WELLINGTON PROPERTIES TRUST
SC 13D, 1999-05-14
REAL ESTATE
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<PAGE>   1
                       
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13D


                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                           Wellington Properties Trust
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          Common Shares, $.01 par value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   949622 104
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                   Duane Lund
           11000 Prairie Lakes Drive, Suite 610, Minneapolis, MN 55344
                                 (612) 826-6966
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                     to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                November 20, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

         If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G
         to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D,
         and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check
         the following box | |.

         Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement | |.
         (A fee is not required only if the reporting person: (1) has a previous
         statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five
         percent of the class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has
         filed no amendment subsequent to thereto reporting beneficial ownership
         of less than five percent of such class. See Rule 13d-7.)

         Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be
         filed with the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom
         copies are to be sent.

         The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
         person's initial filing on this for with respect to the subject class
         of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information
         which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

         The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not
         be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
         that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
         the Act (however, see the Notes).


<PAGE>   2


- --------------------                                          ------------------
CUSIP NO.  949622104                  13D                     PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES
- --------------------                                          ------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON


           American Real Estate Equities, LLC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                        (a) [ ]


                                                                         b) [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3      SEC USE ONLY


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4      SOURCE OF FUNDS*
           WC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    5      CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
           ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)

                                                                            [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    6      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
           Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      NUMBER OF SHARES           7      SOLE VOTING POWER
 BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH             105,263
         REPORTING
        PERSON WITH                     

                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 8      SHARED VOTING POWER
                                        0
                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                        105,263
                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                        0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
           105,263
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN 
           SHARES*
                                                                            [ ]


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 11
           12.5%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
           00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!


<PAGE>   3

ITEM 1.       SECURITY AND ISSUER.

         This Schedule 13D relates to the Common Shares, $.01 par value, of
Wellington Properties Trust ("Wellington"), whose principal executive office is
at 18650 W. Corporate Drive, Suite 300, P.O. Box 0919, Brookfield, Wisconsin
53008-0919


ITEM 2.       IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

         This Schedule is being filed by:

         (i)  American Real Estate Equities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
              company ("AREE"), 11000 Prairie Lakes Drive, Suite 610,
              Minneapolis, MN 55344

         The names and business addresses of the members and officers of the
Reporting Person, and their present principal occupations or employment, are
listed on Exhibit 1 attached hereto. All of said individuals are United States
citizens.

         Neither AREE, nor any of the parties listed on Exhibit 1, has, during
the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic
violations or similar misdemeanors), or been a party to a civil proceeding of a
judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of
such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, Federal
or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

ITEM 3.       SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

         AREE purchased these Common Shares with a portion of its working
capital.

ITEM 4.       PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

         The transaction in which AREE purchased Common Shares of Wellington was
a part of a series of transactions between Wellington, AREE and other parties
related to those two entities. As a part of these transactions, AREE contributed
certain real estate, as well as cash, to Wellington in exchange for Common
Shares, future equity in Wellington and certain day-to-day control over
Wellington's business. Through the series of transactions, principals of AREE
gained positions on Wellington's Board of Trustees and one principal became the
chief executive officer of Wellington.

         On August 31, 1998, Wellington entered into a certain Amended and
Restated Master Contribution Agreement by and among Wellington, Wellington
Properties Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Operating
Partnership"), AREE and certain other individuals (as amended, the "Master
Contribution Agreement"). On November 20, 1998, pursuant to the Master
Contribution Agreement, Wellington, through the Operating Partnership, of which
Wellington is the sole general partner, acquired two office properties and one
industrial property in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area from AREE or
its related entities. The combined purchase price of such properties totaled
approximately $30.8 million, excluding closing costs. Such purchase price was
funded through the issuance of an aggregate of 1,615,394 limited partnership
units ("Units") in the Operating Partnership (valued at $8.50 per Unit, or an
aggregate value of approximately $13.7 million) and the assumption of certain
third-party indebtedness of approximately $17.1 million secured by such

<PAGE>   4

properties. The Units are exchangeable, under certain circumstances, on a
one-for-one basis for Common Shares of Wellington from and after November 20,
1999.

         As a result of the acquisitions described above, 129,413 Units were
issued to AREE, 305,313 Units were issued to WLPT Funding, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company ("WLPT Funding"); 305,313 Units were issued to Lambert
Equities II, LLC, also a Delaware limited liability company Lambert; and 782,683
Units were issued to Steven B. Hoyt and his wife. Each of AREE, WLPT Funding,
Lambert Equities and Mr. Hoyt has agreed not to transfer any of these Units
until November 20, 2001. These Units are not reported as shares of beneficial
interest on this Schedule 13D.

         Effective November 16, 1998, Wellington expanded its Board of Trustees
from five to seven members. Wellington's shareholders elected Paul T. Lambert
and Steven B. Hoyt, both principals of AREE, to fill these two newly created
positions, with terms expiring in 2001 and 2000, respectively. Also, effective
November 16, 1998, Duane H. Lund, President and a principal of AREE, was elected
Chief Executive Officer of Wellington. Mr. Lund entered into an employment
agreement with Wellington.

         Further, as contemplated by the Master Contribution Agreement,
Wellington issued to AREE 105,263 Common Shares in exchange for $1,000,000.
These are the Common Shares reported in this Schedule 13D. In addition,
Wellington issued warrants to acquire up to 500,000 Common Shares to AREE. The
Warrants will become exercisable on November 16, 2000 and will be exercisable
for a nine-year period thereafter, at an exercise price of $8.50 per Common
Share with respect to 250,000 Warrants held by AREE, $10.25 per Common Share
with respect to 125,000 Warrants held by AREE, $12.25 per Common Share with
respect to 75,000 Warrants held by AREE and $14.75 per Common Share with respect
to the remaining 50,000 Warrants. These Warrants are not reported as shares of
beneficial interest on this Schedule 13D.

         Neither AREE nor any related parties has any present plans or proposals
with respect to Wellington that relate to or that could result in the occurrence
of any events set forth in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.


ITEM 5.       INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         (A)  AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                       (i)      105,263

              PERCENT OF CLASS
                       (i)      12.5%

         (B)  NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
              (I)      SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
                       (i)      105,263

              (II)     SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
                       (i)      0

              (III)    SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
                       (i)      105,263
<PAGE>   5

              (IV)     SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
                       (i)      0

         (C)  DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTIONS

              None


ITEM 6.       CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH 
              RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

         Certain parties, including AREE, have agreed not to dispose of their
Units in the Operating Partnership, which entitle the holder to future Common
Shares of Wellington, until on or after November 20, 2001. AREE and its members
have also agreed to limit the aggregate number of Common Shares that they may
sell after they have exercised their Warrants or conversion rights in respect to
the Common Shares. The amount of Common Shares they may sell are limited (a)
during any 10-day period, to a number not to exceed 20% of the average daily
trading volume of the Common Shares for the 30 trading days immediately
preceding such 10-day period, and (b) during any year, to a number equal to
one-third of the number if Units initially issued to such a person.

         Also, the parties, including AREE, entered into a certain Master
Registration Rights Agreement, incorporated herein by reference, pursuant to
which Wellington will register its Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of
Units within one year following the issuance of such Units and will agree to use
commercially reasonable efforts to register for resale, under the Securities Act
of 1934, as amended, the Common Shares issuable upon exchange of the Units, and
to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the earlier
of the date of disposition of all such Common Shares or the three years after
the exchange of all Units.

         Certain shareholders have also entered into a Shareholders' Agreement,
pursuant to which the subject shareholders agree to take certain actions with
respect to the election of Messrs. Hoyt and Lambert to the Board of Trustees,
the filling of vacancies on the Board and the election of certain executive
officers of Wellington.

         There are no other contracts, arrangements, understandings or
relationships affecting Wellington's Common Shares, between or among AREE, its
principals and any other party.


ITEM 7.       MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

              The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by
              reference:

              1.       List of the members and officers of AREE.

              2.       Wellington's Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on
                       November 6, 1998 (incorporated by reference).

              3.       Amended and Restated Contribution Agreement between
                       Wellington Properties Trust, Wellington Properties
                       Investments, L.P., American Real Estate Equities, 


<PAGE>   6

                       LLC and the other LP Unit Recipients reflected on the
                       signature page thereto, dated as of August 31, 1998
                       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Wellington's
                       Schedule 14A filed November 6, 1998).

              4.       Agreement of Limited Partnership of Wellington Properties
                       Investments, L.P. dated as of August 31, 1998
                       (incorporated by reference to Exhibit C of Wellington's
                       Schedule 14A filed November 6, 1998).

              5.       Contribution Agreement between Wellington Properties
                       Investments, L.P. and Wellington Management Corporation
                       dated as of August 31, 1998 (incorporated by reference to
                       Exhibit B of Wellington's Schedule 14A filed November 6,
                       1998).

              6.       Master Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August
                       31, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E of
                       Exhibit C of Wellington's Schedule 14A filed November 6,
                       1998).

              7.       Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit D
                       of Wellington's Schedule 14A filed November 6, 1998).

              8.       Employment Agreement, dated November 16, 1998, by and
                       between Duane H. Lund and Wellington.

              9.       Shareholders' Agreement, dated as of August 31, 1998, by
                       and among Wellington and subject shareholders.



            [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


<PAGE>   7


                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

                                            May 12, 1999
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Date


                                            AMERICAN REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, LLC


                                            By: /s/  Duane H. Lund
                                               --------------------------------
                                                    Duane H. Lund
                                            Its:     President






<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                    EXHIBIT 1

I.       Members of AREE

         a.   WLPT Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company 11000
              Prairie Lakes Drive, Suite 610, Minneapolis, MN 55344

         a.   Lambert Equities II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
              4155 E Jewell, Suite 103, Denver, CO 80222

         b.   Steven B. Hoyt, an individual 708 South 3rd Street, Suite 108,
              Minneapolis, MN 55415

         Each of the above members owns 33.33% of the membership interests in
         AREE.

II.      Officer

         a.   Duane H. Lund, Secretary and President 11000 Prairie Lakes Drive,
              Suite 610, Minneapolis, MN 55344



<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.8

                                  DUANE H. LUND
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into
as of the 16th day of November, 1998 (the "Effective Date"), by and between
Wellington Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the
"Employer"), and Duane H. Lund (the "Executive").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Employer desires to employ the Executive as an officer of the
Employer for a specified term.

         B. The Executive is willing to accept such employment, upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants
and agreements hereinafter contained, it is covenanted and agreed by and between
the parties hereto as follows:

                                   AGREEMENTS

         1. POSITION AND DUTIES. The Employer hereby employs the Executive as
Chief Executive Officer of the Employer, or in such other comparable or other
capacity as shall be mutually agreed between the Employer and the Executive.
During the period of the Executive's employment hereunder, the Executive shall
devote his best efforts and full working time, energy, skills and attention to
the business and affairs of the Employer, on an exclusive basis. The Executive's
duties and authority shall consist of and include all duties and authority
customarily performed and held by persons holding equivalent positions with real
estate investment trusts ("REIT's") similar in nature and size to the Employer,
as such duties and authority are reasonably defined, modified and delegated from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Employer (the "Board"). The
Executive shall have the powers necessary to perform the duties assigned to him,
and shall be provided such supporting services, staff, secretarial and other
assistance, office space and accouterments as shall be reasonably necessary and
appropriate in light of such assigned duties.

         2. COMPENSATION. As compensation for the services to be provided by the
Executive hereunder, the Executive shall receive the following compensation and
other benefits:

            (a) BASE SALARY. The Executive shall receive an aggregate annual
minimum "Base Salary" at the rate of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars
($150,000) per annum, payable in periodic installments in accordance with the
regular payroll practices of the Employer. Such Base Salary shall, during the
term hereof, be subject to review annually by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Employer (the "Board") to 


<PAGE>   2

determine appropriate adjustments, if any, in Base Salary, in accordance with
the Employer's compensation policies, as they may be established from time to
time.

            (b) PERFORMANCE BONUS. The Executive shall receive an annual cash
"Performance Bonus," of up to a maximum of two hundred percent (200%) of the
Executive's Base Salary for such fiscal year payable within thirty (30) days
after the end of the fiscal year of the Employer, which shall be based upon
company-wide and individual performance criteria mutually agreed upon from time
to time by the Executive and the Board, and which shall be determined by the
Board based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

            (c) BENEFITS. The Executive shall be entitled to all perquisites,
plans and benefits extended to similarly situated executives, including as such
are stated in the Employer's Executive Perquisite Policy (the "Perquisite
Policy") promulgated for the Board by the Compensation Committee of the Board,
and which Perquisite Policy is hereby incorporated by reference, as amended from
time to time. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
plans and benefits generally, from time to time, accorded to employees of the
Employer ("Benefit Plans"), all as determined by the Board from time to time
based upon the input of its Compensation Committee.

            (d) WITHHOLDING. The Employer shall be entitled to withhold, from
amounts payable to the Executive hereunder, any federal, state or local
withholding or other taxes or charges which, from time to time, it is required
to withhold. The Employer shall be entitled to rely upon the advice and counsel
of its independent accountants with regard to any question concerning the amount
or requirement of any such withholding.

         3. TERM AND TERMINATION.

            (a) TERM. The term of this Agreement and the Executive's employment
hereunder shall be three (3) years, commencing as of the Effective Date. This
Agreement and the term of the Executive's employment hereunder will
automatically renew for one (1) additional year on each anniversary of the
Effective Date, unless sooner terminated at any time by either party, with or
without cause, such termination to be effective as of either (i) one (1)
business day after written notice to that effect is delivered by the Employer to
the Executive [except as and to the extent otherwise required under
subparagraphs (e) and (g) of this Section 3]; or (ii) thirty (30) days after
written notice to that effect is delivered to the Employer by the Executive,
whichever is applicable to the termination in question.

