Form 8-K

 

 

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): August 9, 2011

 

 

BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-13087   04-2473675

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

800 Boylston Street, Suite 1900, Boston, Massachusetts 02199-8103

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(617) 236-3300

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 8.01. Other Events.

On August 9, 2011, Boston Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) and Boston Properties Limited Partnership, the Company’s operating partnership (the “Partnership”), filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-176157) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to replace two existing shelf registration statements, one of which was scheduled to expire in November 2011. In connection with the filing of this new registration statement, the Company also filed two new prospectus supplements to continue offerings that had been covered by one of the registration statements being replaced. These prospectus supplements relate to the Company’s existing $600 million “at the market” equity offering program previously announced by the Company on June 2, 2011 and the issuance of up to 257,608 shares of common stock that may be issued from time to time if, and to the extent that, the holders of previously issued common units of limited partnership interest in the Partnership present such units for redemption.

On August 9, 2011, the Company also filed a new registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-176158) with the SEC to replace the existing registration statement relating to its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, which registration statement was scheduled to expire in November 2011.

Opinions of the Company’s counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP, regarding the legality of the shares of common stock covered by the prospectus supplements described above are filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

This Current Report 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 in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.
  5.1    Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP regarding the legality of the shares offered
  5.2    Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP regarding the legality of the shares offered
23.1    Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)


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.

 

  BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.
Date: August 9, 2011   By:  

/s/ Michael E. LaBelle

  Name:  

Michael E. LaBelle

  Title:  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP

Exhibit 5.1

[Goodwin Procter LLP Letterhead]

August 9, 2011

Boston Properties, Inc.

The Prudential Center

800 Boylston Street, Suite 1900

Boston, MA 02199

 

  Re: Securities Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to our opinion letter dated August 9, 2011 and included as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) filed on August 9, 2011 by Boston Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement became effective upon filing on August 9, 2011. We are delivering this supplemental opinion letter in connection with the prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) filed on August 9, 2011 by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Prospectus Supplement relates to the offering by the Company of up to $600,000,000 of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) pursuant to Sales Agency Financing Agreements, dated as of June 2, 2011 (collectively, the “Sales Agency Financing Agreements”), among the Company, Boston Properties Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership and the Company’s operating partnership subsidiary (the “Operating Partnership”), and each of BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (collectively, the “Sales Agents”). We understand that the Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner described in the Prospectus Supplement.

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions expressed below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that after the issuance of the Shares, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock, together with the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and then in effect.


Boston Properties, Inc.

August 9, 2011

Page 2

 

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, we refer to the following as the “Future Authorization and Issuance” of the Shares, (a) the authorization by the Company of the issuance of the Shares (the “Authorization”) and (b) the issuance of the Shares in accordance with the Authorization upon the receipt by the Company of the consideration to be paid therefor in accordance with the Authorization.

The opinion expressed below is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law (which includes reported judicial decisions interpreting the Delaware General Corporation Law).

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of the Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 9, 2011 which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

 

2

Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP

Exhibit 5.2

[Goodwin Procter LLP Letterhead]

August 9, 2011

Boston Properties, Inc.

The Prudential Center

800 Boylston Street, Suite 1900

Boston, MA 02199-8103

 

  Re: Securities Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to our opinion letter dated August 9, 2011 and included as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) filed on August 9, 2011 by Boston Properties, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement became effective upon filing on August 9, 2011. We are delivering this supplemental opinion letter in connection with the prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) filed on August 9, 2011 by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Prospectus Supplement relates to the offering of 257,608 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Shares may be issued from time to time by the Company to the extent that the holders of 257,608 common units of limited partnership interest (the “OP Units”) in Boston Properties Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Boston Properties Limited Partnership, dated as of June 29, 1998, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), tender the OP Units to the Operating Partnership for redemption and the Company exercises its contractual right to acquire such tendered OP Units in exchange for the Shares.

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions expressed below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that after the issuance of the Shares, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock, together with the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and then in effect.


 

Boston Properties, Inc.

August 9, 2011

Page 2

The opinion expressed below is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law (which includes reported judicial decisions interpreting the Delaware General Corporation Law).

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized, and when and to the extent issued in exchange for the OP Units as provided in the Partnership Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 9, 2011 which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP