly  owned  by LCA or the  Tenant
Subsidiaries, which properties were to be leased to the Tenant Subsidiaries; (c)
the term of certain leases being extended and all renewal options for properties
leased to the Tenant  Subsidiaries being renewable only on an all or none basis;
(d) the rent payable to the Company being  increased;  (e) all obligations  with
respect to all properties leased or financed with the Tenant  Subsidiaries being
guaranteed  by Paragon and the guaranty  being  secured by a cash deposit of $15
million;  (f) all obligations of the Tenant  Subsidiaries being subject to cross
default and cross collateralization,  and guaranteed by New GC (now a subsidiary
of  Paragon);  and (g) payment to the Company of an  amendment  fee. The Company
believes that the properties  leased and to be leased by it to  subsidiaries  of
Paragon had  historical  operating  income in the 12 months ended  September 30,
1997 of approximately 2 times the rent due to the Company.


                                       S-4

<PAGE>

      Community Care of America, Inc. and Integrated Health Services, Inc. As of
December 31, 1997, the Company had invested approximately $112 million, at cost,
in properties that had been operated by Community Care of America, Inc. ("CCA").
In  September  1997,  CCA was  acquired by IHS.  The Company  consented to IHS's
acquisition of CCA on certain terms and conditions including:  (i) mortgages due
to the Company totaling  approximately $12.2 million being prepaid in full; (ii)
certain  properties  formerly  leased to CCA being purchased from the Company at
their  historical cost of  approximately  $33.5 million;  (iii) the extension of
terms of certain  remaining leases and mortgages;  (iv) the remaining leases and
mortgages  being  subject  to cross  default  and cross  collateralization,  and
unconditionally  guaranteed  by  IHS;  and  (v)  payment  to the  Company  of an
amendment fee. The Company  believes that former CCA properties now leased to or
mortgaged by IHS and its subsidiaries had historical  operating income in the 12
months  ended  September  30,  1997 of  approximately  1.5  times  the rents and
mortgage payments due to the Company.

      Marriott  Spin Off and Merger.  As of December 31,  1997,  the Company had
invested  approximately  $326  million,  at  cost,  in  properties  leased  to a
subsidiary  of  Marriott  International,  Inc.  ("Marriott").  In October  1997,
Marriott  announced a plan to dividend to its  shareholders  a new company which
will own and operate  Marriott's  lodging and senior  living  businesses  and to
merge the  remaining  company with Sodexho S.A. As a result of this spin off and
merger the Company's current guarantor was expected to have a negative net worth
and its  obligations  were not  expected  to be  rated  investment  grade.  Upon
learning of this planned  transaction,  the Company  entered  negotiations  with
Marriott and, as a result of those  negotiations,  an agreement has been entered
into that will be  effective  upon  consummation  of the  Marriott  spin off and
merger transaction.  This agreement requires that the spin off entity created by
Marriott  assume the  guarantee  obligations  to the  Company.  The new spin off
entity is expected to be investment grade rated.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      The net  proceeds  to the  Company  from  the sale of the  Shares  offered
hereby, after payment of expenses related to this Offering,  are estimated to be
approximately  $28.4  million.  The net  proceeds  from  this  Offering  and the
Concurrent Offerings are expected to be used to reduce amounts outstanding under
the Company's Bank Credit  Facility,  with any remaining net proceeds to be used
for general  business  purposes.  Outstanding  amounts under the Company's  Bank
Credit Facility bear interest,  at the Company's  option, at LIBOR plus a margin
or prime,  and the Bank Credit  Facility  expires in 2001. At December 31, 1997,
the  effective  interest  rate on  outstanding  amounts  under  the Bank  Credit
Facility was 6.82% per annum.


                         FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

      The following description of certain changes to federal income tax matters
relating  to the  Company is intended to  supplement,  and is  qualified  in its
entirety by  reference  to, the more  detailed  description  of certain  federal
income tax matters contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Annual Report"), which is incorporated
in the accompanying Prospectus and in this Prospectus Supplement by reference.