            (b) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE. In the event that the
Executive voluntarily terminates his employment under this Agreement, other than
pursuant to Section 3(d) of this Agreement, then the Employer shall only be
required to pay the Executive such Base Salary and other benefits as shall have
accrued through the effective date of the termination, and the Employer shall
not be obligated to pay any Performance Bonus for the then-current (or any
prior) fiscal year, or have any further obligations whatsoever to the 
 


                                      2

<PAGE>   3

Executive (other than payment of amounts remaining unpaid pursuant to declared
Performance Bonuses for prior fiscal years and reimbursement of previously
approved expenses).

            (c) PREMATURE TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER.

            (i) In the event of the termination of the employment of the
     Executive under this Agreement: (A) by the Employer for any reason other
     than in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (e) ("for cause"),
     subparagraph (f) (death), or subparagraph (g) (disability) of this Section
     3, then notwithstanding any actual or allegedly available alternative
     employment or other mitigation of damages by (or which may be available to)
     the Executive, the Executive shall be entitled to a "Lump Sum Payment"
     equal to the sum of: (w) his monthly Base Salary then payable, multiplied
     by thirty-six (36); plus (x) three (3) times the average of the two (2)
     most recent annual Performance Bonuses that the Executive received from the
     Employer; plus (y) the monthly average of the two (2) most recent annual
     Performance Bonuses that the Executive received from the Employer,
     multiplied by the number of full calendar months the Executive was employed
     during the then-current fiscal year of the Employer. In the event of a
     termination governed by this subparagraph (c)(i) of Section 3, the Employer
     shall also: (z) continue for the Executive (provided that such items are
     not available to him by virtue of other employment secured after
     termination) the perquisites, plans and benefits provided under the
     Employer's Perquisite Policy and Benefit Plans as of and after the date of
     termination, provided such plans or benefits permit such continuation, [all
     items in (z) being collectively referred to as "Post-Termination
     Perquisites and Benefits"], for thirty-six (36) months following such
     termination. The payments and benefits provided under (x), (y), and (z)
     above shall be in addition to such Base Salary as shall have accrued and
     remain unpaid as well as any expense reimbursements or other payments
     relating to the period preceding such termination and remaining due and
     owing to the Executive but shall (aa) be in lieu of any Performance Bonus
     that the Executive might have otherwise earned for the then-current fiscal
     year; and (bb) be in addition to the payment of any theretofore declared
     Performance Bonus compensation for any prior fiscal year that remains
     unpaid as of the date of termination.

            (ii) Payment to the Executive under this Section 3(c) will be made
     in a lump sum.

            (d) CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE. If at any time during the term of this
Agreement, except in connection with a "for cause" termination pursuant to
subparagraph (e) of this Section 3 or the Executive's death or disability
termination pursuant to subparagraphs (f) and (g) respectively of this Section
3, the Executive is Constructively Discharged (as hereinafter defined), then the
Executive shall have the right, by written notice to the Employer given within
one hundred and twenty (120) days of such Constructive Discharge, to terminate
his services hereunder, effective as of thirty (30) days after such notice, and
the Executive shall have no further rights or obligations under this Agreement
except as specified in Section 5 hereof. The Executive shall in such event be
entitled to a Lump Sum Payment of his Base Salary and Performance Bonus
compensation, as well as, all of the Post-Termination 



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

Perquisites and Benefits, as if such termination of his employment had been
effectuated pursuant to subparagraph (c) of this Section 3 and subject to all of
the conditions set forth in subparagraph (c) of this Section 3.

For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be deemed to have been
"Constructively Discharged" upon the occurrence of any one of the following
events:

                           (i) The Executive is removed from the position with
         the Employer set forth in Section 1 hereof, other than as a result of
         the Executive's appointment to a position of comparable or superior
         authority and responsibility, or other than for cause, and provided
         further, that the Employer shall be permitted to broaden and expand the
         Executive's responsibilities, whether in the same or different position
         without such change constituting a "Constructive Discharge" hereunder;

                           (ii) The Executive shall fail to be vested by the
         Employer with the powers, authority and support services customarily
         attendant to said office within the REIT industry, other than for
         cause;

                           (iii) The Employer shall formally notify the
         Executive, in writing, that the employment of the Executive will be
         terminated (other than for cause) or materially modified (other than
         for cause) in the future, or that the Executive will be Constructively
         Discharged in the future; or

                           (iv) The Employer changes the primary employment
         location of the Executive to a place that is more than one hundred
         (100) miles from the primary employment location as of the Effective
         Date of this Agreement, other than in connection with a general
         relocation of the headquarters office (or staff) of the Employer; or

                           (v) The Employer commits a material breach of its
         obligations under this Agreement, which it fails to cure or commence to
         cure within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice thereof
         from the Executive (or if cure is not possible within such thirty (30)
         days, then the Employer must have failed to either commence to cure
         within thirty (30) days or have failed to complete to cure within sixty
         (60) days).

            (e) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. The employment of the Executive under
this Agreement may be terminated by the Employer on a "for cause" basis, as
hereinafter defined. If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Employer
"for cause" under this subparagraph (e), then the Employer shall only be
obligated to pay the Executive such Base Salary as shall have accrued through
the effective date of the termination, and the Employer shall not be required to
pay the Executive any Performance Bonus for the current fiscal year, or have any
further obligations whatsoever to the Executive (other than payment of amounts
remaining unpaid pursuant to declared Performance Bonuses for prior fiscal years
and reimbursement for previously approved expenses). Termination "for cause"
shall mean the termination of Executive's employment on the basis of, or as a
result of, one or more of the following circumstances: (i) a violation by the
Executive of any applicable material law or 



                                       4
<PAGE>   5

regulation respecting the business of the Employer; (ii) the Executive being
found guilty of, or being publicly associated with, a felony or an act of
dishonesty or an act of willful or reckless behavior in connection with the
performance of his duties as an officer of the Employer, or otherwise; or (iii)
the Executive's course of conduct constituting the willful or negligent failure
of the Executive to perform his duties hereunder and which is, or may result in
a material detriment to the Company as reasonably determined by the Board. The
Executive shall be entitled to thirty (30) days' prior written notice (the
"Termination Notice") of the Employer's intention to terminate his employment
for cause and such Termination Notice shall: specify the grounds for such
termination; afford the Executive a reasonable opportunity to cure any conduct
or act (if curable) alleged as grounds for such termination; and, afford the
Executive a reasonable opportunity to present to the Board his position
regarding any dispute relating to the existence of such cause. Notwithstanding
the foregoing procedure, the Employer (through the Board) shall have the
unilateral right to make the final substantive determination as to whether the
Executive has properly remedied or otherwise addressed those matters described
in the Termination Notice as grounds for termination of the Executive's
employment; and in the event that the Employer determines (as of the expiration
of the above-contemplated 30-day period), that the Executive has not
appropriately remedied or otherwise addressed those matters, then the
Executive's term of employment shall in all events automatically terminate as of
the thirtieth (30th) day after the Employer delivers the Termination Notice,
without any responsibility of obligation of the Employer to provide the
Executive with any further notice or explanation of the grounds for his
termination.

