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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, DC&#160; 20549</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF THE</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): <b>May&nbsp;14, 2013</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">COMMONWEALTH REIT</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Maryland</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1-9317</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">04-6558834</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, <br>   Suite&nbsp;300, Newton, Massachusetts</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">02458-1634</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(617) 332-3990</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .9in;text-indent:-.9in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.02.</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As further described in Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K, at the annual meeting of the shareholders of CommonWealth REIT, or the Company, Joseph L. Morea received less than the majority of shares required to be re-elected as an Independent Trustee.&#160; As a result, on May&nbsp;14, 2013, Mr.&nbsp;Morea resigned from the Board of Trustees.&#160; The Board of Trustees determined that Mr.&nbsp;Morea&#146;s continued service would be in the Company&#146;s best interest and the Board of Trustees requested that Mr.&nbsp;Morea accept appointment to the vacancy created by his resignation.&#160; Mr.&nbsp;Morea subsequently accepted appointment as the Independent Trustee in Class&nbsp;I of the Board of Trustees.&#160; Mr.&nbsp;Morea will serve as a member of the Company&#146;s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">For his service as a Trustee, Mr.&nbsp;Morea will be entitled to the compensation that the Company provides to its Independent Trustees.&#160; A summary of the Company&#146;s currently effective Trustee compensation is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .9in;text-indent:-.9in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.07.</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">At the annual meeting of the Company&#146;s shareholders, held on May&nbsp;14, 2013, the Company&#146;s shareholders approved a nonbinding advisory resolution on the compensation paid to the Company&#146;s executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K in the Company&#146;s proxy statement dated February&nbsp;25, 2013, relating to the Company&#146;s 2013 annual meeting of shareholders.&#160; This proposal received the following votes: For &#151; 41,777,064; Against &#151; 14,075,073; Abstain &#151; 568,693; and Broker Non-Votes &#151; 16,974,981.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company&#146;s shareholders also ratified the appointment of Ernst&nbsp;&amp; Young LLP as the Company&#146;s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December&nbsp;31, 2013.&nbsp; This proposal received the following votes: For &#151; 59,059,846; Against &#151; 14,058,280; and Abstain &#151; 277,685.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company&#146;s shareholders voted on the election of Mr.&nbsp;Morea as the Independent Trustee in Class&nbsp;I of the Board of Trustees.&#160; Mr.&nbsp;Morea received the following votes: For &#151; 11,956,566; Against &#151; 42,925,604; Withhold &#151; 1,538,660; and Broker Non-Votes &#151; 16,974,981.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The results reported above are final voting results.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .9in;text-indent:-.9in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01.</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Other Events.</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Trustee Compensation</font></u></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On May&nbsp;14, 2013, the Company changed its trustee compensation arrangements.&#160; A summary of the Company&#146;s currently effective trustee compensation arrangements is filed as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On May&nbsp;14, 2013, the Company granted each of the Company&#146;s Trustees 2,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, or Common Shares, valued at $20.13, the closing price of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on that day, consistent with the trustee compensation arrangements.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2<a name="PB_2_032926_7056"></a></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .9in;text-indent:-.9in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01.</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Exhibits.</font></i></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Summary of Trustee Compensation.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_032940_5335"></a></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">COMMONWEALTH   REIT</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   John C. Popeo</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John   C. Popeo</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Treasurer   and Chief Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:&#160; May&nbsp;17, 2013</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4<a name="PB_4_033130_5796"></a></font></p>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CommonWealth REIT", "cik": "0000803649", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "046558834", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09317", "film-number": "13855894"}, "business-address": {"street1": "TWO NEWTON PLACE", "street2": "255 WASHINGTON STREET", "city": "NEWTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02458", "phone": "6177968350"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "TWO NEWTON PLACE", "street2": "255 WASHINGTON STREET", "city": "NEWTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02458"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "HRPT PROPERTIES TRUST", "date-changed": "19980701"}, {"former-conformed-name": "HEALTH & RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST", "date-changed": "19940811"}, {"former-conformed-name": "HEALTH & REHABILITATION PROPERTIES TRUST", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC  20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
May 14, 2013
COMMONWEALTH REIT
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Maryland
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-9317
04-6558834
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street,
Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts
02458-1634
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(617) 332-3990
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
As further described in Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, at the annual meeting of the shareholders of CommonWealth REIT, or the Company, Joseph L. Morea received less than the majority of shares required to be re-elected as an Independent Trustee.  As a result, on May 14, 2013, Mr. Morea resigned from the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees determined that Mr. Morea's continued service would be in the Company's best interest and the Board of Trustees requested that Mr. Morea accept appointment to the vacancy created by his resignation.  Mr. Morea subsequently accepted appointment as the Independent Trustee in Class I of the Board of Trustees.  Mr. Morea will serve as a member of the Company's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.
For his service as a Trustee, Mr. Morea will be entitled to the compensation that the Company provides to its Independent Trustees.  A summary of the Company's currently effective Trustee compensation is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
At the annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, held on May 14, 2013, the Company's shareholders approved a nonbinding advisory resolution on the compensation paid to the Company's executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K in the Company's proxy statement dated February 25, 2013, relating to the Company's 2013 annual meeting of shareholders.  This proposal received the following votes: For — 41,777,064; Against — 14,075,073; Abstain — 568,693; and Broker Non-Votes — 16,974,981.
The Company's shareholders also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.  This proposal received the following votes: For — 59,059,846; Against — 14,058,280; and Abstain — 277,685.
The Company's shareholders voted on the election of Mr. Morea as the Independent Trustee in Class I of the Board of Trustees.  Mr. Morea received the following votes: For — 11,956,566; Against — 42,925,604; Withhold — 1,538,660; and Broker Non-Votes — 16,974,981.
The results reported above are final voting results.
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
Trustee Compensation
On May 14, 2013, the Company changed its trustee compensation arrangements.  A summary of the Company's currently effective trustee compensation arrangements is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
On May 14, 2013, the Company granted each of the Company's Trustees 2,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, or Common Shares, valued at $20.13, the closing price of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on that day, consistent with the trustee compensation arrangements.
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Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)           Exhibits.
10.1        Summary of Trustee Compensation.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
COMMONWEALTH   REIT
By:
/s/   John C. Popeo
Name:
John   C. Popeo
Title:
Treasurer   and Chief Financial Officer
Date:  May 17, 2013
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