      The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997  liberalized  certain of the  requirements
for  qualifying  and  operating as a REIT under  Sections 856 through 860 of the
Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  These amendments apply
to the Company  for its taxable  year  commencing  January 1, 1998,  but are not
expected to alter significantly either the Company's operations or its continued
federal tax qualification and taxation as a REIT. In comparison to the rules and
requirements  in effect for the Company's 1997 taxable year (as discussed in the
Annual Report in the section captioned "Federal Income Tax Considerations"), the
amendments,  inter alia: (i) eliminate REIT disqualification as the sanction for
failing to solicit certain shareholder ownership statements and instead impose a
penalty of $25,000 ($50,000 for intentional violations),  and permit a REIT that
solicits  necessary  shareholder  ownership  statements and otherwise  exercises
reasonable  due  diligence  to rely on its  actual  knowledge  for  purposes  of
satisfying the  requirement  that at no time during the last half of its taxable
year was more than 50% in value of its  outstanding  shares  owned  directly  or
indirectly by five or fewer  individuals;  (ii) repeal the requirement that less
than 30% of a REIT's  gross  income be  derived  from sales or  dispositions  of
certain short-term  property;  (iii) treat income from a larger class of hedging
instruments as

                                       S-5

<PAGE>

qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income requirement;  (iv) permit
a REIT to receive de minimis amounts of otherwise  impermissible  service income
from tenants,  and nevertheless have the rental income from such tenants qualify
as rents  from  real  property  for  purposes  of the 75% and 95%  gross  income
requirements;  and (v)  permit a REIT to retain  and pay  income tax on net long
term capital gain, and without an actual distribution  thereof,  pass through to
its shareholders such gain and a refundable credit for such taxes paid.

      Treasury  Regulations  issued on October  6, 1997 (the "New  Regulations")
alter  the  withholding  rules  on  dividends  paid to a  non-U.S.  shareholder,
generally  effective  with  respect to dividends  paid after  December 31, 1998.
Under the New  Regulations,  to obtain a reduced  rate of  withholding  under an
income tax treaty, a non-U.S.  shareholder generally will be required to provide
an Internal  Revenue  Service Form W-8  certifying  such non-U.S.  shareholder's
entitlement  to benefits  under the treaty.  The New  Regulations  also  provide
special  rules  to  determine   whether,   for  purposes  of   determining   the
applicability of a tax treaty, dividends paid to a non-U.S.  shareholder that is
an entity  should  be  treated  as paid to the  entity  or to those  holding  an
interest in that  entity,  and whether such entity or such holders in the entity
are entitled to benefits under the tax treaty.  The New  Regulations  also alter
the information  reporting and backup  withholding  rules applicable to non-U.S.
shareholders and, among other things, provide certain presumptions under which a
non-U.S.  shareholder is subject to backup withholding and information reporting
until the Company receives  certification  from such shareholder of its non-U.S.
status.  The  foregoing is not intended to be a complete  discussion  of the New
Regulations,  and prospective  investors are urged to consult their tax advisors
with  respect  to the  effect of the New  Regulations  on an  investment  in the
Shares.


                                  UNDERWRITING

      Under the terms and subject to the  conditions  set forth in the  Purchase
Agreement dated the date hereof (the  "Underwriting  Agreement"),  between Smith
Barney Inc. (the  "Underwriter") and the Company,  the Underwriter has agreed to
purchase and the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriter  1,490,780 Shares
at the price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement.

      The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriter
to pay for and accept  delivery of the Shares  offered  hereby is subject to the
approval of certain legal matters by counsel for the  Underwriter and to certain
other  conditions.  The  Underwriter is obligated to take and pay for all of the
Shares offered hereby if any such shares are taken.

      The  Underwriter  intends to deposit  the Shares  offered  hereby with the
Trustee of The Equity Focus Trusts-REIT  Portfolio Series, 1998-A (the "Trust"),
a registered unit investment trust under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as
amended, to which the Underwriter acts as sponsor and depositor, in exchange for
units in the Trust. The Underwriter is an affiliate of the Trust.

      The  Shares are  listed on the New York  Stock  Exchange  under the symbol
"HRP."

      The  Company  has agreed to  indemnify  the  Underwriter  against  certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

      In the ordinary course of business,  the Underwriter may from time to time
provide  investment  banking and financial  advisory services to the Company and
its affiliates for which customary compensation will be received.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

      Certain  legal  matters with respect to the Shares  offered by the Company
have been  passed upon for the  Company by  Sullivan &  Worcester  LLP,  Boston,
Massachusetts  and for the  Underwriter by Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York.
Sullivan &  Worcester  LLP and Brown & Wood LLP will rely,  as to all matters of
Maryland law, upon the opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P.,  Baltimore,  Maryland.
Barry M. Portnoy was a partner in the firm of Sullivan & Worcester

                                       S-6

<PAGE>



LLP until March 31, 1997 and is a Managing  Trustee of the Company and of HPT, a
director  and 50%  shareholder  of HRPT  Advisors,  Inc.  and REIT  Management &
Research,  Inc. and a director and/or significant shareholder of certain lessees
of the Company.  Sullivan & Worcester  LLP  represents  HPT, the other  entities
referred  to above,  such  lessees and  certain of their  affiliates  on various
matters.


                                     EXPERTS

      In  addition to the matters  referred  to in the  accompanying  Prospectus
under the  caption  "Experts,"  the  following  financial  statements  have been
audited by the following independent public accountants:

      The historical  statement of gross income and direct operating expenses of
Bridgepoint  Square  for the  year  ended  December  31,  1996  incorporated  by
reference in this  Prospectus  Supplement  from the Company's  Current Report on
Form  8-K  dated  December  5,  1997,  as  amended,  has been  audited  by Price
Waterhouse LLP,  independent  public  accountants,  as set forth in their report
thereon incorporated herein by reference, and is incorporated herein in reliance
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The  statement  of  revenues  and  certain  expenses  of  Franklin  Office
Associates for the year ended December 31, 1996 is  incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus  Supplement from the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated
November 13, 1997,  as amended by Form 8-K/A dated January 14, 1998, in reliance
upon the  report of KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP,  independent  public  accountants,
incorporated by reference  herein and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.

      The  historical  statement of revenues and certain  expenses of Seven West
Associates,  LLC for the period  January  28,  1996  through  January  25,  1997
incorporated  by  reference in this  Prospectus  Supplement  from the  Company's
Current  Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 1997, as amended,  has been audited
by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants,  as set forth in their
report thereon  incorporated herein by reference,  and is incorporated herein in
reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The historical  summary of gross income and direct operating  expenses for
two medical office buildings and two parking  structures owned by Wright-Carlyle
Partners for the year ended December 31, 1996 included in the Company's  Current
Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 1997, as amended,  has been audited by Ernst
& Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included
therein and  incorporated  herein by reference.  Such  financial  statements are
incorporated  by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                       S-7

<PAGE>

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      In  addition  to  the  documents   incorporated  by  reference  or  deemed
incorporated by reference into the accompanying Prospectus,  which Prospectus is
supplemented by this Prospectus Supplement,  the following documents, which have
been filed with the Commission  pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange  Act"),  are hereby  incorporated  in this  Prospectus
Supplement and specifically  made a part hereof by reference:  (i) the Company's
Current  Reports on Form 8-K dated June 23,  1997,  July 2, 1997,  September  2,
1997,  October 1, 1997, as amended,  November 13, 1997, as amended,  December 5,
1997,  as amended,  February 11, 1998 and February 12, 1998,  (ii) the Company's
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 1997 and
September 30, 1997, and (iii) the consolidated  financial statements of Marriott
International, Inc., Commission File No. 1-12188, at and for the fiscal quarters
ended March 28, 1997, June 28, 1997 and September 27, 1997  incorporated  herein
by reference  from  Marriott's  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended March 28, 1997,  June 28, 1997 and September 27, 1997. All documents filed
by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
subsequent  to  the  date  of  this  Prospectus  Supplement  and  prior  to  the
termination  of this Offering  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by reference
into this  Prospectus  Supplement  and to be a part hereof  from the  respective
dates of filing of such documents.


      Any statement contained herein or in a document  incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  Supplement  to the extent  that a  statement
contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is
deemed to be  incorporated  herein by  reference,  modifies or  supersedes  such
statement.  Any such  statement so modified or  superseded  shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or  superseded,  to  constitute a part of this  Prospectus
Supplement.

      The  Company  will  provide  without  charge  to each  person to whom this
Prospectus  Supplement  is  delivered,  upon the written or oral request of such
person, a copy of any and all of the information  that has been  incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement (excluding exhibits unless such exhibits
are  specifically  requested or such exhibits are  specifically  incorporated by
reference into the information  that this Prospectus  Supplement  incorporates).
Requests  for  such  copies  should  be made  to the  Company  at its  principal
executive  offices,  400 Centre Street,  Newton, MA 02158,  Attention:  Investor
Relations, telephone (617) 332-3990.