            (f) PAYMENTS UPON DEATH. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
death of the Executive. Upon the Executive's death and the termination of the
Agreement the Employer shall only be obligated to pay: (i) such Base Salary as
shall have accrued through the date of death; plus (ii) one-half (1/2) of the
monthly average of the two (2) most recent annual Performance Bonuses that the
Executive received from the Employer multiplied by the number of full calendar
months the Executive was employed during the then-current fiscal year of the
Employer, and the Employer shall not have any further obligations to the
Executive (other than payment of amounts remaining unpaid pursuant to declared
Performance Bonuses for prior fiscal years and reimbursement of previously
approved expenses). The amount the Employer shall be obligated to pay upon the
Executive's death shall be made to such beneficiary, designee or fiduciary as
Executive may have designated in writing or, failing such designation, to the
executor or administrator of his estate, in full settlement and satisfaction of
all claims and demands on behalf of the Executive. Such payments shall be in
addition to any other death benefits of the Employer made available for the
benefit of the Executive, and in full settlement and satisfaction of all
payments provided for in this Agreement.

            (g) DISABILITY DETERMINATION. The Employer may deliver a Termination
Notice, except that the subject thereof shall be the Executive's "disability,"
and terminate the Executive's employment if the Executive is determined to be
"disabled," which term shall mean the Executive's inability, as a result of
physical or mental incapacity, substantially to perform his duties hereunder for
a period of either six (6) consecutive months, or one hundred and twenty (120)
business days within a consecutive twelve (12) month period. In the event of a
dispute regarding the Executive's "disability," such dispute shall be resolved
through 



                                       5
<PAGE>   6

arbitration as provided in subparagraph (d) of Section 9 hereof, except that the
arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association shall be a duly
licensed medical doctor. The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and
benefits provided under this Agreement during any period of incapacitation
occurring during the term of this Agreement prior to the establishment of
Executive's "disability" and subsequent termination of his employment. Upon the
Executive's termination of employment under this Section 3(g), the Employer
shall only be obligated to pay the Executive: (i) such Base Salary as shall have
accrued through the effective date of termination; plus (ii) one-half (1/2) of
the average of the two (2) most recent annual Performance Bonuses that the
Executive received from the Employer multiplied by the number of full calendar
months the Executive was employed during the then-current fiscal year of the
Employer, and the Employer shall not have any further obligations to the
Executive (other than payment of amounts remaining unpaid pursuant to declared
Performance Bonuses for prior fiscal years and reimbursement of previously
approved expenses).

            (h) TERMINATION UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            (i) In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below) of the
Employer and the termination of the Executive's employment by Executive or by
the Employer under either 1 or 2 below in connection therewith ("Change in
Control Termination"), the Executive shall be entitled to the Severance Amount
determined under subparagraph (c) of this Section 3. The following shall
constitute Change in Control Termination under this subparagraph (g):

                1.        The Executive terminates his employment under this
                          Agreement pursuant to a written notice to that effect
                          delivered to the Board within sixty (60) days after
                          the occurrence of the event constituting a Change in
                          Control.

                2.        Executive's employment is terminated (other than for
                          cause or death or disability), but including
                          Constructive Discharge, by the Employer or its
                          successor, either within one (1) year prior to or
                          following the event constituting a Change in Control.

                          (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term
                "Change in Control" shall mean the approval by the shareholders
                of the Employer of: (1) a merger or consolidation of the
                Employer, if the shareholders of the Employer immediately before
                such merger or consolidation do not, as a result of such merger
                or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty
                percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then
                outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such
                merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as
                was represented by their ownership of the combined voting power
                of the voting securities of the Employer outstanding immediately
                before such merger or consolidation; (2) a complete or
                substantial liquidation or dissolution, or an agreement for the
                sale or other disposition, of all or substantially all 



                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                of the assets of the Employer; or (3) a complete or substantial
                liquidation or dissolution or an agreement for the sale or other
                disposition of its general partnership interests in Wellington
                Properties Investments, L.P.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be
     deemed to occur solely because forty percent (40%) or more of the combined
     voting power of the then-outstanding securities is acquired by: (1) a
     trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee
     benefit plans maintained for employees of the entity; or (2) any
     corporation or other entity which, immediately prior to such acquisition,
     is substantially owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
     Employer in the same proportion as their ownership of stock in the Employer
     immediately prior to such acquisition.

            (iii) If it is determined, in the opinion of the Employer's
independent accountants, in consultation with the Employer's independent
counsel, that any amount payable to the Executive by the Employer under this
Agreement, or any other plan or agreement under which the Executive participates
or is a party, would constitute an "Excess Parachute Payment" within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")
and be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the
"Excise Tax"), the Employer shall pay to the Executive a "grossing-up" amount
equal to the amount of such Excise Tax and all federal and state income or other
taxes with respect to the payment of the amount of such Excise Tax, including
all such taxes with respect to any such grossing-up amount. If at a later date,
the Internal Revenue Service assesses a deficiency against the Executive for the
Excise Tax which is greater than that which was determined at the time such
amounts were paid, the Employer shall pay to the Executive the amount of such
unreimbursed Excise Tax plus any interest, penalties and professional fees or
expenses, incurred by the Executive as a result of such assessment, including
all such taxes with respect to any such additional amount. The highest marginal
tax rate applicable to individuals at the time of payment of such amounts will
be used for purposes of determining the federal and state income and other taxes
with respect thereto. The Employer shall withhold from any amounts paid under
this Agreement the amount of any Excise Tax or other federal, state or local
taxes then required to be withheld. Computations of the amount of any
grossing-up supplemental compensation paid under this subparagraph shall be made
by the Employer's independent accountants, in consultation with the Employer's
independent legal counsel. The Employer shall pay all accountant and legal
counsel fees and expenses.

     4. CONFIDENTIALITY AND LOYALTY. The Executive acknowledges that during the
course of his employment prior to his entry into this Agreement, he has
produced, received and had access to, and may hereafter continue to produce,
receive and otherwise have access to various materials, records, data, trade
secrets and information not generally available to the public (collectively,
"Confidential Information") regarding the Employer and its subsidiaries and
affiliates. Accordingly, during and subsequent to any termination of this
Agreement, on any basis, the Executive shall hold in confidence and shall not
directly or indirectly disclose, use, copy or make lists of any such
Confidential Information, except to the extent that (a) such information is or
thereafter becomes lawfully available from public sources; or (b) such



                                       7
<PAGE>   8

disclosure is authorized in writing by the Employer; or (c) such disclosure is
required by law or by any competent administrative agency or judicial authority;
or (d) such disclosure is otherwise reasonably necessary or appropriate in
connection with the performance by the Executive of his duties hereunder. All
records, files, documents, computer diskettes, computer programs and other
computer-generated material, as well as all other materials or copies thereof
relating to the Employer's business, which the Executive shall prepare or use,
shall be and remain the sole property of the Employer, shall not be removed from
the Employer's premises without its written consent, and shall be promptly
returned to the Employer upon termination of the Executive's employment
hereunder. The Executive agrees to abide by the Employer's general policies, as
in effect from time to time, respecting confidentiality and the avoidance of
interests conflicting or appearing to be in conflict with those of the Employer.

     5. NON-COMPETITION COVENANT.

        (a) RESTRICTIVE COVENANT The Employer and the Executive have jointly
reviewed the tenant lists, property submittals, logs, broker lists, and
operations of the Employer, and have agreed that in consideration of this
Agreement and the payment of the amounts described in Sections 2 and 3 hereof,
the Executive hereby agrees that, except with the express prior written consent
of the Employer, during the term of Executive's employment with the Employer
hereunder (the "Restrictive Period"), he will not directly or indirectly compete
with the business of the Employer, including, but not by way of limitation, by
directly or indirectly violating any duty the Executive owes the Employer under
applicable state law, owning, managing, operating, controlling, financing, or by
directly or indirectly serving as an employee, officer or director of or
consultant to, or by soliciting or inducing, or attempting to solicit or induce,
any employee or agent of Employer to terminate employment with Employer and
become employed by any person, firm, partnership, corporation, trust or other
entity which owns or operates a business similar to that of the Employer (the
"Restrictive Covenant"). For purposes of this subparagraph (a), a business shall
be considered "similar" to that of the Employer if it is engaged in the
ownership, acquisition, development, ownership, operation, management or leasing
of multi-unit residential, commercial or industrial property (i) in any
geographic market or territory in which the Employer owns properties either as
of the date hereof or as of the date of termination of the Executive's
employment; or (ii) in any "Target Market" publicly identified by the Employer;
or (iii) in any market in which an acquisition is pending at the time of the
termination of the Executive's employment. If the Executive violates the
Restrictive Covenant and the Employer brings legal action for injunctive or
other relief, the Employer shall not, as a result of the time involved in
obtaining such relief, be deprived of the benefit of the full period of the
Restrictive Covenant. Accordingly, the Restrictive Covenant shall be deemed to
have the duration specified in this paragraph (a) computed from the date the
relief is granted but reduced by the time between the period when the
Restrictive Period began to run and the date of the first violation of the
Restrictive Covenant by the Executive. In the event that a successor of the
Employer assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement or otherwise acquires the
Employer, this Restrictive Covenant shall continue to apply only to the primary
service area of the Employer as it existed immediately before such assumption or
acquisition and shall not apply to any of the successor's other 



                                       8
<PAGE>   9

offices or markets. The foregoing Restrictive Covenant shall not prohibit the
Executive from owning, directly or indirectly, capital stock or similar
securities which are listed on a securities exchange or quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System which do not
represent more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding capital stock of any
corporation.

        (b) REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. The Executive
acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Sections 4 and 5 of this
Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the legitimate
proprietary business interests of the Employer; that any violation of these
restrictions would cause substantial injury to the Employer and such interests;
that the Employer would not have entered into this Agreement with the Executive
without receiving the additional consideration offered by the Executive in
binding himself to these restrictions; and that such restrictions were a
material inducement to the Employer to enter into this Agreement. In the event
of any violation or threatened violation of these restrictions, the Employer
shall be relieved of any further obligations under this Agreement, shall be
entitled to any rights, remedies or damages available at law, in equity or
otherwise under this Agreement, and shall be entitled to preliminary and
temporary injunctive relief granted by a court of competent jurisdiction to
prevent or restrain any such violation by the Executive and any and all persons
directly or indirectly acting for or with him, as the case may be, while
awaiting the decision of the arbitrator selected in accordance with paragraph
(d) of Section 9 of this Agreement, which decision, if rendered adverse to the
Executive, may include permanent injunctive relief to be granted by the court.

     6. INTERCORPORATE TRANSFERS. If the Executive shall be transferred by the
Employer to an affiliate of the Employer, such transfer shall not be deemed a
Constructive Termination or otherwise be deemed to terminate or modify this
Agreement, and the employing corporation to which the Executive shall have been
transferred shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be construed as standing
in the same place and stead as the Employer as of the date of such transfer. For
purposes hereof, an affiliate of the Employer shall mean any corporation or
other entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the Employer. For all relevant purposes hereof, the tenure of the
Executive shall be deemed to include the aggregate term of his employment by
both the Employer and its affiliate.

     7. INTEREST IN ASSETS AND PAYMENTS. Neither the Executive nor his estate
shall acquire any rights in any funds or other assets of the Employer, otherwise
than by and through the actual payment of amounts payable hereunder; nor shall
the Executive or his estate have any power to transfer, assign, anticipate,
pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any of said payments; nor shall any of
such payments be subject to seizure for the payment of any debt, judgment,
alimony, separate maintenance or be transferable by operation of law in the
event or as a result of any bankruptcy, insolvency or other legal proceeding
otherwise relating to the Executive.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

     8. INDEMNIFICATION.

        (a) The Employer shall provide the Executive (including his heirs,
personal representatives, executors and administrators), during the term of this
Agreement and thereafter throughout all applicable limitations periods, with
coverage under the Employer's then-current directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy, at the Employer's expense.

        (b) In addition to the insurance coverage provided for in paragraph (a)
of this Section 8, the Employer shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify the
Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law, and subject to the requirements, limitations and
specifications set forth in the Bylaws and other organizational documents of the
Employer, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may
be involved by reason of his having been an officer of the Employer (whether or
not he continues to be an officer at the time of incurring such expenses or
liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to,
judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and the cost of reasonable
settlements.

        (c) In the event the Executive becomes a party, or is threatened to be
made a party, to any action, suit or proceeding for which the Employer has
agreed to provide insurance coverage or indemnification under this Section 8,
the Employer shall, to the full extent permitted under applicable law, advance
all expenses (including the reasonable attorneys' fees of the attorneys selected
by Employer and approved by Executive for the representation of the Executive),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (collectively "Expenses")
incurred by the Executive in connection with the investigation, defense,
settlement, or appeal of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, subject to receipt by the Employer of a written undertaking from the
Executive covenanting: (i) to reimburse the Employer for all Expenses actually
paid by the Employer to or on behalf of the Executive in the event it shall be
ultimately determined that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by
the Employer for such Expenses; and (ii) to assign to the Employer all rights of
the Executive to insurance proceeds, under any policy of directors' and
officers' liability insurance or otherwise, to the extent of the amount of
Expenses actually paid by the Employer to or on behalf of the Executive.

     9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

        (a) SUCCESSORS; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Executive, the Employer, the Executive's personal
representatives, the Employer's successors and assigns, and any successor or
assignee of the Employer shall be deemed the successor to all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of the Employer, whether directly or
indirectly, by purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or
otherwise, by an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive,
expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and
to the same extent as the Employer would be required to perform if no such
succession had taken place. The Executive may neither assign his duties or
obligations this Agreement, nor sell, assign, pledge, 



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

encumber, transfer or hypothecate his entitlement hereunder, and the Employer
shall have no obligation to recognize any such purported alienation, or pay any
funds to any party claiming the benefit thereof.

        (b) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATIONS. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior negotiations, undertakings, agreements and arrangements
with respect thereto, whether written or oral. Except as otherwise explicitly
provided herein, this Agreement may not be amended or modified except by written
agreement signed by the Executive and the Employer.

        (c) ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of this Agreement
shall be regarded as divisible and separate; if any of said provisions should be
declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected
thereby. This Agreement shall be construed and the legal relations of the
parties hereto shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of
Wisconsin as it constitutes the situs of the corporation and the employment
hereunder, without reference to the law regarding conflicts of law.

        (d) ARBITRATION. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of
Section 5, any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement or the Executive's employment by the Employer shall be settled
exclusively by arbitration, conducted by a single arbitrator sitting in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association (the "AAA") then in effect. The arbitrator shall be selected by the
parties from a list of eleven (11) arbitrators provided by the AAA, provided
that no arbitrator shall be related to or affiliated with either of the parties.
No later than ten (10) days after the list of proposed arbitrators is received
by the parties, the parties, or their respective representatives, shall meet at
a mutually convenient location in Chicago, Illinois, or telephonically. At that
meeting, the party who sought arbitration shall eliminate one (1) proposed
arbitrator and then the other party shall eliminate one (1) proposed arbitrator.
The parties shall continue to alternatively eliminate names from the list of
proposed arbitrators in this manner until each party has eliminated five (5)
proposed arbitrators. The remaining arbitrator shall arbitrate the dispute. Each
party shall submit, in writing, the specific requested action or decision it
wishes to take, or make, with respect to the matter in dispute ("Proposed
Solution"), and the arbitrator shall be obligated to choose one (1) party's
specific Proposed Solution, without being permitted to effectuate any compromise
or "new" position; provided, however, that the arbitrator is authorized to award
amounts not in dispute during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising
under or in connection with this Agreement. The party whose Proposed Solution is
not selected shall bear the costs of all counsel, experts or other
representatives that are retained by both parties, together with all costs of
the arbitration proceeding, including, without limitation, the fees, costs and
expenses imposed or incurred by the arbitrator. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; including, if applicable,
entry of a permanent injunction under paragraph (b) of Section 5.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12


        (e) PRESS RELEASES AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. Any press release or other
public communication by either the Executive or the Employer with any other
person concerning the terms, conditions or circumstances of Executive's
employment, or the termination of such employment, shall be subject to prior
written approval of both the Executive and the Employer, subject to the proviso
that the Employer shall be entitled to make requisite and appropriate public
disclosure of the terms of this Agreement and any termination hereof, without
the Executive's consent or approval, as may be required under applicable
statutes, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and New York Stock Exchange. Employer shall be entitled to rely on
the advice and counsel of its professional advisors in determining whether any
such disclosure is required.

        (f) WAIVER. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the
other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement
to be performed by the other party, shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent
time.

        (g) NOTICES. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
writing, and shall be deemed given when received if personally delivered, or on
the first (1st) business day after deposit with a commercial overnight delivery
service. Notices to the Employer shall be addressed and delivered to the
principal headquarters office of the Employer, Attention: Chairman, with a copy
concurrently so delivered to General Corporate Counsel to the Employer, Barack
Ferrazzano Kirschbaum Perlman & Nagelberg, 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2700,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, to the joint attention of Suzanne Bessette-Smith and
Lynne D. Mapes-Riordan. Notices to the Executive shall be sent to the address
set forth below the Executive's signature on this Agreement, or to such other
address as Executive may hereafter designate in a written notice given to the
Employer and its counsel.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

WELLINGTON PROPERTIES TRUST,                         DUANE H. LUND
a Maryland real estate investment trust

By: /s/ Robert Rice                                  /s/ Duane Lund
   ------------------------------------              --------------------------
                                                     Address of Executive:
                                                     9169 Larkspur Lane
                                                     Eden Prairie, MN 55347



                                       12

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.9

                             SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

         THIS SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), made as of the 31st
day of August, 1998, by and among Wellington Properties Trust, a Maryland real
estate investment trust (the "COMPANY") and the parties identified as "Subject
Shareholders" on the signature page hereto (hereinafter referred to collectively
as the "SUBJECT SHAREHOLDERS" and individually as a "SUBJECT SHAREHOLDER");

                                WITNESSETH: THAT

         WHEREAS, the Company is authorized to issue 100,070,000 common shares
of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 734,161.409 shares of which
were outstanding as of August 21, 1998 (and of which 106,917.187 are presently
owned by the Subject Shareholders);

         WHEREAS, the Company has entered into a certain Amended and Restated
Master Contribution Agreement dated August 31, 1998 (the "MASTER CONTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT") with American Real Estate Equities, LLC ("AREE"), Steven B. Hoyt
("HOYT"), Lambert Equities II, LLC ("LAMBERT LLC"), and WLPT Funding, LLC
("WLPT"), pursuant to which AREE has agreed to contribute certain contracts to
the Company in exchange for the issuance of limited partnership interests (the
"LP UNITS") in Wellington Properties Investments, L.P. (the "UPREIT"), a
Delaware limited partnership, of which the Company is the sole general partner;

         WHEREAS, Hoyt, Lambert LLC and WLPT are all of the members of AREE and
whereas Duane H. Lund ("LUND") is a member of WLPT, and whereas Paul T. Lambert
("LAMBERT") is a member of Lambert LLC and, in those capacities, will receive LP
Units pursuant to the Master Contribution Agreement and related agreements;

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the limited partnership agreement
(the "OP AGREEMENT") of the UPREIT, the LP Units are convertible into common
shares of beneficial interest of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, the Subject Shareholders desire to exercise the voting rights
of their shares in the Company, and to restrict the transferability of their
shares in the Company, as set forth in this Agreement;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained, and of other good and valuable
considerations, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the respective meanings stated:

         1.1. "AFFILIATE" shall mean, (i) with respect to any individual or
entity (the "FIRST PERSON"), any entity (the "SECOND PERSON"), directly or
indirectly, (A) controlled or 


<PAGE>   2

more than 50% owned (directly or indirectly) by the First Person, (B) if the
First Person is an entity, controlling or owning (directly or indirectly) more
than 50% of the First Person, or (C) if the First Person is an entity,
controlled or more than 50% owned (directly or indirectly) by an individual or
entity which controls or owns (directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the
First Person, and (ii) with respect to any First Person who is an individual,
any members of the immediate family of such individual and any trusts
established exclusively for the benefit of such individual and/or any such
immediate family members. If the First Person is an individual, any ownership
and/or control of the Second Person by immediate family members and/or trusts
who are Affiliates of such First Person pursuant to clause (ii) above shall be
attributed to, and deemed exercised and owned by, such First Person. If the
First Person is the successor to a Subject Shareholder by reason of death of
such Subject Shareholder, any person who was an Affiliate of the decedent
Subject Shareholder shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of such First Person. For
purposes of this SECTION 1.1, "IMMEDIATE FAMILY" of an individual shall mean
such individual's siblings, spouse and his lineal ancestors and descendants.

         1.2. "SHAREHOLDERS" shall mean, as of any date, all beneficial holders
of any or all of the Shares.

         1.3. "SHARES" shall mean, as of any date, any and all shares of
beneficial interest of the Company, of whatever class, issued and outstanding,
including, but not limited to, shares issued or created in connection with any
share dividend, share split or other capital readjustment.

         1.4. "SUBJECT SHAREHOLDER" shall mean any person (other than the
Company) who is or becomes a party to, or bound by, this Agreement, whether or
not such person owns any Shares.

         1.5. "SUBJECT SHARES" shall mean any and all Shares owned (whether
directly or through a trust for the benefit of the Subject Shareholder) or
controlled by any Subject Shareholder, from time to time, now or hereafter,
including, without limitation any Shares issued in connection with the
conversion of LP Units into Shares pursuant to the OP Agreement.

         1.6. "TRANSFER" shall mean and include any sale, assignment, transfer,
gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, distribution pursuant to a
liquidation, or other disposition or alienation, direct or indirect, of any of
the Shares or any interest of a Shareholder, legal, equitable or beneficial
therein.

         1.7. "WMC" shall mean Wellington Management Corporation.

      2. ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES. In the event the Company intends to
issue additional Shares (whether pursuant to a secondary offering, share
dividend, share split or otherwise) to any or all of the Subject Shareholders or
their Affiliates, whether or not such Shares are currently authorized by the
Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, such Shares, upon
issuance, shall automatically become Subject Shares. As a condition to the
issuance of any additional Shares to any Affiliate of a Subject Shareholder who


                                       2
<PAGE>   3

is not already a Subject Shareholder, the Company shall require that the
proposed holder of such additional Shares execute and deliver to the Company a
joinder (a "JOINDER") to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT
A.

      3. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY.


         3.1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES. The Subject Shareholders acknowledge that
upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Master Contribution
Agreement, the board of trustees of the Company will be expanded to seven
members and Lambert and Hoyt shall be elected as trustees to fill the vacancies
created by such expansion. Each Subject Shareholder (and its successors,
transferees and assigns entitled to exercise such rights) shall take all action
necessary or appropriate (including, without limitation, voting all Subject
Shares, calling special meetings of Shareholders and executing and delivering
proxies and written consents) to ensure that Hoyt and Lambert are and continue
to be elected to the board of trustees of the Company. In addition, in the event
that any additional vacancies occur in the board of trustees of the Company,
each Subject Shareholder shall use its best efforts to cause the board of
trustees of the Company to fill any such vacancy with a person selected by AREE
and WMC. In the event that any trustee decides not to stand for re-election,
each Subject Shareholder shall use its best efforts to cause the board of
trustees of the Company to present to the Shareholders, at the next Shareholders
meeting, a person selected by AREE and WMC as a nominee for election to such
position.

         3.2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Each Subject Shareholder shall use its best
efforts to cause the board of trustees of the Company to elect Lund as the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, Robert Rice as the President of the Company
and Arnold Leas as Chairman of the Board of the Company.

         3.3. CERTAIN PROXIES. In the event that (i) any Subject Shareholder
shall fail to vote its Subject Shares in accordance with the terms of this
SECTION 3 with respect to any matter provided for in this SECTION 3, (ii) such
Subject Shareholder has been given written notice of such failure, and (iii) if
such failure is subject to cure, such failure has not been cured within five
days after such notice has been effectively given to such Subject Shareholder,
then, in addition to all other remedies available at law and in equity with
respect to such failure, such Subject Shareholder (the "DEFAULTING SHAREHOLDER")
shall be deemed to have granted the other Subject Shareholders (the
"NONDEFAULTING SHAREHOLDERS") an irrevocable proxy coupled with an interest to
vote all the Subject Shares of the Defaulting Shareholder in accordance with the
terms of this SECTION 3 as to which the Defaulting Shareholder has failed to so
vote, and the Nondefaulting Shareholders shall not be entitled to vote the
Subject Shares of the Defaulting Shareholder with respect to any other matter.

      4. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. In the event a Subject Shareholder
attempts to Transfer any or all of its Shares to any person, such Transfer shall
be valid only as provided in and permitted by SECTION 5. Any purported Transfer
made any time hereafter in violation of the provisions of SECTIONS 4 or 5 shall
be absolutely null and void and shall confer no rights whatsoever on the
purported transferee as against the Company or any other Shareholders. 



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

The Company shall not transfer, and shall cause its transfer agent not to
transfer, on the books of the Company, or the transfer agent, as the case may
be, any certificates for any Shares owned by any Subject Shareholder, nor issue
any certificate in lieu of any such Shares, nor issue any new Shares, unless
each and all of the conditions hereof affecting such Shares or certificates and
the transfer thereof have been complied with. Until the certificates
representing the Shares to be transferred (either properly endorsed for transfer
or accompanied by the necessary stock powers, with all necessary stock transfer
stamps attached thereto) are delivered to the Company, no such Transfer of
Subject Shares shall be made and title shall remain in the transferring
Shareholder.

      5. AFFILIATE TRANSFERS.

         5.1. TO SUBJECT SHAREHOLDERS. A Subject Shareholder may Transfer
Subject Shares to any other Subject Shareholder.

         5.2. TO AFFILIATES. A Subject Shareholder may Transfer Subject Shares
to any Affiliate of any Subject Shareholder, which Affiliate is not already a
Subject Shareholder, provided the transferring Subject Shareholder delivers a
Joinder executed by the transferee to the Company prior to such Transfer.

      6. LEGEND ON CERTIFICATES. In addition to any other legends required by
agreement or by law, each certificate representing one or more of the Subject
Shares now or hereafter held by any of the Subject Shareholders shall be
endorsed with the following legend (the "REQUIRED LEGEND") in substantially the
following form:

         "The voting, transfer, pledge or other encumbrance of the securities
         represented by this certificate is restricted under the terms of a
         certain Shareholders' Agreement dated as of August 31, 1998, a copy of
         which is on file at the office of the Company."

In the event that the Company at any time or times shall distribute any Shares
as a dividend upon the Subject Shares or shall issue any Shares in lieu of, or
in exchange for, or in addition to, the Subject Shares, or shall have had a
reclassification of Shares, then all certificates evidencing the same shall bear
the Required Legend. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement,
each Subject Shareholder shall deliver certificates representing all of its
Subject Shares to the Company, whereupon the Company shall endorse such
certificates with the Required Legend or shall reissue such certificates with
the Required Legend.

