SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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) June 3, 2002
Federal Realty Investment Trust
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland 1-07533 52-0782497
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852-4041
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number including area code: 301/998-8100
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Item 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFING ACCOUNTANT
(a) Previous independent accountants
(i) On June 3, 2002, the Trustees, upon the recommendation of the
Audit Committee of Federal Realty Investment Trust (the
"Registrant") dismissed Arthur Andersen LLP, of Vienna,
Virginia, as its independent accountants.
(ii) The reports of Arthur Andersen LLP on the financial statements
for the past two fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 contained
no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principle.
(iii) In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal
years and through June 3, 2002 there have been no disagreements
with Arthur Andersen LLP on any matter of accounting principle
or practice, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope
or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Arthur Andersen LLP would have caused them to
make reference thereto in their reports on the financial
statements for such years.
(iv) During the two most recent fiscal years and through June 3,
2002, there have been no reportable events (as defined in
Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v)).
(v) The Registrant has provided Arthur Andersen LLP with a copy of
this disclosure and has requested that Arthur Andersen LLP
furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether
or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of the
Arthur Andersen LLP letter, dated June 3, 2002, is filed as
Exhibit 16 to this Form 8-K.
(b) New independent accountants
(i) The Trustees, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee of
the Registrant engaged Grant Thornton LLP as its new
independent accountants as of June 3, 2002. During the two most
recent fiscal years and through June 3, 2002, the Registrant
has not consulted with Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the
application of accounting principles to a specified
transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit
opinion that might be rendered on the Registrant's financial
statements, or any other matters or reportable events set forth
in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.
Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this report:
16. Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated June 3, 2002.
99. Press release issued June 4, 2002.
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.
FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
/s/ Larry E. Finger
Date: June 4, 2002 ------------------------------------
Larry E. Finger
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer