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): February 4, 2015

SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, MA 02458-1634

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

617-796-8350

(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 5.03.  Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On February 4, 2015, Senior Housing Properties Trust, or the Company, filed Articles of Amendment to its Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to increase the number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, or Common Shares, from 220,000,000 to 300,000,000.  The Articles of Amendment were effective upon filing.

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

On February 4, 2015, the Company priced an underwritten public offering of 27,000,000 Common Shares.  The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 4,050,000 Common Shares, which was exercised in full on February 4, 2015.  The settlement of this offering of the aggregate 31,050,000 Common Shares is expected to occur on February 9, 2015.  The public offering price was $22.20 per share.  The Company expects to use the $659.5 million of net proceeds of the offering (after deducting estimated offering expenses and the underwriting discount) to repay amounts outstanding under its unsecured revolving credit facility and for general business purposes, including funding, in part, a pending acquisition or other possible future acquisitions of properties.

A prospectus supplement relating to these Common Shares will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

WARNING CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

THIS CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K CONTAINS STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER SECURITIES LAWS.  THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON THE COMPANY’S PRESENT INTENT, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS, BUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR FOR VARIOUS REASONS, INCLUDING SOME REASONS WHICH ARE BEYOND THE COMPANY’S CONTROL.  FOR EXAMPLE, THIS REPORT STATES THAT THE COMPANY EXPECTS THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COMMON SHARES OFFERING TO OCCUR ON FEBRUARY 9, 2015.  IN FACT, THE ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY OF THESE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND CONTINGENCIES AS ARE CUSTOMARY IN UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.  IF THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT SATISFIED OR THE SPECIFIED CONTINGENCIES DO NOT OCCUR, THIS OFFERING MAY NOT CLOSE.

FOR THESE REASONS, AMONG OTHERS, YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON THE COMPANY’S FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.

EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, THE COMPANY DOES NOT INTEND TO UPDATE OR CHANGE ANY FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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.