      7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the parties hereto represents
and warrants to the others that as of the date of its entry into this Agreement:

         7.1. GENERAL. Such party has full power, authority and legal capacity
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder,
in each capacity in which such party is executing this Agreement, and no
consent, approval or other authorization of, notice to or registration with any
governmental authority, or other person, is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such 



                                       4
<PAGE>   5

party, which has not been obtained, given or made. With respect to any party
which is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of the
Agreement have been duly authorized by all requisite action by such entity, and
are not in conflict with the terms of any organizational instruments of such
entity.

         7.2. OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. Such party is the true and lawful owner,
beneficially and of record, of that number of Shares indicated below such
parties signature.

      8. TERMINATION.

         8.1. GENERAL. This Agreement shall terminate upon the first of any of
the following events to occur: (i) the date that is 10 years after the date
hereof; (ii) the written agreement of AREE and WMC to terminate this Agreement;
(iii) there ceasing to be any Shares of the Company outstanding other than those
held by a single Shareholder, (iv) the dissolution of the Company, or (v) the
consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company as to which an entity
other than the Company is a surviving entity, unless the stock of such surviving
entity is owned by substantially the same parties and in substantially in the
same proportions as the stock of the Company was owned prior to any such merger
or consolidation. The termination of this Agreement shall not impair or affect
any obligations or liabilities accrued prior to any such termination.

         8.2. ELECTION OBLIGATIONS. The obligations to elect Arnold K. Leas,
Robert F. Rice, Hoyt, Lambert and/or Lund set forth in SECTION 3 shall terminate
with respect to any of the foregoing individuals upon such individual's death,
disability or resignation from the Company.

      9. MISCELLANEOUS.

         9.1. NOTICES. All notices given pursuant to or in connection with this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be served by United States registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, proper postage prepaid, or by a
reputable express delivery service which guarantees next business day delivery,
addressed, as appropriate, to the Company at its registered office, and to any
Shareholder at the last address of such Shareholder shown on the records of the
Company. Any such notice shall be deemed given and effective (a) if by
registered or certified mail, five days after deposit thereof in the U.S. mail,
and (b) if by such express delivery service, on the next business day following
deposit thereof with such express delivery service.

         9.2. BENEFIT AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors, and assigns and to
no other persons or entities. No person may assign any of his rights or
obligations under this Agreement without the unanimous written consent of all
other parties hereto. If any original Subject Shareholder or any other
subsequent Subject Shareholder transfers any of its Shares to any Affiliate of
any Subject Shareholder, for any reason whatsoever, then, without limitation of
SECTION 4, such transferee shall become and be conclusively deemed to be a party
to this Agreement and be 



                                       5
<PAGE>   6

bound by its terms, without further action on his part. In addition, as a
condition to the issuance of a replacement certificate to said transferee, again
without limitation of SECTION 4, said transferee shall execute and deliver a
Joinder to the Company, if such transferee has not already delivered such
Joinder.

         9.3. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings of the
parties. The parties hereto may amend or modify this Agreement in such manner as
may be agreed upon only by a written instrument executed by all such parties.

         9.4. NO WAIVER. No waiver of any provision or condition of this
Agreement by any party shall be valid unless in writing signed by such party. No
such waiver shall be taken as a waiver of any other or similar provision or of
any future event, act, or default.

         9.5. SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall
be unenforceable in whole or in part, such provision shall be limited to the
extent necessary to render the same valid, or shall be excised from this
Agreement, as circumstances require, and this Agreement shall be construed as if
said provision had been incorporated herein as so limited, or as if said
provision had not been included herein, as the case may be.

         9.6. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Maryland, without reference to its statutory or judicially pronounced
rules regarding conflicts of law or choice of law. Wherever used in this
Agreement, the singular shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa,
where applicable, and the use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall
include the other genders. The term "person" shall refer to both natural persons
and legal entities. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only
and do not define, limit or construe the contents thereof.

         9.7. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
identical counterparts, any or all of which may contain the signatures of less
than all of the parties, and all of which shall be construed together as but a
single instrument.




                                       6
<PAGE>   7



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                 SUBJECT SHAREHOLDERS:

                                 AMERICAN REAL ESTATE EQUITIES, LLC, a Delaware 
                                 limited liability company

                                 By:      /s/ Duane Lund
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Its:     Member
                                 ___0___  Shares


                                 /s/ Steven B. Hoyt
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 STEVEN B. HOYT
                                 ___0___ Shares


                                 /s/ Paul T. Lambert
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 PAUL T. LAMBERT
                                 ___0___ Shares


                                 /s/ Duane H. Lund
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 DUANE H. LUND
                                 ___0___ Shares


                                 WLPT FUNDING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
                                 company

                                 By:      /s/Duane H. Lund
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Its:     Member
                                 ___0___  Shares


                                 LAMBERT EQUITIES II, LLC, a Delaware limited 
                                 liability company

                                 By:      /s/Paul T. Lambert
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Its:     Member
                                 ___0___ Shares


                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                 WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, a Wisconsin 
                                 corporation

                                 By:      /s/Arnold K. Leas
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Its:     President
                                   84,002  Shares
                                 ---------


                                 /s/ Arnold K. Leas
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 ARNOLD K. LEAS
                                  20,210.001   Shares
                                 ------------

                                 /s/ Rose Marie Leas
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 ROSE MARIE LEAS
                                  605.186   Shares
                                 ---------


                                 /s/ Gregory Leas
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 GREGORY LEAS
                                  1,100   Shares
                                 -------

                                 /s/ Robert F. Rice
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 ROBERT F. RICE
                                  1,000   Shares
                                 -------


                                 COMPANY:

                                 WELLINGTON PROPERTIES TRUST, a Maryland real 
                                 estate investment trust

                                 By:      /s/ Arnold K. Leas
                                          -------------------------------------
                                 Its      President                            
                                          -------------------------------------



                                       8
<PAGE>   9


                                    EXHIBIT A

                                 FORM OF JOINDER

         The undersigned hereby joins in and agrees to be bound by all of the
terms and provisions applicable to "Subject Shareholders" under that certain
Shareholders' Agreement between Steven B. Hoyt, Paul T. Lambert, Duane H. Lund,
American Real Estate Equities, LLC, WLPT Funding, LLC, Lambert Equities II, LLC,
Arnold K. Leas, Rose Marie Leas, Gregory Leas, Robert F. Rice, Wellington
Management Corporation and Wellington Properties Trust dated August 31, 1998 (as
amended from time to time, the "AGREEMENT"). The Shares (as defined in the
Agreement) of the undersigned shall be subject to all of the terms and
provisions of the Agreement relating to Subject Shares (as defined in the
Agreement). The undersigned shall be deemed to be a party to the Agreement.


                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                           Shares
                                   --------



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