UNITED STATES


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): January 26, 2012





COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Alabama1-1235859-7007599(State or other jurisdiction(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identificationof incorporation)Number)


COLONIAL REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware0-2070763-1098468(State or other jurisdiction of(Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identificationincorporation)Number)





2101 Sixth Avenue North, Suite 750, Birmingham, Alabama 35203


(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)





(205) 250-8700


(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)





Not applicable


(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):





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))





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Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Conditions





On January 26, 2012, the Trust announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.  A copy of the Trust's earnings press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report on Form 8-K. A copy of the Trust's Supplemental Financial Highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011 is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this report on Form 8-K. The information contained in this current report on Form 8-K, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, shall not be deemed “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission nor incorporated by reference in any registration statement filed by the Trust under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specified otherwise.





Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure





The disclosure contained in Item 2.02 of the current report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.





* * *





The information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 (including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2) shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Trust or the CRLP under the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.





Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.





(d) Exhibits





Exhibit No.   Description





|     |                                                                                                            
|---- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.1 | Colonial Properties Trust fourth quarter and year ended 2011 Earnings press release dated January 26, 2012.




|     |                                                                                                                     
|---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.2 | Colonial Properties Trust Supplemental Financial Highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.










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SIGNATURE


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.











COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUSTJanuary 26, 2012By:/s/ C. Reynolds Thompson, IIIC. Reynolds Thompson, IIIPresident and Chief Financial Officer














COLONIAL REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIPBy: Colonial Properties Trust, its general partnerJanuary 26, 2012By:/s/ C. Reynolds Thompson, IIIC. Reynolds Thompson, IIIPresident and Chief Financial Officer








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EXHIBIT INDEX





Exhibit  Description





|     |                                                                                                            
|---- | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.1 | Colonial Properties Trust fourth quarter and year ended 2011 Earnings press release dated January 26, 2012.




|     |                                                                                                                     
|---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|99.2 | Colonial Properties Trust Supplemental Financial Highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.