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): June 18, 2007

 

BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

Delaware   1-13087   04-2473675

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

   (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

Prudential Center, 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)

111 Huntington Avenue, Suite 300, Boston, Massachusetts 02199

(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):

 

¨ 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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 18, 2007, the Board of Directors of Boston Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) renewed its shareholder rights plan by adopting a new Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”). Computershare Trust Company, N.A. also serves as the Company’s transfer agent. The Rights Agreement replaces the Company’s existing shareholder rights plan (the “1997 Plan”), which expired on June 18, 2007, and became effective upon the expiration of the 1997 Plan. The following description of the terms of the Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which has been filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Pursuant and subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors has declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 29, 2007 (the “Record Date”). In addition, one Right will automatically attach to each share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined). Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one ten-thousandth of a share (a “Unit”) of Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) at a cash exercise price of Three Hundred Fifty United States Dollar (U.S. $350) per Unit (the “Exercise Price”), subject to adjustment, under certain conditions specified in the Rights Agreement and summarized below.

Initially, the Rights are not exercisable and are attached to and trade with all shares of Common Stock outstanding as of, and issued subsequent to, the Record Date. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and will become exercisable upon the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the first public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired beneficial ownership after the effectiveness of the Rights Agreement, of more than 15% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Excess Stock of the Company (together, “Common Shares”), other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by a stockholder (the date of said announcement being referred to as the “Stock Acquisition Date”), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day (or such later day as the Board of Directors may determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that could result upon its consummation in a person or group becoming the beneficial owner after the effectiveness of the Rights Agreement, of more than 15% of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”). As was also provided in the 1997 Plan, for these purposes, a person will not be deemed to beneficially own shares of Common Stock which may be issued in exchange for units of limited partnership interest (“OP Units”) in Boston Properties Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) until such person actually receives such shares of Common Stock. In addition, no person who was an original partner of the Operating Partnership will be an Acquiring Person unless such person acquires beneficial ownership of (i) more than 15% of the outstanding Common Shares and (ii) a greater percentage of the then outstanding Common Shares and OP Units (excluding OP Units held by the Company) than that percentage of the total number of shares of Common Stock and OP Units (excluding OP Units held by the Company) that such partner originally held.

In the event that a Stock Acquisition Date occurs, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates, whose Rights shall

become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise, in lieu of a number of Units of Preferred Stock, that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (or, in certain circumstances, including if there are insufficient shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of the Rights, Units of Preferred Stock, other securities, cash or property, or any combination of the foregoing) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (such right being referred to as the “Subscription Right”). In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other person, and the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation, (ii) any person consolidates with the Company, or merges with and into the Company and the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company’s assets or earning power is sold, mortgaged or otherwise transferred, each holder of a Right (other than an Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates, whose Rights shall become null and void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right (such right being referred to as the “Merger Right”). The holder of a Right will continue to have the Merger Right whether or not such holder has exercised the Subscription Right. Rights that are or were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person may (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) become null and void.

The Rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors) by the Board of Directors only until the earlier of (i) the time at which any person becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) the expiration date of the Rights Agreement. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and thereafter the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.

The Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion until the time at which any person becomes an Acquiring Person. After such time the Board of Directors may, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Rights Agreement, amend the Rights Agreement only to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to shorten or lengthen any time period, or to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of Rights holders (excluding the interests of an Acquiring Person or its associates or affiliates). In addition, the Board of Directors may at any time prior to the time at which any person becomes an Acquiring Person, amend the Rights Agreement to lower the threshold at which a person becomes an Acquiring Person to not less than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares then owned by any person and (ii) 10%.

Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company (beyond those as an existing stockholder), including the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Units of Preferred Stock, other securities of the Company, other consideration or for common stock of an acquiring company.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of business on June 29, 2017 (the “Expiration Date”), unless previously redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described above.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information included in Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference into this item. The Rights Agreement, specifying the terms of the Rights, has been filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

On June 18, 2007, the Company filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock with the Delaware Secretary of State, amending and restating the designations, rights and preferences of the Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights (if the Rights become exercisable). This Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations has been filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Exhibit

3.1

   Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of Boston Properties, Inc.

4.1

   Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007, between Boston Properties, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.

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: June 18, 2007

   By:  

/s/ Douglas T. Linde

  Name:   Douglas T. Linde
  Title:   President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Exhibit

3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of Series E Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of Boston Properties, Inc.
4.1   Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007, between Boston Properties, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.