                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

      THIS  PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT  CONTAINS  FORWARD LOOKING  STATEMENTS.  SUCH
STATEMENTS  ARE  SUBJECT TO CERTAIN  RISKS AND  UNCERTAINTIES  WHICH COULD CAUSE
ACTUAL  RESULTS  TO DIFFER  MATERIALLY  FROM  THOSE  ANTICIPATED  OR  PROJECTED.
PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS  ARE  CAUTIONED  NOT TO PLACE  UNDUE  RELIANCE  ON THESE
FORWARD LOOKING  STATEMENTS WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF.  THE COMPANY
UNDERTAKES  NO  OBLIGATION  TO PUBLISH  REVISED  FORWARD  LOOKING  STATEMENTS TO
REFLECT  EVENTS  OR  CIRCUMSTANCES  AFTER  THE DATE  HEREOF  OR TO  REFLECT  THE
OCCURRENCE OF PRESENTLY UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.




                                       S-8

<PAGE>




THE AMENDED AND RESTATED  DECLARATION OF TRUST  ESTABLISHING THE COMPANY,  DATED
JULY 1,  1994,  A COPY OF  WHICH,  TOGETHER  WITH ALL  AMENDMENTS  THERETO  (THE
"DECLARATION"), IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND
TAXATION OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT THE NAME "HEALTH AND RETIREMENT
PROPERTIES  TRUST" REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION  COLLECTIVELY AS
TRUSTEES,  BUT NOT  INDIVIDUALLY  OR PERSONALLY,  AND THAT NO TRUSTEE,  OFFICER,
SHAREHOLDER,  EMPLOYEE  OR AGENT OF THE  COMPANY  SHALL BE HELD TO ANY  PERSONAL
LIABILITY,  JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY,  FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST,  THE
COMPANY.  ALL PERSONS  DEALING WITH THE COMPANY,  IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO
THE ASSETS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE  PERFORMANCE  OF ANY
OBLIGATION.




                                       S-9

<PAGE>

         No dealer,  salesman or other  person has been  authorized  to give any
information  or to make any  representation  not  contained or  incorporated  by
reference in this Prospectus  Supplement and Prospectus.  If given or made, such
information or representation  must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the Company or the Underwriter. This Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus
do not constitute an offer to sell, or  solicitation  of an offer to buy, Common
Shares in any  jurisdiction  to any person to whom it is  unlawful  to make such
offer  or  solicitation  in such  jurisdiction.  Neither  the  delivery  of this
Prospectus  Supplement  or  the  Prospectus  nor  any  sale  made  hereunder  or
thereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.

                       ------------------

                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                            Page
                     Prospectus Supplement                          
The Company..................................................S-2
Recent Developments..........................................S-2
Use of Proceeds..............................................S-5    
Federal Income Tax Consequences............................. S-5
Underwriting.................................................S-6    
Legal Matters................................................S-6
Experts......................................................S-7
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference............S-8    
Forward Looking Statements...................................S-8

                           Prospectus
Available Information.......................................(ii)
Incorporation of Certain Documents by                               
  Reference.................................................(ii)
The Company....................................................1
Use of Proceeds................................................1
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Changes.............................1
Description of Debt Securities.................................1
Description of Shares.........................................12
Description of Preferred Shares...............................13
Description of Depositary Shares..............................18
Description of Warrants.......................................22
Description of Convertible Subordinated
  Debentures..................................................22
Limitation of Liability; Shareholder Liability................23
Redemption; Business Combinations
  and Control Share Acquisitions..............................23
Plan of Distribution..........................................26
Legal Matters.................................................27
Experts.......................................................28


                         1,490,780 Shares          
                                                   
                            HEALTH AND             
                            RETIREMENT             
                         PROPERTIES TRUST          
                                                   
                   Common Shares of Beneficial     
                             Interest              
                                                     
                                                   
                         ---------------           
                                                   
                                                   
                      PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT        
                                                   
                         ---------------           
                                                   
                                                   
                        February 12, 1998           
                                                   
                                                   
                       Salomon Smith Barney        
                                                   


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission